Metropolitan Theodosius greets Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in New York

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Theodosius, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, was among the numerous religious and civic leaders who witnessed His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I present the Patriarch Athenagoras Humanitarian Award to former US President George Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush on Saturday, March 9, 2002.

The presentation took place during a banquet at the New York Hilton Hotel honoring faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America who have displayed exemplary support for the Ecumenical Patriarchate through the Order of Saint Andrew.

On Sunday, March 10, 2002, Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick, OCA Chancellor, concelebrated at the Divine Liturgy celebrated by His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at New York’s Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral. In addition to His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Archdiocese and other hierarchs, the recently-elected Primate of the Autonomous Finnish Orthodox Church, His Eminence, Metropolitan Leo, also concelebrated the Liturgy.

During a private meeting, Patriarch Bartholomew presented Father Kondratick with the Order of the Cross of Saint Andrew.

Patriarch Bartholomew was on a one-week visit to the US, during which he met with President George Bush in Washington, DC and prayed at the site of the World Trade Center, New York’s “Ground Zero.”