In a special ceremony at the conclusion of Patriarchal Divine Liturgy with members of the Holy Synod of America on Sunday, September 21, 2025, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew conferred the title Megas Protoprebyteros of the Holy and Great Church of Christ upon the Spiritual Advisor of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Father Alexander Karloutsos.
His All-Holiness also elevated the parish that Father Alex was instrumental in expanding, the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons in Southampton, New York, to the status of Cathedral, and named Father Alex Dean of the Cathedral.
Father Alex has selflessly served the Church and the world at large for over five decades in numerous key leadership roles. He has served not only as Archon Spiritual Advisor, but also as the Church’s liaison with public figures and institutions; Vicar General of the Archdiocese; founder of Leadership 100; and advisor to the FAITH Endowment and the Hellenic Initiative.
Father Alex was also instrumental in the development of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation. He played an indispensable role in the creation and resurrection of the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero, and the establishment of the Camp David Interfaith Chapel. Father Alex likewise played an important role in the restoration of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
In recognition of his decades of indefatigable diakonia, Father Alex and his beloved wife, Presbytera Xanthi, received the Athenagoras Human Rights Award in 2018, the proceeds of which ($1.3M) served to establish the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation. His work has also been recognized by figures in the political sphere: Father Alex was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden in 2022, our nation’s highest civilian award.
Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, stated: “As a brother PK (priest’s kid), I take great pride in every honor bestowed upon Father Alex. I am delighted on an ongoing basis as he continues to receive richly deserved national and international recognition for his tireless labor for God and His Church. We Archons have been extraordinarily blessed over the decades by Father Alex’s remarkable and unique ministry, and it is always a source of great gratification to me to see him honored as he should be. On behalf of all the Archons of America and the Board of Trustees of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, I offer heartfelt congratulations to Father Alex and Presbytera Xanthi!”
Dr. Limberakis added: “And once again, congratulations also to the beautiful Dormition parish in Southampton, a beacon of our Archdiocese of America, which was elevated to the status of Cathedral, a monumental honor.”
