On Thursday, October 15, 2026, the first day of the Annual Archon Weekend at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City, Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Archon Diakonia Ministries joined the National Council and Regional Commanders at a luncheon meeting.
Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (AEP), explained that this meeting provided an opportunity for the Chairs of Diakonia Ministries to give presentations on the activities of their Diakonia Ministries.
Archon Dr. Stamatios Kartalopoulos, Chair of the Academia Diakonia Ministry, explained that his Ministry was awaiting approval of two webinars, including one about the renovation and restoration of the Greek schools of Constantinople. He also detailed his work on a massive two-volume book project providing historical records and references of the ruined Hellenic cities of Asia Minor, a history that the government of Turkey ignores or downplays.
Archon Ted Vagelos, Vice Chair of the Communications Diakonia Ministry, drew the Archons’ attention to the articles on Archons.org, explaining that they enabled Archons to become familiar with the Ecumenical Patriarch’s words and deeds. This was also the purpose of the newly published book of quotations from the Ecumenical Patriarch.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation Audit Committee Chairman Archon Carl Hollister spoke of the $617,000 donation that will be made to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and noted that there are currently 294 FOUNDERS (donors of $100,000), 105 of them fulfilled.
Editorial Publication Diakonia Ministry Chair Archon George P. Vittas said that the superb efforts of the Communications Diakonia Ministry had led his own Diakonia Ministry, rather than duplicate efforts, to seek a new mission: to serve as the eyes and ears of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, drawing the attention of Archon leaders to issues that require attention. He suggested that material be developed for use in parish bulletins, and Dr. Limberakis directed Archon Jim Speros to follow up on this.
Andrew Manatos of the Federal and State Government Affairs Diakonia Ministry spoke of Archon Stephen A. Georgeson, Esq.’s efforts to bring about the passage of resolutions in support of religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and noted that these resolutions have now been passed in 47 of the 50 states. Archon Manatos also discussed the need to work to impress upon senators and members of Congress the importance of defending the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The Co-Chair of the International Archons Diakonia Ministry, Archon Constantine Sideridis, stated that what the AEP is doing in the U.S. is being noticed internationally, and becoming the pattern of action for Archons worldwide. He spoke of the Archons in Canada adopting Archon Sunday, and making use of materials from the Archon Sprout Program in doing so.
Archon George J. Spanos of the Patriarchal Green Initiatives Diakonia Ministry explained that his group was working with and through other committees, ensuring that material on His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s prophetic teaching on care for the environment would be included. The Archon Sprout Program’s curriculum contains material about the “Green Patriarch.”
Speaking for the Patriarchal Properties and Legal Issues Diakonia Ministry was Archon Joseph J. Kokolakis, Esq., who emphasized the need to articulate the importance of fighting to defend the property rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He also emphasized the importance of being prepared to show how the Archons were making progress toward a positive resolution of key issues facing the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Archon Anthony C. Limberakis, Chair of the Technology Diakonia Ministry, discussed the efforts his group has undertaken to provide a technology infrastructure for the AEP, including installing the Bloomerang software for non-profit organizations.
Archon Dr. Cary J. Limberakis, Co-Chair of the Women in Orthodoxy Diakonia Ministry, explained how an extensive survey had been conducted to address concerns regarding women in Orthodoxy, and that the results had been delivered to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.
Archons Nicholas Terezis and Nicholas Tranto of the Youth Participation Activities Diakonia Ministry recounted the origins of the Archon Sprout Program, which was designed to introduce students to His All-Holiness and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. When more Orthodox children could identify the pope but didn’t know who the Ecumenical Patriarch was, the need for this program was clear, and has been extremely ably addressed in the Sprout program. Now the planned Sprout 2.0 will go deeper.
After the presentations of the Diakonia Ministries, Archon Stephanos G. Trakas spoke of his experiences in Warsaw, as the representative of the AEP at the annual Warsaw Human Dimension Conference of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). While there, at the request of Dr. Limberakis, he visited Auschwitz, which he found to be a profoundly affecting experience, and one that reinforced the importance of fighting to protect and defend religious freedom.
The extraordinary range of the activities described in this meeting vividly demonstrated the multifaceted labors that the Archons have undertaken and continue to undertake in the service of our Holy Mother Church of Constantinople.
