Archbishop Elpidophoros Honored at the 59th Annual Appeal of Conscience Foundation Gala
September 23, 2024, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America was honored at the 59th Annual Appeal of Conscience Awards Gala in New York City. The Appeal of Conscience Foundation, an interfaith organization dedicated to religious freedom and human rights, presented the 2024 Appeal of Conscience Award to Archbishop Elpidophoros as well as Humanitarian Marta Batmasian.
The Appeal of Conscience Award is presented to visionary religious leaders and business leaders with a sense of social responsibility who use their resources and vast reach to better serve the global community. Introducing His Eminence’s award, Chair of the 59th Appeal of Conscience Annual Awards Dinner and prominent Greek American businessman John Catsimatidis also emphasized that it has “never been more important…to stand together to promote unity, justice and peace through interfaith dialogue and cooperation.” His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew also offered his warm wishes, sending a congratulatory video message to His Eminence.
Accepting his award, His Eminence noted his deep gratification and humility in receiving this recognition and condemned the “politicization of the Orthodox Faith” by those “seeking to justify this unjust and unnecessary war by Russia on the sovereign nation of Ukraine.” He also denounced the use of terms such as “holy war” and “crusade,” recognizing that the Appeal of Conscience Foundation exposes such language as power-hungry exploitations of religious faithful. Read His Eminence’s full acceptance remarks here.
Faith leaders from other traditions also lent their support to His Eminence, including Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, and Cardinal Pietro Parolin (secretary of the State of the Vatican), who extended greetings from Pope Francis. Cardinal Dolan stressed that “No matter our religion, race, ethnic background, or political beliefs, we must put our differences aside and come together in faith and love,” while Bishop McKenzie celebrated His Eminence’s “unwavering commitment to promoting peace, religious freedom, and interfaith dialogue.”
The Appeal of Conscience Foundation, under the leadership of Rabbi Arthur Schneier, has worked worldwide on behalf of religious freedom, human rights, peace and tolerance since 1965. An interfaith coalition of business, religious and foreign policy leaders, this international organization promotes mutual understanding, peace and interreligious cooperation and provides a voice of conscience to protect minorities.
Photos: GOARCH/Brittainy Newman.
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