The American School of Classical Studies at Athens has announced that the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople will receive the prestigious Gennadius Prize in 2025, recognizing its enduring contributions to Greek learning and Hellenism. The award will be presented during the School’s annual gala, set to take place on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Gotham Hall in New York City.
This marks a significant occasion for the Greek-American community, as the event will highlight the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s millennia-long role in preserving and promoting Hellenic culture, language, and intellectual heritage. A short documentary film featuring renowned scholars will premiere during the gala, shedding light on the cultural and historical legacy of this revered institution.
Founded in the 4th century CE, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has served as the spiritual and administrative center of the Eastern Orthodox Church and a bastion of Greek intellectual and cultural preservation. From preserving the language of the Gospels to incorporating Platonic and Aristotelian philosophy into Christian theology, the Patriarchate has upheld the tenets of Hellenism across centuries of global change.
“This award recognizes the resilience and vital role of this ancient institution in the preservation and promulgation of Hellenic culture through the ages,” said Andreas Zombanakis, Chair of the Board of Overseers of the Gennadius Library.
Maria Georgopoulou, Director of the Gennadius Library, praised the Patriarchate as “an enduring cultural institution that has been instrumental in the diffusion of Greek knowledge and the safeguarding of Hellenic heritage.”
The Gennadius Prize is the highest honor bestowed by the Gennadius Library, a renowned institution based in Athens and part of the American School of Classical Studies. Previous recipients include prominent individuals and organizations such as the A.G. Leventis Foundation, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, and historian Mark Mazower.
For the Greek-American community, the upcoming gala in New York offers an opportunity to celebrate the deep ties between Greek heritage and its enduring influence in the United States.
About the American School and Gennadius Library
The American School of Classical Studies at Athens, founded in 1881, is the leading U.S.-based research and teaching institution in Greece, dedicated to the study of Greek culture from antiquity to the present. The Gennadius Library, established in 1926, boasts a collection of over 150,000 rare titles, manuscripts, and works of art, serving as a vital repository for Hellenic studies.
