NEW YORK - The Order of St. Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate will present this year’s Athenagoras Human Rights Award to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo at the organization’s annual banquet Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Marriott Marquis hotel. Gov. Cuomo, a strong advocate for religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, was the instrumental person in the process of securing an agreement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey regarding the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center, which was destroyed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis noted that, “For Christians and non–Christians the world over, Hagia Sophia in modern day Istanbul is one of the most magnificent edifices in the world. Now, with the building of the St. Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center, the Western Hemisphere will possess its own little ‘Hagia Sophia’ as a true witness to our Greek Orthodox Faith and our Holy Mother Church of Constantinople, as well as a symbol of religious freedom whose luminance will be seen the world over. We owe this to Governor Cuomo who is most worthy to receive the Athenagoras Human Rights Award.”