At the annual Warsaw Human Dimension Conference of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on Thursday, October 8, 2026, Archon Stephanos (Steve) G. Trakas, Archon Hartoularios, spoke forcefully about how the Christian population of Turkey is facing elimination while the world stands idly by.
Archon Trakas spoke on Wednesday, October 7 (details here), and on Thursday was also scheduled to speak at the fourth Plenary Session, “Tolerance and Non-discrimination I.” In the presentation he delivered to the OSCE, he asked: “Can genuine peace and stability exist where religious discrimination is tolerated?”
Archon Trakas wrote: “Turkey has confiscated properties from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Orthodox community including churches, schools, cemeteries, hospitals, and charitable institutions. These developments were linked to restrictions and declarations by the Turkish courts that severely affected the property rights of non-Muslim minorities, including Greek Orthodox, Armenian, and Jewish foundations.”
He added a call for Turkey to respect international norms of human rights: “Turkey must stop discriminating against these religious minorities and resolve outstanding property and governance issues for the historic institutions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Orthodox community.”
Turning to Russia, Archon Trakas noted that “religious discrimination is also of grave concern in areas influenced by the Russian Orthodox Church and in territories affected by Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. Numerous international human rights organizations have documented the destruction of hundreds of churches, monasteries, synagogues, mosques, and other religious sites, along with restrictions imposed on faith communities that are not aligned with the Moscow Patriarchate. United Nations human rights experts have emphasized that even during times of armed conflict, governments must ensure that measures taken in the name of national security do not undermine the fundamental right to freedom of religion and worship.”
Archon Trakas called upon members of the OSCE to “advocate for Turkey to eliminate restrictions and the return of confiscated properties affecting religious minorities,” and for “the end of discrimination against religious minorities in Russia and in territories affected by Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.”
Since 2005, when Archon Spiro Makris represented the Order at the OSCE conference, the Archons have sent a delegation to the OSCE meetings in order to present vital information to the international community on the Turkish Republic’s continuing violations of the human rights and religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the nation’s Christian community. Other Archons who have defended the Ecumenical Patriarchate at OSCE conferences are Archons Rocky Sisson, Hon. Steven G. Counelis, Dr. Nicholas G. Loutsion, Theofanis V. Economidis, Constantine G. Caras, Esq. and Dr. Stamatios Kartalopoulos.
Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, stated: “It is all-important for us as Archons to call attention wherever and whenever we possibly can to the vital issues of religious freedom and the rights of our Mother Church of Constantinople. We remain grateful to Almighty God that we have had the opportunity to bring those issues international attention year after year at the OSCE conferences. The Archons have contributed a prophetic voice to the OSCE in defense of the rights of every human being and the preservation of our sacred traditions. Those Archons who have given of their time and talents to attend and take a stand deserve the gratitude of each and every one of us.”
View last year’s Meeting report here (page 146).
