New York, July 29, 2026

A petition has been launched opposing St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine’s decision to honor Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.

The church, part of the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, announced Zelensky as the recipient of its 2026 Beacon of Hope Award earlier this month. The award will be presented at the second annual Beacon of Hope Dinner on September 26 at Casa Cipriani during United Nations General Assembly Week.

The petition, published on the website Orthodox Reflections, is accompanied by a letter addressed to the church’s Board of Trustees from Orthodox Christian Cassandra St. John.

The letter states that Zelensky is “ruling Ukraine as a police state, having suspended elections, silenced critics, and censored the media.” It further states that his government “has violently seized and repurposed more than 1,000 Ukrainian Orthodox Church properties” and “has beaten and arrested clerics and parishioners.” The letter calls on the church to rescind the award and select a different honoree.

The petition text states that Zelensky “is not a democratically elected head of state” and accuses him of having “cancelled elections, shut down his opposition, and engaged in brutal repression.”

It further points out that his government has “actively persecuted the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, even to the point of forcibly conscripting canonical Orthodox priests into the Ukrainian Army.” The text states that many American Orthodox belong to jurisdictions that pray for Metropolitan Onuphry, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and the Ukrainian people at each Divine Liturgy, and describes the award as “a direct slap in the face to all Orthodox jurisdictions in North America that recognize the UOC as the canonical Church in Ukraine.”

Each signature on the petition triggers an email containing the petition text to the church, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops, and the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. A final copy with all collected signatures will be delivered to these bodies before the September dinner. The petition had gathered 262 signatures as of this writing.

The church has described the Beacon of Hope Award as recognizing “individuals whose lives and leadership reflect the enduring spirit of courage, resilience, and moral clarity in the face of adversity,” and has said Zelensky’s “steadfast defense of freedom and human dignity has inspired millions around the world.”

Source:  Orthochristian.com

Belgrade, June 4, 2026

His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey of the Orthodox Church in America concelebrated the Divine Liturgy on Wednesday, June 3, with His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije before the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos at the Church of St. Sava on Vračar.

Also serving at the Liturgy were other hierarchs and clergy of the Serbian Church, monks from Vatopedi Monastery on Mt. Athos, who brought the holy Belt, Archpriest John Parker, dean of Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania, and Archpriest Josiah Trenham.

The service drew a large gathering of clergy, monastics, and faithful, who filled the cathedral as pilgrims continued to come in large numbers to venerate one of the most revered relics in the Orthodox world, reports tvhram.rs.

​Second from the left is Fr. John Parker, with Fr. Josiah Trenham next to him. Photo: tvhram.rs    

During the Liturgy, Pat. Porfirije read a prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos for the peace, health, and salvation of the Serbian people according to the centuries-old liturgical tradition of Vatopedi Monastery.

In his homily, Pat. Porfirije said the Lord reveals to humanity the way of life that leads to communion with God and participation in the Kingdom of Heaven. He noted that human achievements, when separated from God, remain bound by transience and death, while the Kingdom of God is already present through the Church and Jesus Christ.

Speaking about the saints as guides to the Kingdom, the Patriarch pointed especially to the Most Holy Theotokos, describing her as the foremost example of life in Christ and as a protector and intercessor for the faithful. Referring to the long lines of pilgrims who had come to venerate her Belt, he said their presence bore witness to living faith, unity in Christ, and love for God.

Photo: tvhram.rs    

The Patriarch also recalled St. Constantine’s vision of the Cross and St. Helen’s finding of the Precious Cross. He said the Cross conquers sin, hatred, and selfishness, and that true peace comes when a person joins his life to Christ.

Concluding his homily, Pat. Porfirije urged the faithful to make prayer a way of life, recalling the prayers, “Most Holy Theotokos, save us” and “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Following the Divine Liturgy, the Serbian primate the gathered faithful and greeted those who had waited for hours to venerate the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Source:  Orthochristian.org

On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, His Beatitude Archbishop Stefan, Primate of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric, welcomed His Eminence Archbishop Michael, Archbishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, Rector of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, together with clergy and pilgrims.

The meeting took place at the Monastery of St. Panteleimon in Gorno Nerezi, a 12th century monastery on the outskirts of Skopje. Archbishop Michael was accompanied by Archpriest John Parker, Dean of St. Tikhon’s Seminary, Archpriest Daniel Degyansky, Archpriest Josiah Trenham, Archpriest John Vitko, Deacon Ephraim Rivers, and 26 additional pilgrims.

Archbishop Stefan offered generous words of welcome to the pilgrims, including a brief reflection on the history of the Macedonian Orthodox Church and the apostolic roots of Christianity in the region. Gifts were exchanged, and the pilgrims were welcomed to hospitality at the monastery. Archbishop Michael extended the greetings of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, who is eagerly anticipating a future time he will be able to visit the Macedonian Church.

During the visit, Archbishop Stefan and Archbishop Michael spoke about the growth of the Church, seminary life, and the work of forming clergy and faithful for service in the Orthodox Church. Archbishop Stefan also recalled with gratitude his concelebration with Metropolitan Tikhon at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, DC. “We know one another when we visit one another, especially when we pray the Liturgy together,” he said.

At the conclusion of the visit, Archbishop Michael, clergy, and pilgrims gathered for a group photo inside the 12th century church. At the request of Archbishop Stefan, “Many Years” was intoned for Metropolitan Tikhon.

The pilgrimage, sponsored by St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, is taking place from June 2–13 in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the repose of St. Nikolai Velimirovich. The journey traces the life, ministry, and legacy of St. Nikolai, who spent the final years of his life at St. Tikhon’s Seminary in South Canaan, PA, where he served as professor and rector.

Source:  Website of OCA Diocese of NY and NJ