VOL. 64 NO. 1157 MARCH 1999 http://www.goarch.org/goa/observer E-mail: [email protected] Archbishop Presents Archons Award to Elie Wiesel Archdiocesan Council ast months Sunday of Orthodoxy ban- quet of the Order of St. Andrew the Holds Spring Meeting L Apostle provided the forum for Hellenic culture to reach out to that of the Jewish. NEW YORK Archdiocesan Council In what can be described as one of the members learned of progress in several ar- most significant events in Archons history, eas of the Archdiocese at their spring meet- the Order presented its Patriarch Athena- ing Feb. 26. goras Humanitarian Award to Nobel Peace Proceedings began with an address Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel, a survivor of the from Archbishop Spyridon in which he urged Nazi death camp at Auschwitz during World unity in the face of persecution and War II who went on to become, in the words politicization of the church by certain groups of the Archons National Commander Dr. and individuals (complete text, pages 8-9). Anthony J. Limberakis, the worlds fore- It seems that even though we live in most spokesman for human rights today. the most free and open and wealthy society Professor Wiesel, a faculty member of on the face of the earth without any fear the Boston University Department of Reli- whatsoever of persecution or reprisal we gion and Department of Philosophy, has are facing the prospect of persecution from been a visiting scholar at Yale, a Distin- within, from our own brothers and sisters guished Professor of Judaic Studies at City in Christ, the Archbishop said. Can it be University of New York, the author of more that the success of our communities from than 40 books and the recipient of numer- coast to coast , the success of the good, ous other honors, including the Congres- decent, hardworking Greek Orthodox sional Gold Medal and the rank of Grand people of America is to be sacrificed on the Officer of the French Legion of Honor. altar of human ego and ambition. In his address, Professor Wiesel D. Panagos He also praised the accomplishments touched on the similarities between Hellenic and success of the National Ministries of the and Jewish cultures and expressed the de- ARCHBISHOP SPYRIDON presents the Athenagoras Award to Professor Wiesel as Archons National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis looks on. Archdiocese over the past two years and sire that both groups develop more contacts. urged the council to find the courage and He reminisced that, as a young boy in resolve to conduct our ministries in this great his native Romania, he was frightened of been shown to him by the Archons. We should have turned into nihilists, he- Archdiocese with the honesty and love that priests because of distrust and prejudice in There was no way for me not to be donists or egotists, but not one single crimi- will turn the hearts of our brothers and sis- history between Christians and Jews, but with you tonight, he declared. The world nal case resulted from among their group. ters back to the communion of His love and that events in his life had broadened his is changing and the forces of destruction are Archbishop Spyridon afterward com- mercy. perspective. We should not be afraid of the very powerful. We must oppose them to- mented in his reflections on Wiesels expe- In their two-day sessions, Council stranger, Wiesel said, warning of the dan- gether. riences from the holocaust that he brought members heard reports from Bishop George gers of anti-Semitism and xenophobia. We He continued, What threatens the next forth from the fires of hell a vision of hu- of Komanon on the new Public Affairs and are indeed all children of Abraham. millennium is hatred, which he called a manity. (see full text on p. 6) Legislative Unit, George Chelpon on fi- Professor Wiesel observed that upon contagious poisoning. Prior to Wiesels introduction, the au- nances, Fr. Mark Arey on Communications, his invitation by the Archons to receive the In relating his experience at Auschwitz, dience was shown a video produced by the Fr. Philemon Sevastiades on Print and Digi- award, he realized that Ive never done Professor Wiesel said that, for him, the real Archdiocese Office of Television Ministry on tal Media, Fr. Frank Marangos on Religious anything for you ... I didnt know much test of survival came after the war when he, highlights of Wiesels life. Education, Fr. Charles J. Joanides on Inter- about you and that, despite receiving faxes and 400 other children with him in the camp The Archons banquet at the New York Faith Marriage, John Mavroudis on legal from some who urged him not to attend, he had nowhere to go. matters, Fr. Damaskinos V. Ganas on Hel- felt the need to return the respect that had He said that, given their circumstances, See ARCHONS AWARD, page 2 lenic College/Holy Cross, and Fr. Constantine Sitaras In his report, Bishop George said the His Eminence Confers with UN Secretary on Kosovo duties of his new position include handling relations with the U.S. government, repre- NEW YORK - Archbishop Spyri- Kosovo: Conference on Peace and senting the Archdiocese on all national and don attended a special meeting Feb. Tolerance, scheduled for this month international matters that touch upon the 26 with UN Secretary General Kofi in Vienna. Churchs life and ministry, providing a voice Annan relating to the Kosovo issue The conference, sponsored by for the Archdiocese when it comes to perti- on behalf of the Appeal of Con- the Appeal of Conscience Founda- nent public policy issues, advancing the science Foundation. tion with the cooperation of the Aus- churchs mission by influencing policy de- trian government, is designed to cisions on issues that include human rights, I am deeply committed to the bring together members of all the religious freedom, the Ecumenical Patriarch- faith communities represented in the ate, Cyprus, Middle East Peace, Balkan situ- cause of peace and justice in the Kosovo regional conflict. ation and social issues such as abortion, nations and territories of the The meeting with Secretary euthanasia and capital punishment. former Yugoslavia. Annan was part of preparations for The bishop also spoke of plans for this conference. meetings between high government officials Commenting on the meeting, and the Archbishop and efforts to strengthen His Eminence, along with Ap- Archbishop Spyridon said, I am relationships with other Orthodox jurisdic- peal of Conscience Foundation Presi- deeply committed to the cause of tions with regarding common causes. dent Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Arch- peace and justice in the nations and In his Financial report, acting Director bishop Barsamian of the Armenian territories of the former Yugoslavia. George Chelpon said he was very please Church, and a representative from As Orthodox Christians, we have a that targets set for total commitment last the Muslim community, attended a duty to lend every effort and energy year have been met. private meeting with Secretary D. Panagos we can, both in prayer and positive He noted that targets for major gifts and Annan to discuss the upcoming in- HIS EMINENCE with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and ternational conference titled, Rabbi Schneier. See KOSOVO page 2 See ARCH. COUNCIL page 2 PLEASE WATCH FOR A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE ORTHODOX OBSERVER containing detailed reports on the internal operations and finances of the Archdiocese. PAGE 2 ORTHODOX OBSERVER MARCH 1999 ARCHDIOCESE NEWS Archdiocesan Council Holds Spring Meeting from page 1 Fr. Arey reported on the addition of an unrestricted contributions exceeded fourfold office of Correspondence to his department. what had been budgeted and a result of two He noted that the Archdiocese receives an major gifts - the Conclin Estate and Gylfolyle average of 15,000 pieces of mail in a three- property in Detroit. month period and prepares about 2,500 re- Other highlights include a commitment sponses. for 1999 of a $1.3 to $1.4 million dollars for He also introduced the new Greek unrestricted gifts from another estate. press officer, Athena Krikelli, who will be Mr. Chelpon also reported that the op- responsible for dealing with Greek news erations budget was approximately $1 mil- media in this country and in Greece. He lion over but that more than $500,000 in noted there is a tremendous interest in benefits of health insurance, unemployment Greece in the affairs of the Greek Orthodox disability etc. is to be reallocated and allo- Church in America. cated to the budgeted departments and that Fr. Sevastiades discussed the activities the largest contributing factor of being over of the new Department of Print and Digital is legal fees; approximately $780,000 in Media, including the establishment of four 1998 with a budget of $25,000. press divisions to publish various books and Active litigation are mostly covered by other works. insurance and we hopefully will not have These include Holy Cross Orthodox the same activities with legal fees in 1999, Press, the pre-eminent scholarly press of the Mr. Chelpon said. Church; Cappadocia Press, which will pro- duce works for commercial book stores; D. Panagos He added that the financial restraints are the most stringent that they have ever Theologia Press, that will handle Orthodox Fr. Philemon SEVASTIADES discusses the plans for the newly created Department of works in translation; and Spirit Works Press, Print and Digital Media, which he heads. been in the history of this institution. that will publish works of interest to Ortho- dox Christians that are not necessarily writ- Inside ten by Orthodox authors. Fr. Sevastiades also noted that the Internet Ministries website has grown to Archdiocese News - 2-4 18,000 pages and the department is in the process of streamlining the site.