As a member of the Orthodox Christian Church, I’d like to share a brief note about Iakovos, former Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America (d. 2005). A champion of civil and human rights, he walked hand in hand with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, AL, which was captured in this iconic photograph on the cover of LIFE Magazine on March 26, 1965.
Archbishop Iakovos vigorously supported the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights legislation, exclaiming when the first bill was passed:
“Glory to the Most High! May this mark the beginning of a new age for all humankind, an era when the Word of God charts and guides our lives”.
Today I’m going to share some of the best reflections on Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement I have ever read. Anywhere.
My friend and fellow Memphian Ellen Morris Prewitt wrote these words on her blog on Monday, April 2:
MLK50: What Was the Civil Rights Movement?
And on Tuesday, April 3:
And today, Wednesday, April 4:
My prayers are with everyone traveling to Memphis and participating in the events of the day.
Susan, I am honored that you chose to share my words and extraordinarily humbled by what you said. Thank you. And I’m so glad to learn about the role of the Orthodox Christian Church. As you know, the support of Dr. King by white Christians was tepid at best. You are right to be proud of the role of the Orthodox Church.
Your posts are really outstanding, Ellen. Some thoughts I haven’t seen in writing before, and so well said.