CONGRATULATORY REMARKS

By His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America

For Paulette Poulos at the 28th Phidippides Award Gala Dinner

The Union League Club

New York, New York

November 9, 2023

Stelios Taketzis, Chairman of the Board of the Greek Educational Public Information System, and all the Directors,

Ioanna Giannopoulos, Director of Operations of Cosmos FM,

Chairman of Tonight’s Gala, our dear Friend Argyris Vassiliou,

Our Master of Ceremonies, Michael Stratis

Our Most Worthy Honoree, Paulette Poulos

Dear Supporters of and Friends of COSMOS FM,

Reverend Clergy,

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This evening’s celebration of our beloved Paulette Poulos with the Phidippides Award for Passionate Advocacy of Hellenism and Orthodoxy seems to me the most natural, if not consequential, awarding of this special prize in its history. I think I can safely say – everyone knows Paulette! And not only because of her stewardship of Leadership One Hundred for the last two decades as Executive Director. Paulette has been a fixture of solid gold in the life of the Omogeneia since before Leadership One Hundred even came into existence.

Paulette has been contributing positively, constructively, and I would add, mightily, to the health and increase of the Greek Orthodox community for the entirety of her life. She has been and continues to be a pillar of the Church, a pillar in the Temple of God, as it says in the Book of Revelation. I remind you all that pillars are never numerous in any structure, and they are what holds the whole thing together.

And that’s what Paulette has been for this Sacred Archdiocese and for the Omogeneia. A true pillar – one of virtue, kindness, knowledge and, indeed, wisdom. Her counsel is called upon by so many individuals, that we could not possibly number them this evening. Her institutional memory is virtually unequalled. Her talents and insights are nearly unparalleled. And her genuine love and concern for the community – in every aspect – is the essence of her very soul.

There will be many tributes to Paulette this evening, and rightfully so. But, as her Archbishop, there is one to which I would call special attention. When my ever-memorable predecessor, the late Archbishop Iakovos, retired on his eighty-fifth birthday in 1996, Paulette put her life on hold to ensure that the remaining years of his life were of a quality and comfort that he so righteously deserved.

She spent the next nine years, until his repose on April 10, 2005, in the kind of devoted service that is to be admired and should be imitated by every servant of the Church. She had dedicated her entire life to the service of the Church and to the preservation and magnification of our shared Hellenic ideals and legacy. Her labors at Leadership One Hundred speak for themselves.

She is most worthy of the honor you bestow upon her tonight, and every praiseworthy word that is spoken this evening.

She is a treasure of the Greek-American community and of our Sacred Archdiocese as a whole.

Paulette,

We love you. We respect you. And tonight, we honor you for all that you have accomplished and achieved for the sake of others.

May the Lord always bless you with health, strength, vigor, and His every good and perfect gift.

ΑΞΙΑ!

Photos: GOARCH/Panagos-T. Galanis