On Saturday, October 18, 2025, at the Annual Archon Agape Family Luncheon, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate presented the Archon Sophia Award for Excellence to veteran educators Dr. Helen Nixon and Katina Limberakis Tsatalis, M.Ed. for creating (pro bono) the AEP Ecumenical Patriarchate Catechism School Education Initiative. The AEP presents the Sophia Award for Excellence annually to an individual or individuals who have distinguished themselves in endeavors that serve the needs of the Holy Mother Church and the Sacred Mission of the Archons of the Great Church of Christ.

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America offered the invocation. Following lunch, Dr. Maria A. Limberakis, the beloved and highly accomplished wife of Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, welcomed the attendees and spoke on “The 2025 Religious Freedom Mission and the Role of the Archon Family.”

“This gathering is appropriately named the Agape Family Luncheon,” Dr. Maria Limberakis explained, “because the mission of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in not the mission of an individual. Rather, it is the mission of the family: my family and each of your families. Each and every one of us plays an essential role in promoting and protecting our Ecumenical Patriarchate. We all have something worthy to offer.”

Dr. Limberakis added: “As individuals and as an Archon family, each of us should strive to leave a legacy to inspire our children and our children’s children to continue our Orthodox faith. A critical component of this legacy is ‘protecting the future of faith,’ so that the light of our Orthodox faith can be perpetuated for generations to come.”

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Dr. Maria A. Limberakis, and Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis then presented the award to Dr. Nixon and Ms. Tsatalis. The educators then made a presentation on the “Archon Ecumenical Patriarchate Educational Global Initiative.”

Upon receiving the Award, Ms. Tsatalis stated: “We dedicate this award to our Archon Sprouts team and most especially to the countless Sunday school teachers who, with love and perseverance, plant the seeds of faith in the hearts of our children. It is their quiet labor, week after week, that ensures the strength and continuity of our tradition. Helen and I value this honor as both a celebration of what has been achieved and a solemn charge to continue advancing the noble work of education, always in the service to God, His Holy Mother Church, and the generations to come.”

Dr. Nixon emphasized: “We want our Orthodox youth to know and understand that they are defenders of our Mother Church. These Sprout lesson plans are the building blocks of a systemic solution to enhance their knowledge and fluency on the Patriarchate and His All-Holiness.”

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, also offered remarks, and closed the luncheon with a Benediction.