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# Zelenskyy Misses Beacon of Hope Ceremony, Urges Support for Patriot Systems
- URL: https://uoj.news/news/zelenskyy-misses-beacon-of-hope-ceremony-urges-support-for-patriot-systems/
- Published: 2026-09-28T13:51:50.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-28T13:53:07.000Z
- Description: With Zelenskyy absent despite spending part of the preceding week in New York, Ukrainian leaders used the Beacon of Hope dinner to appeal directly to America for continued support, including faster action on Patriot air defense systems.
- Author: Tobias Straney
- Tags: #Category: News, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, Volodymyr Zelensky, Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis), War in Ukraine, GOARCH, Church and State

**NEW YORK —** St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine presented its [second annual](https://orthodoxobserver.org/russian-invaders-cannot-stand-free-people-archbishop-elpidophoros-says-as-ukrainians-receive-beacon-of-hope-award/) Beacon of Hope Award on Saturday to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The honoree was not present at the ceremony, despite having been in New York for part of the preceding week.

"Zelenskyy had been expected to accept the award in person, but the demands of the war kept him away," Salvatore Ambrosino of the Orthodox Observer reports. "Andrii Melnyk, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, accepted it on his behalf at short notice."

Zelenskyy instead addressed attendees at Casa Cipriani through a video message.

The ceremony opened with the Ukrainian national anthem, followed by the Lord’s Prayer led in Ukrainian by Abp. Daniel of Pamphilon of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. Abp. Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America later told guests that Russia’s invasion was fundamentally a conflict over freedom and ideas. “The invaders cannot stand free people, cannot stand free ideas, cannot stand free societies,” he said, describing the Ukrainians’ struggle as a defense of human dignity, democracy, and free civilization.

[![](https://uoj.news/content/images/2026/09/465011.b.jpg)On this topicROCOR Bishops Express Concern Over Planned Zelensky Award](https://uoj.news/news/rocor-bishops-express-concern-over-planned-zelensky-award/)

Ukrainian speakers used the evening to make a pointed appeal to America. Melnyk asked, “what happened to the America that we once knew, admired, and looked up to?” He said America had long been “a Beacon of Hope” for Ukrainians and added, “I have a feeling that this America is still there.” He further stated, “I am frankly sick and tired of hearing how resilient Ukrainians are," and he urged the United States to stand by Ukraine and said Ukrainian perseverance should not become an excuse for partners “not to go all in, not to pull out all the stops.”

Zelenskyy’s video message also focused directly on American support. With Ukraine preparing for another winter of Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, he urged faster implementation of agreements with the United States, including the production and supply of Patriot air defense systems. “This really matters,” Zelenskyy said, asking attendees to speak about the agreements wherever doing so could make a difference.

Olga Rudnieva, co-founder of the Superhumans War Trauma Center, likewise rejected descriptions of Ukrainians simply as “resilient.” “I want to be called ambitious,” she said, explaining that Ukrainians do not want merely to survive but “to build a better country.” 

Previously, the [UOJ reported](https://uoj.news/news/patr-theophilos-iii-plans-meetings-with-putin-and-zelensky-to-pursue-peace-in-ukraine/) that Patr. Theophilos III planned meetings with Putin and Zelenskyy to pursue peace in Ukraine.