On 20 August 2021, the feast of Saints Stephen the King and Hierotheus, first Bishop and Enlightener of Hungary, and the national holiday of Hungary, the President of Hungary, János Áder, in the presence of the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, and the President of National Assembly of Hungary, László Kövér, presented Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria with the Cross of the Supreme Brigadier with the Star of the Order of Excellence of Hungary.
In the Presidential Decree, it is stated that this highest award of the Republic of Hungary is given to the Metropolitan “for his role in deepening the dialogue between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Hungary, in preserving Greek nationality in Hungary, in strengthening the Greek Orthodox identity and activity of the Church and as a recognition of his selfless work.”
The Metropolitan thanked and stated that he accepted the honorary distinction, not as something addressed to him but to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the clergy and the people of Hungary, the Greek and Hungarian faithful and all those who help with their contribution to the development of the Church’s work in Hungary.