His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco and His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh, presided at the Investiture of twenty-eight new Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate from throughout the United States, following the Divine Liturgy at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City on Sunday, October 20, 2024. The Investiture was the final event of the annual Archon Weekend. Like their distinguished brethren among the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the new Archons have dedicated themselves to the protection and defense of the Mother Church of Constantinople.
Addressing the new Archons, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros stated: “You will wear the cross of an Archon, the sign of your devotion. And the sign that you are called to bear the Cross of the Lord, to live sacrificially for the Mother Church of Constantinople.” He observed that the Church of Constantinople was “a Mother who has provided for us through the ages of ages: provisions of faith, of liturgy, of canonical order, of leadership, and above all else, of the love of a Mother for all her children.”
“And you, beloved Archons,” His Eminence continued, “you are the exemplary sons of the Mother Church, and your declarations of faith and devotion are no mere pronouncements. They are bonds of duty and responsibility that bind you to Her in the fellowship of Archons around the world. There are no substitutes for your loyalty, your fidelity, and filial love. You will be known by your deeds! And I know that they will be ones of self-sacrificial honor, nobility, and dignity on behalf of our precious Ecumenical Patriarchate.”
His Eminence also emphasized that “the Mother Church stands for freedom; freedom in Ukraine and for the Orthodox Christians of that blessed land to choose their own ecclesiastical leadership. She stands for integrity; integrity for our Planet Earth, which we share among all eight billion human beings and the numberless lifeforms upon which we depend for our nutrition and health. And She stands for the spiritual mission of the Church, and not for aspirations of a few who desire worldly power and material wealth.”
His Eminence concluded his Exhortation with a call to the new Archons: “Embrace your Offikion with that joy of the Resurrection! It is none other than His All-Holiness himself who chose the title for you, out of his love for you and appreciation of your dedication to the Great Church of Christ. You are all most worthy of this noble honor! ΑΞΙΟΙ!”
The National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, said: “These devoted new Archons have always been ready over the years to offer their time, talent and treasure in the service of the Holy Orthodox Church. The ancient and illustrious offikion that they have just received signifies the fact that the Archons represent the nobility of the Church, both in Byzantine and modern times, and with this noble title comes an extraordinary responsibility. It is the Archon who is the most ardent supporter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and exemplar of service to Almighty God and His Holy Church. For their work in selecting these new Archons, we extend our profound appreciation to the Committee to Recommend New Archons, which is chaired by Archon Constantine G. Caras, Esq.”
During the solemn Archon Investiture service, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, with His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos and His Eminence Metropolitan Savas, presented each Archon with the Cross of St. Andrew, along with the official Patriarchal Certificate specifying the Offikion designated by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, as His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros had noted, for each Archon.
Archons invested:
Paul L. Bitsos
Archon Depoutatos
Omaha, Nebraska
Gregory M. Cokinos, Esq.
Archon Hartoularios
Houston, Texas
Thomas A. Copulos, D.D.S.
Archon Aktouarios
Boca Raton, Florida
Christopher P. Daifotis
Archon Hartophylax
Westfield, New Jersey
Anthony W. Djinis, Esq.
Archon Ekdikos
Potomac, Maryland
William P. Galatis
Archon Maistor
Saugus, Massachusetts
Peter Gerazounis, P.E.
Archon Eftaxias
Searington, New York
Peter F. Giorgi, Esq.
Archon Nomophylax
Reading, Pennsylvania
Jani Gjoni
Archon Laosynaktis
Addison, Illinois
Nicholas D. Kambitsis
Archon Orphanotrophos
Highland Park, New Jersey
Bill Kassimatis
Archon Referendarios
Garden City, New York
Hon. John Constantinos V. Katsanos, Esq.
Archon Nomodotis
Astoria, New York
Lazarus M. Kirifides, D.O.
Archon Ritor
Wilmington, Delaware
Markos Kounalakis, Ph.D.
Archon Didaskalos tou Genous
San Francisco, California
Hon. Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos, Esq.
Archon Dikaiophylax
Chicago, Illinois
Dean T. Maragos, Esq.
Archon Nomophylax
Winnetka, Illinois
William B. Martin
Archon Ostiarios
Little Rock, Arkansas
George B. Naftis
Archon Skevophylax
Colleyville, Texas
Alexander A. Nikas, Esq.
Archon Nomodotis
Malvern, Pennsylvania
Peter A. Palivos, Esq.
Archon Dikaiophylax
Henderson, Nevada
Demetri Papacostas
Archon Ritor
Bedford, New York
Harry N. Pateroulakis
Archon Hartophylax
Bayside, New York
Nicholas N. Patricios, Ph.D.
Archon Architekton
Pinecrest, Florida
General Andrew Poppas
Archon Referendarios
Fort Liberty, North Carolina
George L. Staphos
Archon Maistor
Old Tappan, New Jersey
George Tsetsekos, Ph.D.
Archon Diermineutis
Devon, Pennsylvania
John Vasilantonakis
Archon Hartoularios
Brooklyn, New York
Andreas Zigouras
Archon Aktouarios
Saddle Brook, New Jersey
