[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 26, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN REMEMBRANCE OF ARCHBISHOP IAKOVOS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 2005

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of His 
Eminence, Archbishop Iakovos, who faithfully led the Greek Orthodox 
Church in North and South America for over thirty years. With his 
passing on April 10th, the world lost a great spiritual leader and 
humanitarian who desired peace and unity between all nations and 
religions.
  Archbishop Iakovos, who was born as Demetrios Coucouzis on July 29, 
1911, first set foot on American shores in 1939, after graduating from 
the Halki Theological Seminary. In 1945 he received a graduate degree 
from Harvard Theological Seminary and five years later he became an 
official U.S. citizen.
  When Archbishop Iakovos became the leader of the Orthodox faithful in 
1959, he made it his goal to bring the church into mainstream life for 
his followers. In the spirit of incorporating Greek Orthodoxy in 
America, he encouraged the use of English in the liturgy, set up 
dialogues with other Christian denominations, as well as Jewish and 
Muslim leaders, and became the first Archbishop to meet with a Roman 
Catholic Pope in 350 years.
  As a humanitarian, Archbishop Iakovos also became very interested in 
political issues, particularly those impacting human and civil rights. 
He regularly visited the White House and met with every U.S. president 
from Eisenhower to Clinton. His strong vision for peace compelled him 
to voice his opposition to the Vietnam War, support for the rights of 
Soviet Jews, and encouragement for the Middle East Peace process. As a 
champion of social causes, he will forever be remembered for assisting 
the civil rights movement in America by marching in 1965 with Reverend 
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, Alabama.
  Throughout his career, Archbishop Iakovos was highly honored for his 
work. In 1980, former President Jimmy Carter awarded him the Medal of 
Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. He served on the World 
Council of Churches and also was awarded honorary degrees from over 
forty colleges and universities.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring the life and legacy of 
Archbishop Iakovos, who through faithful leadership brought the ideas 
of faith, equality, peace, and unity to the forefront of the world's 
political and religious stage.

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