July 27th, 2026
To the Trustees of St. Nicholas Church and National Shrine:
Christ is in our midst!
However, I am writing to protest your decision to honor Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine as the 2026 “Beacon of Hope.” Zelensky is a divisive, dishonorable character, unworthy of any award.
As an American with multigenerational American roots, I would likewise object to honoring any other autocrat on the planet.
The dictator Zelensky is ruling Ukraine as a police state, having suspended elections, silenced critics, and censored the media. His government has violently seized and repurposed more than 1,000 Ukrainian Orthodox Church properties, has beaten and arrested clerics and parishioners, and has committed countless human rights violations. This is only an abbreviated list of his thuggery; a full accounting would take pages.
Why would you even associate with Zelensky? Aren’t you invoking a potential PR crisis?
I object to your using an Orthodox organization and an awards dinner to promote militarism and to score geopolitical points. And I urge you to rescind the Zelensky award and to choose a worthy non-political honoree.
Sincerely,
Cassandra St. John, an Orthodox Christian
If you would like to join Cassandra in objecting to honor being bestowed on a dictator and persecutor of canonical Orthodoxy, please sign the petition below. Each time the petition is signed, an email with the petition text will be sent to info@stnicholaswtc.org, info@goarch.org, archdiocese@goarch.org, communications@assemblyofbishops.org, and info@archons.org. Further, prior to the event, a final copy with all signatures attached will be delivered to the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Board of Trustees, and the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Even if we get tens of thousands of signatures, will they cancel the event? Of course not, but a protest of the event makes for bad PR, and optics are an obsession for Constantinople. American Orthodox Christians, and others who care about Ukraine, have to challenge the narrative of widespread support for Zelensky. Otherwise, Constantinople will continue its narrative that Zelensky, and his persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, are popular among Orthodox Christians. American Orthodox need to be very clear before God and the world: this is not done in our name. Non-Orthodox are welcome to sign as well! Orthodox jurisdiction is optional. Leave blank if not applicable.
Silence equals assent.
Petition Text:
“I object to the Board of Trustees of the St. Nicholas Church and National Shrine bestowing an award on Zelensky, the dictator of Ukraine. Zelensky is not a democratically elected head of state. He has cancelled elections, shut down his opposition, and engaged in brutal repression. He and his government have actively persecuted the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, even to the point of forcibly conscripting canonical Orthodox priests into the Ukrainian Army. Many American Orthodox belong to jurisdictions that actively pray, each Divine Liturgy, for Metropolitan Onuphry, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and the Ukrainian people. Honoring Zelenksy in this manner is a direct slap in the face to all Orthodox jurisdictions in North America that recognize the UOC as the canonical Church in Ukraine. It is also a rejection of God, Whose Church is under attack, and Whose beloved Ukrainian people deserve peace and honest government. In shame and repentance, you should cancel this event. I doubt you will. However, know that American Orthodox have rejected your actions honoring this man with Christian blood on his hands. This is not done in our name. The Trustees and other officials of the Greek Archdiocese will answer alone for their actions before the Dread Judgement Seat of Christ. Amen.
In Christ,
(Your name will be displayed in the email)”
Orthodox Christians Object to Honoring Zelensky
This petition is now closed.
End date: Sep 25, 2026
Signatures collected: 1,606
Additional Suggestions
So we are flooding some inboxes with each signed petition, but there is more you can do (besides sharing the petition):
Visit the website dedicated to saving the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Let St. Nicholas Trustees hear from you on Social Media: X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
Clip:
Russian Orthodox Church Abroad Synod Voices Concern Over Developments in Orthodox World
https://gorthodox.com/en/news-item/arhierejskij-sinod-rpcz-vyrazil-obespokoennost-situaciej-v-pravoslavnom-mire
ROCOR Synod responds to upcoming award ceremony for Zelensky in U.S.
Excerpt:
ROCOR hierarchs said plans by representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to honor a political leader have caused concern among Orthodox Christians in America.
The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), chaired by Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, expressed concern over unease among Orthodox Christians in the United States surrounding the planned honoring of a political leader whom the Synod accused of persecuting the Church. The Synod met remotely on September 15, 2026.
Link:
https://spzh.eu/en/news/95926-rocor-synod-responds-to-upcoming-award-ceremomy-for-zelensky-in-us
Original:
https://www.synod.com/synod/2026/20260918_synodcommunique.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawUbN69wZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4ld-sftkxtff86g-6e773Esw7-bgZK0coxpaHEY_J0spGY8VrjV_RLLe9e6w_aem_INWtlC1M3oSjvjc5T2LrUw
[…] действий, а полный отчет занял бы многие страницы”, – пишет автор петиции Кассандра […]
This clip in English:
Orthodox Christians in the United States opposed Zelensky’s award.
Excerpt:
The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia has declared “confusion among the Orthodox in the United States” in connection with the upcoming awarding of “one government official who actively persecutes the Church of Christ and its faithful.”
Link:
https://oneukraine.net/archives/46579
Editor:
Please pin this info, or make a pop-up image for:
9/26 NYC in-person protest of Zelensky
Casa Cipriani, 10 South St., 6:30 p.m.
Need all jurisdictions; coordinate at parish level; stay updated
Mobilize; spread the word
312 parishes within 100 miles of NYC:
https://www.assemblyofbishops.org/directories/parishes/?radius=100&search_address=New%20York%20City&search_coordinates=(40.7127753%2C%20-74.0059728)&search_error=OK&searchType=proximity
In your graphic, could you emphasize that planning and logistics for the protest will need to happen at the parish/small-group level?
Attention, dear readers.
Please organize yourselves for an in-person protest of Ukrainian dictator Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Casa Cipriani, 10 South Street, NY, NY.
We urge members of the GOA to lead the protest. But we encourage as many people, from as many jurisdictions as possible, to protest in-person. Coordinate at the parish level, and stay informed and updated.
There are 312 Orthodox parishes within 100 miles of NYC, according to the Assembly’s website:
https://www.assemblyofbishops.org/directories/parishes/?radius=100&search_address=New%20York%20City&search_coordinates=(40.7127753%2C%20-74.0059728)&search_error=OK&searchType=proximity
Mobilize and spread the word. Send videos and photos of the protest to Orthodox Reflections.
-Cassandra St. John, @Cassandra2796 on X
DISRESPECTED Patriarch Bartholomew!
It is me, AVRAMENKO Tetyana, Ukrainian friend of ORTHODOX REFLECTIONS and I DO NOT RESPECT YOU!
I would like to tell you that after the BLOODY SCHISM—in which you, “Your Holiness,” were a direct participant—it is unlikely that you will be welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven. You are up to your neck in the BLOOD of the Orthodox faithful of the UOC and in all the lawlessness perpetrated by Zelensky, the SBU, the Ukrainian police, Ukrainian courts and media, the Ukrainian parliament, and their entire entourage in Ukraine. And what will you, Patriarch Bartholomew, say at the Judgment before God, before your soul—if it does not REPENT—descends into HELL? Here is important information regarding the lawlessness and inaction of the Ukrainian authorities, carried out with the support of Patriarch Bartholomew in Ukraine. ETERNAL SHAME UPON THEM ALL!
https://spzh.eu/en/news/95221-a-monk-was-brutally-murdered-at-the-svyatogorsk-lavra-two-others-wounded
Monk brutally murdered, two others wounded at Sviatohirsk Lavra23 August 21:30
Unidentified assailants attacked members of the monastic brotherhood with a knife, leaving one dead and two seriously wounded.
On August 23, 2026, a group of unidentified assailants attacked the brotherhood of the UOC’s Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra, monastery representatives told the UOJ.
The attack occurred at around 11:00 a.m. near St. Nicholas Church in the upper part of the monastery. Monk Varsonofiy was brutally stabbed to death, and his face was mutilated beyond recognition.
Monk Grigory, whose lung was punctured by a knife, and novice Andriy were also wounded. Both are in serious condition at a hospital in Kharkiv.
Investigative and operational measures are currently underway.
The UOJ will continue to follow developments.
The UOJ previously reported that a UOC archimandrite had been beaten during the seizure of a cathedral in Kremenchuk.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JvbqgD9d8IE
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vM8ACv4JsMY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1NjlFdEojI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v6f4JZrNk4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os-kRlnrJy4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJwdP1Mt2t0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGgeWDeMWNE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKAOAxfSB60
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKAOAxfSB60
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKAOAxfSB60
Something along these lines, Sept. 26, NYC. Start organizing yourselves!
https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-orthodox-christians-march-against-europride-lgbt/32008715.html
The “Beacon of Hope” Award:
Duck Search Assistant:
In Freemasonry, the phrase “beacon of hope” symbolizes guidance and inspiration, often representing the light of knowledge and moral integrity that Masons strive to embody in their lives. This concept aligns with the Masonic belief in the importance of hope and perseverance throughout one’s journey.
The other donor designations in the Zelensky invitation:
$100,000 Guardian of Hope & $50,000 Anchor of Hope
Duck Search Assistant: In Freemasonry, the anchor is often regarded as the symbol of hope, representing stability and a firm foundation in one’s beliefs. It signifies the importance of holding onto hope and trusting in a higher power during life’s challenges.
$3,500 Bearer of Light
Isaiah 14:12-14: Lucifer the fallen angel (Satan)
Lucifer means “light-bringing” in Latin. Christian award ceremonies do not refer to, laud, or aspire to that eponym.
Isaiah 14:12-14 (NKJV):
“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’”
Regarding the “Light of the World” donor designation in the Zelensky invitation:
Duck Search Assistant:
The phrase “light of the world” in Freemasonry symbolizes enlightenment, truth, and spiritual wisdom, reflecting the Masonic pursuit of moral and intellectual illumination. It is rooted in the broader Masonic emphasis on “light” as a metaphor for knowledge and divine understanding.
Clip:
https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/28010171
Google translation:
New Yorkers protest Zelenskyy’s award ceremony at an Orthodox church
Petition authors call for the cancellation of the ceremony honoring the “dictator”
NEW YORK, August 13. /TASS/. A petition has been launched in the United States calling for the reversal of the decision to present Volodymyr Zelenskyy with the Beacon of Hope Award at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in New York, according to the Orthodox Reflections portal.
The petitioners called on the church’s board of trustees to cancel the ceremony honoring “dictator Zelenskyy,” stating that they consider him unsuitable for the award. The petition also calls for appeals to the church’s leadership, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and several Orthodox organizations demanding the cancellation of the ceremony.
The petitioners point out that “Zelenskyy is running Ukraine like a police state: he has suspended elections, silenced critics, and censored the media.” The petition also recalls that Ukrainian authorities have forcibly seized and converted more than 1,000 Ukrainian Orthodox Church properties, subjected clergy and parishioners to beatings and arrests, and committed numerous human rights violations.
The petition is posted on the Orthodox Reflections website and is not an official petition mechanism of the US government, so there is no required number of signatures for its consideration. At the time of publication, the petition had collected over 1,000 signatures. The authors intend to submit the final document to the trustees of St. Nicholas Church, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and other Orthodox organizations.
Earlier, the New York Post reported that Zelenskyy is scheduled to receive the Beacon of Hope Award at a gala evening at St. Nicholas Church, located near the World Trade Center memorial site in New York City.
Clip:
https://www.gazeta.ru/social/news/2026/08/13/29099539.shtml
Google translation:
The US has protested Zelenskyy’s award ceremony at an Orthodox church.
A petition has been launched in New York City against Zelenskyy’s award ceremony at a church.
Oleksiy Pochtaruk
A petition has been launched in the US demanding the cancellation of the Beacon of Hope award ceremony for Volodymyr Zelenskyy, scheduled for the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in New York City. This was reported by the Orthodox Reflections Telegram channel.
The petitioners are asking the church’s board of trustees to cancel the event honoring the Ukrainian leader, calling his candidacy unsuitable. They also call for complaints to be filed with the church’s leadership, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and other relevant organizations seeking the cancellation of the event.
In support of their position, the petitioners argue that under Zelenskyy, a “police state” has been established in Ukraine, characterized by the suspension of elections, media censorship, and the suppression of criticism. The document also alleges human rights violations and harassment of representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, including the confiscation of church property and the detention of clergy.
This petition, published on Orthodox Reflections, is not an official US government instrument and therefore has no established signature threshold for review. Currently, the petition has collected over a thousand signatures. The final document is planned to be sent to the church trustees and the leadership of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Earlier, a Ukrainian military officer returned Zelenskyy’s only state award because of Syrsky.
Clip from Greek blog:
“Americans collect signatures against awarding Volodymyr Zelensky”
https://choratouaxoritou.com/?p=5304
Clip:
https://orthodoxhouse.com/article/petition-urges-greek-orthodox-archdiocese-of-america-to-cancel-zelensk
Clip:
Petition urges Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America to cancel Zelensky award event in NYC
https://www.bankingnews.gr/diethni/articles/893620/petition-urges-greek-orthodox-archdiocese-of-america-to-cancel-zelensky-award-event-in-nyc
1.64 million Eastern Orthodox Christians in America, according to this 2024 piece:
https://www.orthodoxhistory.org/2024/12/03/how-many-orthodox-christians-are-in-america/
Members of GOARCH American parishes:
If you believe in religious freedom.
If you agree that someone more deserving than Zelensky should receive the award.
Please spread this message and share our petition. Thank you.
Professional video of the 2025 dinner:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETws29HDPa4
Clip:
New Yorkers Collect Over 1,000 Signatures Against Dinner Honoring Zelensky – Petition
https://www.nampa.org/text/22990485
Clip:
New Yorkers are collecting signatures against holding a dinner in honor of Zelensky and awarding him the Lighthouse of Hope award from the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas
https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/08/13/2512695.html