Former Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Vicar General Father Alexander Karloutsos received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, from President Joe Biden on Thursday.
The medal is given to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the U.S., world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors, according to the White House.
Karloutsos, who serves as a priest at the Church of the Kimisis Tis Theotokou in Southampton, Long Island, has served in various functions at the archdiocese. In his 50 years’ service as a priest, he provided counsel to several US presidents and was named a protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians.
He has simultaneously served as spiritual advisor to numerous organizations, including the Archons, the FAITH Endowment and other archdiocese-affiliated initiatives. He was also the chief fundraiser for the St. Nicholas National Shrine project, managing relationships with prominent businessmen and women nationwide and raising more than $80 million for the shrine’s completion.
Karloutsos retired from his vicar general role at the archdiocese in 2021. He and his family have a longstanding close and personal relationship with President Joe Biden.
The clergyman is among 17 recipients announced by President Biden.
“These seventeen Americans demonstrate the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation – hard work, perseverance, and faith,” Biden said in a statement.
“[The recipients] have overcome significant obstacles to achieve impressive accomplishments in the arts and sciences, dedicated their lives to advocating for the most vulnerable among us, and acted with bravery to drive change in their communities – and across the world – while blazing trails for generations to come.”
Click here to read the full list of recipients as announced by the White House.
Click here to watch Karloutsos’ acceptance video.
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1 comment
Wow that’s great father Alex getting an award.. but back in the ’80s during the beginning and duration of the first waves of the AIDS crisis you pretty much did nothing. He was very very critical of my fellow seminarian friend at Hellenic college Michael Cortman while he was dying from the AIDS virus and died in 1983. Father Alex was Chancellor during that time I think. Our church heads stunk from the head with the anti gay rhetoric. Sadly father Alex was no better. We at AXIOS the Eastern Orthodox lgbtq Christian organization with so many members dying for maids Church did not reach out. it was only one Orthodox convert reached out to us in New York and Rebecca and Demetra from the Philotocos who reached out to help in the early 90s.. AXIOS set out invitation to the first interface conference on AIDS in 1986.. I wrote to about 40 Greek and Eastern Orthodox churches and subsequent organizations to come to this conference none of them returns a call or a that left our group utterly hopeless and me very bitter to the unhumane reaction to a health crisis. New York City where we were the second chapter of AXIOS. It was exhausting our struggle so much in vain reaching out to our Greek Church. And other Orthodox bishops and clergy we’re still using even to this day some of them quoting Old testament penalties for gay folks. 71 years old too tired fighting for civil rights in our community and our church. AXIOS created in California around 1980 here in New York we started 1982… It would be great if if our archbishop addressed anti gay hate crimes which I was a victim of last year and now can’t walk normally again being attacked by fellow Greek and he in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. Tired of our churches society not respecting each other especially Christian churches like our conservative ones don’t give us the time of day. I’ll keep fighting for for some humanity in our churches until my other leg gets attacked or wears out