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Published by The National Herald, August 28, 2005

Archons to Honor Mikhail Gorbachev this October

NEW YORK – Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev will be honored with the 2005 Athenagoras Human Rights Award by the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle – Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the New York Hilton on October 22, according to His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Archbishop of America and Exarch of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.

"Mr. Gorbachev is recognized as a world statesman today who was instrumental in ending the Cold War and in promoting religious liberty," said Archons National Commander Anthony J. Limberakis.

The former Soviet leader currently contributes to international affairs through the Gorbachev Foundation, the first independent think tank in post-Soviet Russia, which he created in 1992, according to Archon George Behrakis, who serves on the Foundation and arranged for the presentation of the Athenagoras Award.

The Foundation’s main mission is to provide in-depth analysis of the evolving social, economic and political situation in Russia and the world. With branches in major cities of the Russian Federation, the Foundation has channeled more than $10 million to various humanitarian programs in Russia, particularly in the area of childhood leukemia.

The Athenagoras Award, the preeminent recognition for humanitarian works presented within America’s Orthodox Community, is dedicated to the memory of one of the 20th Century’s most notable Orthodox Christian religious leaders, the late Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, the 268th successor to the ancient Patriarchal Throne which, according to Greek Orthodox tradition, was established in Byzantium (Constantinople) by the Saint Andrew the First-Called.

The Order of Saint Andrew bestows the Award each year during its annual meeting in October. Former recipients of this honor are Presidents Jimmy Carter and George Herbert Walker Bush, Mother Theresa, Elie Wiesel, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the late Archbishop Iakovos.

Known chiefly for his contribution to tearing down the Iron Curtain, Mr. Gorbachev was born in 1931 and ascended to power in the former Soviet Union’s Communist Party throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s. Following the death of Konstantin Chernenko in 1985, Mr. Gorbachev was appointed general secretary, despite being the youngest member of the Politburo. He embarked on a comprehensive program of political, economic, and social liberalization under the slogans of "glasnost (openness)" and "perestroika (restructuring)."

The resulting shift in international affairs and thinking contributed to a fundamental change in the international environment and played a prominent role in ending the Cold War, stopping the arms race and eradicating the threat of a nuclear war. He stepped down as Head of State in 1991.

In recognition of his outstanding services as a great reformer and world political leader who greatly contributed in changing the very nature of world development for the better, Mr. Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.

Gorbachev has received scores of other awards and honors, including the Gold Medal from the Prometheus National Technological University of Athens and the Gold Medal of Thessaloniki, both in 1993); the Martin Luther King International Peace Award "For a Non-Violent World" for contribution to world peace and human rights in 1991; and the 1993 Sir Winston Churchill Award to recognize contribution to peace in the Middle East.

Baptized in the Russian Orthodox faith, Mr. Gorbachev was instrumental in the adoption of legislation guaranteeing religious freedom in the waning days of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the policies of which policies are perpetuated in today’s Russian Republic.

Since 1986, the Athenagoras Award has been presented annually by the Order of Saint Andrew to a person or organization which has "consistently exemplified – by action, purpose and dedication – concern for the basic human rights and religious freedom of all people regardless of race, color or creed."

The Order of Saint Andrew is the United States-based organization of Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, an international group of church laymen recognized for outstanding service, dedication and loyalty to the Patriarchate. The designation, "Archon" and the individual titles bestowed upon them date to back to Byzantine times.



Volume 7 Number 35 - Tuesday, August 30th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY