Alexander Karloutsos

Last updated

Alexander Karloutsos
P20220707KR-0936 (52308684253).jpg
Karloutsos Receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden in 2022
BornApril 5 1945 (age 78)
Greece
Occupation(s)Clergy and Liaison
SpouseXanthi Karavellas
Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom (ribbon).svg Presidential Medal of Freedom (2022)
Church Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Ordained1970
Title Protopresbyter

Father Alexander Karloutsos, sometimes colloquially referred to as Father Alex [1] , is a Greek-American Protopresbyter in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. [2] He served in the Diocese for over fifty years, and is the second member of the Greek Orthodox clergy to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, acknowledging his counsel to several Presidents. [3] [4]

Contents

Background and early life

Karloutsos was born on April 5 1945 in Greece and immigrated with his family to the US at an early age. [5] [6] He attended Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, graduating in 1966, and receiving his master's degree in theology from the same institution in 1969. [7]

Clerical Career

Karloutsos was ordained as a priest in 1970, working at the Saints Helen and Constantine Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago, shortly before it was converted to a mosque. By 1974 he was in New York, serving as the Director of the Office of Church and Society, starting in 1978. By 1984 Archbishop Iakovos had conferred the title of Presbyter on Karloutsos, and a decade later Patriarch Bartholemew elevated him to Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, "the highest honor a married clergyman can receive in the Orthodox Christian Church", after spending two years serving as Special Assistant to the Patriarch. [7] [8] From 1986 to 1992, and again from 1999 to 2004, Karloutsos was the executive director of Leadership 100, an organization that promotes the Orthodox faith and the legacy of Greek culture and history. [7] [9] In 2017 he was awarded the Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem. [10] In 2019 Karloutsos became Vicar General of the Archdiocese of America, the first person to hold the title since Archbishop Iakovos. [11] He retired from the position in 2021. [1]

Liaison and Counsel

President Donald Trump meets Father Alex Karloutsos and Elder Archbishop Demetrios at the White House (March 24 2017). President Trump's First 100 Days- 51 (33573171753).jpg
President Donald Trump meets Father Alex Karloutsos and Elder Archbishop Demetrios at the White House (March 24 2017).

Karloutsos works as a liaison to institutions such as the White House, the US Congress, state and local governments, along with other groups under the title of Special Assistant to the Archbishop. [7] Over this tenure, he has provided counsel to numerous US Presidents, and on July 7 2022, Karloustas was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the President's highest civilian award, by Joe Biden. [12]

Personal life

Karloutsos is married the Presbytera Xanthi Karavellas, and the two have three children. [13] [14] His wife is active in the Orthodox Church and community, and serves on the board of the Beau Biden Foundation. [15] [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople</span> Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople since 1991

Bartholomew is the 270th Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch, since 2 November 1991. In accordance with his title, he is regarded as the primus inter pares in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and as a spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople</span> Autocephalous church of Eastern Orthodox Christianity

The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is one of the fifteen to seventeen autocephalous churches that together compose the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is headed by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

The Archdiocese of America, better known as the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, is a jurisdiction of the Eastern Orthodox Church under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. It was formally constituted in 1922 and has had seven Archbishops. The Archdiocese currently covers the United States and one parish in the Bahamas, and is mostly Greek-American in composition and culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archbishop Iakovos of America</span> Greek Orthodox Archbishop

Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America was the primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America from 1959 until his resignation in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America</span> Eastern Orthodox diocese in the United States

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOArch), headquartered in New York City, is an eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Its current primate is Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.

In Christian theology, the title of archon may be given to a layperson who serves in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA</span> Ukrainian Orthodox diocese of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the USA

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA is an Eastern Orthodox Christian religious organization of Ukrainian diaspora under jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the United States. It consists of two eparchies (dioceses), ruled by two bishops, including about 85 active parishes and missions. The Church's current leader is Metropolitan Antony. The Church's head offices and Consistory are based in South Bound Brook, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Schneier</span> Austrian-American rabbi (born 1930)

Arthur Schneier is an Austrian American rabbi and human rights activist. Rabbi Schneier has served for over 50 years as the Senior Rabbi of New York City’s Park East Synagogue. While being honored with the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Bill Clinton in 2001, Rabbi Schneier was described as “a Holocaust survivor who has devoted a lifetime to overcoming forces of hatred and intolerance and set an inspiring example of spiritual leadership by encouraging interfaith dialog and intercultural understanding, as well as promoting the cause of religious freedom around the world.” Schneier is among the oldest pulpit rabbis in the United States.

The timeline of Eastern Orthodoxy in North America represents a timeline of the historical development of religious communities, institutions and organizations of Eastern Orthodox Christianity in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archbishop Michael of America</span>

Archbishop Michael, born Thucydides Konstantinides, in Maroneia of Western Thrace, was the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America from December 18, 1949, until his death on July 13, 1958. He succeeded Athenagoras who assumed the position of Patriarch of the Church of Constantinople in January 1949.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute</span> Eastern Orthodox theological institution In Berkeley, United States

The Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute (PAOI) is a member of the Graduate Theological Union, an ecumenical and interfaith consortium of nine independent seminaries and ten affiliated centers based in Berkeley, California. The institute is a unique, independent, not-for-profit teaching and research institution. The PAOI exists to educate, communicate, promote and sustain the traditions, values, teachings and culture of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. It is the only independent and permanently endowed Orthodox educational center with a physical presence at a North American university.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikitas Loulias</span> American Greek Orthodox archbishop

Archbishop Nikitas (Lulias) of Thyateira and Great Britain is the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Great Britain under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, elected by the Sacred and Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on 12 June 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athenagoras I of Constantinople</span> 268th Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (r. 1948-72)

Athenagoras I, born Aristocles MatthaiouSpyrou, was Greek Orthodox Archbishop of North and South America from 1930 to 1948 and the 268th Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1948 to 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pan-Orthodox Council</span> 2016 Eastern Orthodox synod

The Pan-Orthodox Council, officially referred to as the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, was a synod of set representative bishops of the universally recognised autocephalous local churches of the Eastern Orthodox Church held in Kolymvari, Crete. The Council sat from 19 to 26 June 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pablo de Ballester</span>

Bishop Pablo de Ballester of Nazianzus was a convert from Roman Catholicism to Eastern Orthodoxy who became the titular bishop of Nazianzus in Mexico, and was martyred in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Demoglou</span> 1st Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America (1922-1930)

Archbishop Alexander (Demoglou) of America was the first Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America, from 1922 to 1930.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada</span>

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada, formerly known as the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada), is an archdiocese of the Eastern Orthodox Church based in Canada. It is under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The present Archbishop and Exarch of All Canada is Sotirios Athanassoulas. Its jurisdiction covers members of the Greek Orthodox community living in Canada. Archbishop Sotirios was born in Arta, Epirus in Greece. The headquarters of the archdiocese is in the East York district of Toronto.

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Mexico, headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico, is an eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Its current primate is Metropolitan Iakovos of Mexico.

The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Canada is an organization of church hierarchs of Eastern Orthodox Churches in Canada.

References

  1. 1 2 Baragona, Justin (2023-12-20). "Newsmax Is Trying to Drag a Famous Priest Into Its Dominion Mess". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  2. "Protopresbyter Alexander Karloutsos to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom - from the Archdiocese - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America".
  3. "Protopresbyter Alexander Karloutsos to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom - from the Archdiocese - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America".
  4. "Fr Alexander Karloutsos to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom | Orthodox Times (En)".
  5. Gogola, Tom. "For God and Country: Father Karloutsos Awarded Medal of Freedom | The East Hampton Star". www.easthamptonstar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  6. "Father Alex Karloutsos to retire from Archdiocese | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. 2021-03-27. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Alexander Karloutsos | Stony Brook Council". www.stonybrook.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  8. "Fr Alexander Karloutsos to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom | Orthodox Times (En)".
  9. "Leadership 100". Leadership 100. 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  10. "Search - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America".
  11. "Archbishop Elpidophoros of America Appoints Father Alexander Karloutsos as Vicar General of the Archdiocese - 2019 - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America".
  12. House, The White (2022-07-01). "President Biden Announces Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom". The White House. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  13. "Father Alex and Presbytera Xanthi Karloutsos Honored with the 2018 Athenagoras Human Rights Award".
  14. "Father Alex and Presbytera Xanthi Karloutsos to be recipients of 2018 Athenagoras Human Rights Award - Asset Publisher".
  15. "Father Alex and Presbytera Xanthi Karloutsos to be recipients of 2018 Athenagoras Human Rights Award - Asset Publisher".
  16. "Our Board".