[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 148 (Thursday, September 21, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1825-E1826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ARCHBISHOP IAKOVOS HONORED

                                 ______


                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 21, 1995

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of the most 
outstanding religious leaders in the world, Archbishop Geron Iakovos. 
Head of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Western Hemisphere, Archbishop 
Iakovos is retiring after 36 years of distinguished service as a 
spiritual leader and fighter for worldwide justice.
  Archbishop Iakovos, born Geron Iakovos in Istanbul, Turkey, was 
ordained a priest in Lowell, MA, in 1940. He is a graduate of the 
Harvard University Divinity School. In 1959 he ascended to the 
leadership of the Greek Orthodox Church in the Western Hemisphere. He 
has been at the forefront of the worldwide ecumenical as well as the 
civil rights movement.
  In 1959 he met with Pope John XXIII, thus becoming the first Greek 
Orthodox Leader in almost 400 years to meet with a Roman Catholic Pope. 
He also served as copresident of the World Council of Churches for 9 
years.
  As an outspoken religious leader against segregation in the United 
States, he marched with the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. in 

[[Page E 1826]]
Selma, AL. He has continually fought for the independence of Cyprus, 
preservation of Greece, and enhanced United States-Greek relations. He 
was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1980 by President 
Jimmy Carter. He is a magnificent and stalwart friend of American 
Jewry, voiced support for Soviet Jews, and has been a strong advocate 
for Israel.
  This extraordinary spiritual and religious leader has been a very 
sensitive pastor at every level. His warm pastoral dimension expresses 
itself to not only his own people, but to people of all religions, 
cultures, and nationalities. Beyond fulfilling his duties to the 
Church, he has been a leader in the cause of justice in America and all 
over the world. I know all of my colleagues join with me in wishing 
this extraordinary individual the very best in his retirement.

                          ____________________