Mike Pompeo Receives Athenagoras Human Rights Award
The former Secretary of State was lauded by Abp. Elpidophoros for his support in "creating" the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
NEW YORK CITY — This past Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate presented the Athenagoras Human Rights Award to former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a black-tie event at the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel in New York City.
Abp. Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Archons, presented Pompeo with the award. A message from Pat. Bartholomew was also shared in which he recognized Pompeo for "his consistent advocacy for religious freedom and his steadfast support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and other religious minorities during his distinguished service."
According to the Orthodox Observer, the presentation took place with nearly 700 guests in attendance, with Abp. Elpidophoros commending Pompeo's "support of the 2019 creation of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine."
"Secretary Pompeo, your appreciation of Orthodox Christianity shines through," His Eminence said.
In the historical context of the Orthodox Church, as determined by the Ecumenical Councils and seen on a number of occasions throughout church history, autocephaly has always been something that is granted and recognized in one of world Orthodoxy's local churches. These churches already exist — they are not something that is "created."
In short, this is a process that takes place organically, and often over the course of many years. Perhaps even more significant in the case of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) is that its "primate" Serhiy Dumenko wasn't even a member of the canonical Church — and in fact, was universally recognized as schismatic, including by Constantinople — until this 2019 "creation."
As noted on the Orthodox Church in America's (OCA) website in response to the question, "How did the present autocephalous churches come into existence?":
Sometimes it is said that autocephalous churches are “created” by this or that ecclesiastical power, and people argue which power is supreme: the Ecumenical Council, the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Mother Church….
On this point, however, we must be very careful. It is not really accurate to say that autocephalous churches are “created.” History proves that no council or church has ever “created” an autocephalous church. And one searches in vain in canon law for rules which spell out how autocephalous churches are “made.”
What has happened is that certain areas developed for various reasons into self-governing churches, groups of bishops into synods or councils with a primate. These self-governing areas were then confirmed in their position by the others and recognized as such. None of them was “decreed” into existence or created “out of nothing” by some special churchly power.
Limberakis' remarks included his belief that Pompeo "embodies what it means to be a true servant-leader, giving voice to the voiceless." He added that, in November 2020, Pompeo visited Pat. Bartholomew at the Phanar and chose not to meet with any Turkish government officials — a symbolic gesture that showed America stands with Constantinople in its fight for religious freedom and human rights.
The Archons' Commander also said that Pompeo praised Pat. Bartholomew for his role in assuring that "40 million Ukrainians now have the ability to exercise their true faith." He also equated atrocities committed by Russia against Ukraine with the Church and believers themselves, saying:
“The Secretary also criticized the Russian government for egregiously using the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate to justify that horrific war, where the Russian Orthodox are slaughtering innocent Ukrainian civilians.”
After receiving the award, Pompeo thanked the Archons and said that his "relationship with the Archons and with the Orthodox Church holds a special place in my heart," and that he has had "the privilege of collaborating with you on so many important initiatives."
Calling back to the 1800s, when the U.S. government denounced the persecution of Orthodox Christians under the Ottoman Empire, Pompeo himself spoke firmly on the closure of the Halki seminary, the refusal of Turkish authorities to grant the Church legal status, and the disrespect shown to Pat. Bartholomew as "leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians."
Pompeo then spoke on the creation of the OCU, applauding Pat. Bartholomew for his decision:
“The wisdom of Patriarch Bartholomew’s decision was unfortunately made even clearer by the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as the Kremlin has continued to use the Russian Orthodox Church as a spy network within Ukraine, and has cynically enlisted Patriarch Kirill to justify Putin’s war of aggression as a holy enterprise.”
Past recipients of the Athenagoras Human Rights Award include former President Joe Biden; former President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush; Mother Teresa; former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev; and Serhiy "Epiphaniy" Dumenko himself.
Previously, UOJ reported that the United Nation's Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner released a report sharing that UN experts "expressed serious concern at reports of ongoing persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in Ukraine."
