Mikhail Gorbachev Becomes Archon, Receives Athenagoras Award
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NOVEMBER 2005 • Vol. 70 • No. 1219 www.observer.goarch.org • e-mail: [email protected] $1.25 per copy Mikhail Gorbachev Becomes Archon, Receives Athenagoras Award NEW YORK – Almost 75 years ago in Privolnoye, a small peasant village in southwest Russia near Stavropol a baby-boy was born to Sergey and Maria Gorbachev. Those were tough times in Russia and especially in the northern Caucasus region, but Maria who was very pious, took the advice of two other pious Orthodox Christian women, her mother and her mother-in-law and secretly bap- tized the boy. The priest picked the boy’s name, Mikhail. by Stavros H. Papagermanos On Oct. 22, Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev stood in front of some 800 Or- thodox Christians gathered in a New York City hotel for the Archon’s Annual Banquet and was invested as Archon Great Orator of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. “Who would think back in the years of the Soviet Union that in the year 2005, the very same person, the highest standing person in the communist hierarchy of the Soviet Union will be here receiving the offikion of the Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and be recognized as a great humanitarian and the very important person who put his seal forever in the history of the 20th century…It happened tonight, we lived this experience and we thank God for this.” These were the words of His Emi- nence Archbishop Demetrios of America who presided over the solemn investiture D. PANAGOS ceremony. FORMER President of the Soviet Union and Archon Great Orator Mikhail Gorbachev receives the Athenagoras Human Rights Award from Mikhail Gorbachev rapidly ascended Archbishop Demetrios of America, Archon’s National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis and former CIA Director George Tenet. Behind them through the academic and political hier- applauding are USAID Director Andrew Natsios and AHEPA Supreme President Gus James. archy of his country to become General Gorbachev’s law on religious freedom Secretary of the Communist Party and the was among his greatest democratic con- leader of the Soviet Union in 1985. The tributions enabling the citizens of Russia, Archbishop Demetrios Condemns Demonstrations seeds planted in his heart by his parents the 15 affiliated republics of the USSR and blossomed. He proved to be an intelligent the Eastern Bloc nations to freely practice and resilient leader, with a kind heart and their religion for the first time since the and Violence Against Ecumenical Patriarchate an open mind he was driven to see his Bolshevik Revolution. NEW YORK – Archbishop Demetrios of these Turkish extremists-nationalists country change and reach its full potential. During the Archon’s Annual Banquet has expressed his deepest sorrow and his are appalling and condemnable in and by He soon introduced a series of reforms the last Soviet Premier and Nobel Peace strong and unequivocal condemnation any civilized country. These are actions better known as perestroika (restructur- Prize Laureate (1990) was also honored for the most recent hostile demonstra- against a holy institution that survived ing) and glasnost (openness). with the Athenagoras Human Rights tions and threats against the holy center and lives on through the centuries. It’s an Award established in 1986 by the Order of world Orthodoxy, the Ecumenical Patri- institution highly respected by the entire of St. Andrew. archate of Constantinople, in Istanbul. civilized world. These demonstrators are An Interview with Gorbachev The Athenagoras Award bears the This latest assault took place Oct. 28, short changing themselves and Turkey, name and is given in memory of Patriarch when groups of Turkish nationalists and as they paint a picture of uncivilized, PAGE 2 Athenagoras who served as Archbishop other extreme elements demonstrated petty, narrow-minded people.” of the Americas for 18 years before being in Phanar against the Ecumenical Patri- “As a Church and as Orthodox in Gorbachev called for democratization elected Ecumenical Patriarch in 1948. He archate chanting slogans such as “one America, we are in spirit and in prayer by including multi-candidate elections and an- was universally acknowledged as a vision- night we’ll come to the Phanar,” “go the side of our Ecumenical Patriarchate, nounced the abandonment of the Brezhnev ary leader of Orthodoxy’s more than 250 away Patriarch,” “Patriarch don’t test our and we stand in full support with love and Doctrine, allowing the Eastern Bloc nations million faithful worldwide and worked patience,” “take the Patriarchate and go care towards our Mother Church as we are to determine their own internal affairs, for peace among Churches and people to Greece,” and the like. reassured that He Who has many times greatly enhancing democracy and liberty throughout his life. Previous recipients Before police intervened, the angry saved this Patriarchate and has protected it in these nations. People in Russia – writes have included Archbishop Iakovos, Presi- demonstrators reached the entrance to in difficult times will once again be next to Russian novelist Tatyana Tolstaya – “have dent Jimmy Carter, President George H.W. the Patriarchal compound, and placed a our Ecumenical Patriarch and the Fathers not forgotten that bright if short period of Bush, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mother black wreath in front of the gate. of the Great Church of Christ and He will time when the chains fell one after another, Teresa, Elie Wiesel and Archbishop An- Archbishop Demetrios in his state- lead this crisis to a favorable result accord- when every day brought greater freedom astasios. ment of condemnation said, “I express ing to the teachings of our Lord, that God, and hope, when life acquired meaning and President Gorbachev and his daugh- my deepest sorrow for the events that ‘will not break a bruised reed, and smok- prospects, when, it even seemed, people ter, Irina Virganskaya, who accompanied transpired outside of our Ecumenical ing flax He will not quench, till He sends loved one another and felt that a general Patriarchate last Thursday. The actions forth justice to victory’ (Matt. 12:20).” reconciliation was possible.” page 32 2 ARCHDIOCESE NEWS NOVEMBER 2005 NOVEMBER 2005 3 An Interview with Mikhail Gorbachev It was said that he would not want to think that for such a big Church, the Rus- talk to the press or answer any questions. sian Orthodox Church, to further progress As I approached Mikhail Gorbachev and this will take more time and attention. introduced myself, I took out my voice But let me tell you, whenever people recorder and a small yellow sticky, where in Russia are polled about which institu- I had jotted down a few questions. tion or entity in society they most respect, always among the most respected institu- by Stavros H. Papagermanos tions is the Russian Orthodox Church. I asked him whether he would be So, I think that the most difficult times willing to answer a couple of them for are behind us. the Orthodox Observer. Dr. Limberakis Mr. Gorbachev, you have won the interjected to explain what the Orthodox Nobel Peace Price. Do you thing that there Observer is. Mr. Gorbachev looked me can be peace without God? in the eye, his voice loud and clear but Well, I think that we can not even incomprehensible to my ears, he reached speak about peace without God because my open hand holding the small sticky and there are so many people in the world who squeezed it closed, as the voice of the trans- respect God, who believe in God, who lator explained with a few seconds delay: have faith in God, who pray to God every “Sure I will, but you don’t need the paper, day; we have to respect those people. And just ask your questions.” There was no time in these difficult times praying to God for for formalities, so I started right away: peace is very important to all believers Mr. President how has the state of the and to all of us…. and as the editor of the D. PANAGOS Orthodox Church changed in your coun- church newspaper, I am sure that you too SACRED Heart University’s President Anthony J. Cernera, and Chairman Bishop William E. Lori, try since the time of your Presidency? communicate with God and my suggestion present His Eminenve with the honorary doctorate degree. As you know the Church in my coun- is to do it more often. try has a long history of many centuries. I I will take your advice; but can you recall one of the most important and vivid tell us what has been the role of faith in SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY BESTOWS episodes of Perestroika, the day when I your life? Honorary Doctorate upon Archbishop Demetrios FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Sacred Heart dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, University bestowed the degree of Doctor President Cernera conferred the degree of Humane Letters, honoris cause upon upon the Archbishop. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of The Most Rev. William E. Lori, bishop America at a special convocation in the of the Diocese of Bridgeport and Chair- university’s Auditorium, Nov. 9. man of Sacred Heart University, vested the The event began with a procession of hood of Archbishop Demetrios. university dignitaries in full academic dress The Archbishop expressed his grati- as the university’s Liturgical Choir sang tude and for the opportunity “to be “Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation.” together and contemplate together our Thomas V. Forget, vice president for common heritage as Christians,” an op- academic affairs, served as master of cer- portunity, as he explained borrowing the emonies and introduced Greek-American words of the late Ecumenical Patriarch freshman student Leonidas E. Kouroupos, Athenagoras, to “come and look into one who offered the invocation.