As the annual Archon Weekend of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (AEP) continued, on Saturday morning, October 18, 2025, Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the AEP, introduced new Archons to the AEP’s tireless work and varied initiatives to support and defend the Holy Mother Church of Constantinople.

Dr. Limberakis showed a video that provided a sweeping historical overview of the meaning of the title Archon, its roots in ancient Athens, and its significance in denoting a leader of the community. He emphasized that as an organization, the AEP had a “laser focus on the wellbeing and religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”

In the modern age, Dr. Limberakis explained, this began in 1966, when His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos of blessed memory founded and originated the contemporary Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras of blessed memory conferred the title originally upon thirty men who were distinguished leaders in the Church.

Dr. Limberakis stressed that an Archon is a servant leader. “In 1998,” he said, “when I became National Commander, a metamorphosis took place in the Order. It morphed from an honorific organization which recognized the achievements of great laymen into a dynamic, active organization in which we developed initiatives to promote the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”

“Archons are ambassadors,” Dr. Limberakis continued. “They are soldiers, for the strengthening of the Church in the United States. The U.S. is the most powerful country in the world, so we can support the Holy Mother Church with the full backing of the U.S. government.” He expressed the hope that, by God’s grace, that situation would continue.

In summation, Dr. Limberakis stated that to be an Archon is both a “humbling recognition and an awesome responsibility.”

Dr. Limberakis then went on to explain the Archon leadership structure and offered brief profiles of the Archon leaders. In his presentation, he showed images of various Archon activities, initiatives, and honors, showing their work with the highest officials in the U.S. and other countries to secure the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and protect the future of faith.

These included the Archons’ multifaceted efforts to facilitate His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s Apostolic Visit to the United States in 2025. During that visit, His All-Holiness received the Templeton Prize “for his pioneering efforts to bridge scientific and spiritual understandings of humanity’s relationship with the natural world, bringing together people of different faiths to heed a call for stewardship of creation,” and met with President Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and other Congressional leaders, as well as with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of the Hellenic Republic, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan, and Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.

Dr. Limberakis also detailed many other Archon initiatives, including the Archons’ 2019 Religious Freedom Sidebar at the U.S. Capitol with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Archon role in facilitating the groundbreaking visit of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the Phanar in 2020, and much more. When the Archons’ Spiritual Advisor, the Grand Protopresbyter of the Holy and Great Church of Christ, Father Alex Karloutsos, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden in 2022, this was the fruit of a longstanding and close friendship that saw Biden in 2011 become the first sitting vice president to visit the Phanar. Archon influence was also in play when His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew asked Pope John Paul II in 2004 to return relics of the Three Hierarchs, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom to Constantinople. Archon George Demacopoulos, the Historian of the Order, wrote a study on the issue that was presented to the Pope; the relics were returned shortly thereafter.

Dr. Limberakis then detailed the government of Turkey’s continuing disregard religious freedom, and explained some of the ways in which Turkey has shown its disregard for the rights of religious minorities, notably the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020. He pointed out that because the Turkish government denies legal recognition to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, it cannot buy, sell, or inherit property. Dr. Limberakis also outlined the Archons’ role in facilitating His All-Holiness’ groundbreaking interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes, during which he told CBS’ Bob Simon that in Turkey today, he often felt “crucified.” Dr. Limberakis noted that the Turkish government was furious and contacted CBS demanding that the interview be edited, but that CBS stood firm.

In detailing the Archon’s labors for religious freedom, Dr. Limberakis provided an overview of the Archons’ 2022 religious freedom mission to Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. He discussed the State Religious Freedom Initiative of Archon Stephen A. Georgeson, Esq., which has now led 47 state legislatures (all except Hawaii, Maryland, and Montana) to pass resolutions calling for religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He detailed the efforts of Archon Dr. Stephen Yallourakis and his beloved wife Dr. Anna to rebuild a monastery on the island of Halki that Turkish authorities have demolished twice.