Zelensky skips Constantinople award ceremony in New York

The Beacon of Hope Award Ceremony in New York. Photo: Orthodox Observer

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not attend the ceremony for the second annual Beacon of Hope Award at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine in New York, despite having been in the city the day before the event, UOJ-USA reports.

The ceremony began with the Ukrainian national anthem and the Lord’s Prayer recited in Ukrainian. Participants had expected Zelensky to attend in person, but he declined, citing the difficult military situation. Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Andriy Melnyk, accepted the award from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America on the president’s behalf, while Zelensky addressed those gathered by video.

During the ceremony, Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis) of America, a hierarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, addressed the audience, describing the war as a fundamental conflict over freedom and human values. “The invaders cannot stand free people, cannot stand free ideas, cannot stand free societies,” Archbishop Elpidophoros said, describing the Ukrainian people’s struggle as a defense of human dignity, democracy, and a free civilization.

Accepting the award on the president’s behalf, Andriy Melnyk delivered an emotional address to Ukraine’s American partners. “What happened to the America that we once knew, admired, and looked up to?” the diplomat asked, expressing hope that this America still exists. “I am frankly sick and tired of hearing how resilient Ukrainians are.”

In his video address, Volodymyr Zelensky focused on protecting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ahead of the coming winter and called for faster implementation of bilateral agreements on the production and transfer of Patriot air defense systems. “This really matters,” Zelensky stressed, urging those attending to raise the issue of Patriot deliveries wherever they could influence decision-making.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Tucker Carlson called Zelensky a tyrant who had banned the country’s largest Church.

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