The parish priest of a Greek Orthodox church in New York state, Fr Alexander Karloutsos was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden on Thursday. It is the United States’ highest honour conferred to civilians.
Fr Karloutsos, who serves the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in Shinnecock Hills, the Hamptons, was one of 17 US citizens who received the award at the White Ηouse on Friday (Washington time) The East Hampton Star reported.
Fr Karloutsos is the former Vicar General of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. He retired from that position in March, last year. Previous Medal of Freedom recipients included the late Senator John McCain and Apple founder Steve Jobs. This year Fr Karloutsos received the award in the company of Hollywood actor Denzel Washington and US Olympic soccer star and LGBTQI+ activist Simone Biles, among others.
He has counselled eight US presidents and met three popes. He helped to build the chapel at the US presidential retreat of Camp David and the National Shrine at Ground Zero, the site of Twin Towers attack on 11 September, 2001. Fr Karloutsos was serving as the chaplain for the New York-New Jersey Port Authority on 11 September.
“I’ve known President Biden for 40 years, but he has known a lot of people for 40 years. This is simply a blessing. It’s only because of amazing grace that I got this,” Fr Karloutsos said.
He was born in Greece but grew up in the US. He was ordained a priest in 1970.
“I’m a ‘PK’, a preacher’s kid,” he said.
He left the archdiocese for period in 1988 and his wife, Xanthi Karavellas encouraged him to move to Southampton on Long Island. He found the church there was too small which resulted in a $24 million project to build a larger church.
“I’m just a common man ordained to help the church and the community,” Fr Karloutsos said.
