Saint Nicholas at Ground Zero honors Volodymyr Zelensky

The dinner coincides with the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the Twin Towers, and the dinner poster links the anniversary to the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

As stated in the relevant announcement, at this juncture, the honor to a leader who “embodies the ideals of hope emerging from the darkness” acquires particular significance.

This is the second award that the community of Saint Nicholas will award in the same venue. The first award was presented to the Ecumenical Patriarch, His Holiness Bartholomew.

President Volodymyr Zelensky is also the second leader of Ukraine to be honored by the Holy Archdiocese of America and its organizations.

The “Athenagorean Human Rights Award” was presented to the Primate of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kiev and All Ukraine.

This is the highest award of the Order of the Archons of the Apostle Andrew of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which, as Memories wrote, was awarded on October 19, 2019 at the Hilton Hotel in New York. EventsNew York

We quote the full text of Mr. Zelensky’s award citation in an unofficial translation and then the original text.

President Zelenskyy’s steadfast leadership in defense of freedom and human dignity has inspired millions around the world. His now-iconic declaration at the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion – “I need ammunition, not a ride” – came to symbolize extraordinary courage, resolve, and devotion to his people.

As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States and approach the 25th anniversary of September 11 attacks, it is especially meaningful to recognize a leader who embodies the very ideals of hope rising from darkness.

President Zelenskyy's unwavering commitment to his people and to the principles of freedom reflects the spirit of the National Shrine itself—a place where faith, resilience, and the light of hope stand as a witness to the world.