Judge Ray Lanier Awarded Medal of St. Theodora

Photo: oca.org

MACON, GA — On Sunday, February 15, 2026, the Honorable Judge E. Ray Lanier, retired General Counsel of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), was presented the Medal of St. Theodora by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA.

The Medal of St. Theodora, “Restorer of Icons,” is awarded annually to one male and one female layperson who have made significant contributions to the work of the Assembly and to Orthodox Christian unity. The award was presented at Judge Lanier’s home parish, St. Innocent Church in Macon, by Archpriest Theophan Buck, with remarks delivered on behalf of the Assembly by Bill Marianes, Esq.

Judge Lanier has served as a Municipal Court Judge in Monticello and Norcross, Georgia, and as a professor at Georgia State University’s law and business schools. A longtime legal counsel to the OCA and principal drafter of its revised Statute, he is also a retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel and recipient of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat for service in Vietnam.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Mike Pompeo received the Athenagoras Human Rights Award.

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