For Immediate Release: November 12, 2026

 

One of the world’s most admired people, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, recently joined another from the most admired of this era, Queen Elizabeth, learning about the Greek people’s WWII Oxi Day miracle that was instrumental in the defeat of Adolph Hitler, according to Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin and Hitler himself.  His Holiness received the Metropolitan Chrysostomos Award, named after the Zakynthos Metropolitan, who responded to the Nazi demand for the names of Jews with an envelope containing only his and the mayor’s names.  

 

“Due to outstanding Hellenes in America who generously contribute to the foundation, this year we reached the pinnacle of venues– the magnificent Washington National Cathedral” said Andrew Manatos, founder of the Washington OXI Day Foundation. “Pews were removed and replaced by our dinner tables in the exact spot where US Presidents pray in celebration of their inaugurations and sit for the funerals of fellow presidents. Here we expose the miraculous courage of the Greeks in WWII and honor those modern-day heroes whose courage emulates that of the Greeks.” 

 

 

 

 

Guests included notable dignitaries such as H.E. the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic, Antonis Alexandridis who said, with OXI Day “we proved once again that the word ‘impossible’ doesn’t belong in the Greek vocabulary.”

The highlights of this incredible evening included the presentation of the Metropolitan Chrysostomos Award to His Holiness the Dalai Lama who received the award earlier in Dharamshala. The Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and global spiritual leader, was recognized for his lifelong service to humanity, inspiring compassion, religious tolerance, and the oneness of humanity, as well as his unwavering commitment to nonviolent conflict resolution in pursuit of peace and a better world.

 

 

His representative in North America, Dr. Namgyal Choedup, read the Dalai Lama’s acceptance remarks in which he expressed his gratitude for the recognition. “In my own life I have sought to promote warmheartedness, compassion and tolerance because only through such practices can we achieve peace in the world,” His Holiness wrote. “I believe we have to address all issues from the perspective of the oneness of humanity, keeping in mind that we all want to be happy and none of us wants to suffer.”

 

The Washington OXI Day Foundation was also honored to recognize this year’s two OXI Courage Award winners—Toomaj Salehi, an Iranian rapper who was imprisoned and placed in solitary confinement for nearly a year because of his refusal to be quiet against the Islamic Regime of Iran. And we honored slain 27-year-old Ukrainian journalist, Victoria Roshchyna, who time after time went to the front lines of the Russian-Ukrainian War to expose Russian atrocities against Ukrainian civilians, and as a result was imprisoned, tortured and killed.

 

This year’s winners join a distinguished group of past honorees, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Nobel Peace Prize laureates Nadia Murad, Maria Ressa, María Corina Machado and Elie Wiesel. As well, Russian democracy activist Vladimir Kara-Murza attended the gala eight years after he received the OXI Courage Award. 

 

As well, guests were treated to a keynote address by George Logothetis, noted Greek American and Executive Chairman of Libra Group and Chairman of Libra Philanthropies who gave a moving appeal to each of us to stand up against oppression and in defense of the powerless. 

 

Other dignitaries involved in the evening include Mike Emanuel, the chief White House correspondent for Fox News who along with a personal videotaped message from House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi introduced the Dalai Lama; recently retired Four-Star General Andrew Poppas and ambassadors and leaders.  

 

The Washington OXI Day Foundation, a nonprofit, 501c3 organization, with the cooperation and involvement of world-famous leaders, reminds the world of the miraculous OXI Day story and celebrates the modern-day heroes exhibiting the same OXI courage as the Greeks who fought to protect freedom and democracy.

 

Since its establishment in 2010, the Foundation has shared the story of the Greeks’ OXI day courage with millions around the world. Leaders from over 23 countries — Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, His-Holiness the Dalai Lama, and numerous presidents, prime ministers, US Members of Congress and other government officials — have joined the fight for freedom by proudly declaring “OXI” — NO.