At the invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America on Monday, April 5, 2021, Anthony J. Limberakis, MD, National Commander of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Chair of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Board of Trustees offered an enlightening and informative presentation, including the attached PowerPoint slide deck (prepared by Foundation Trustee Aphrodite Skeadas, Communications Chair, and Archon John Mindala), to the Eparchial Synod regarding the establishment and current status of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation.
In attendance were His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America; their Eminences Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh, Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco and Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago.
A watershed initiative of the Order of Saint Andrew, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation was established to grant economic independence to the Ecumenical Patriarchate so that it may fulfill its apostolic mission in perpetuity.
Dr. Limberakis informed the Synod that $6 million has been raised to date, and that 40 Orthodox faithful have already pledged at least $100,000, payable over 10 years, to become Founding Members. Commander Dr. Limberakis then invited each Metropolis to become a Founding Member so that the Bartholomew Foundation could realize an additional 1$ Million donation from the Bouras Foundation. He announced that through the efforts of Archon Hon. B. Theodore Bozonelis, the Nicholas J. and Anna K. Bouras Foundation will match the Founding Member donation of each Metropolis of the Archdiocese of America, up to $1 Million.
In addition, Dr. Limberakis explained that if all of the eight Metropolises each contribute $100,000 and become Founding Members of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, the Bouras Foundation will contribute an additional $200,000, so as to make their donation total $1,000,000.
Dr. Limberakis announced that Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago has declared his intention to commit to becoming a Founding Member personally.
The presentation was well received, and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation received the blessings of the Synod.
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution recognized by the IRS as a public charity.
For more information, see www.bartholomew.foundation, or call 212-774-0444.
