On Saturday, October 21, 2023, during the Annual Meeting of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Order of St. Andrew, the Archons honored National Commander Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, together with his wife, Dr. Maria, for his 25 years of tireless and selfless service as National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The Hon. Judge B. Theodore Bozonelis, National Vice Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, stated: “With deep gratitude, we wish to take this moment to honor our National Commander, Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, for his twenty-five years of service to our beloved Ecumenical Patriarchate and Archdiocese as National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the longest serving National Commander.”
Dr. Limberakis became National Commander in 1998, succeeding Archon Chris Philip, DDS, who served from 1989 to 1997. Archon Philip succeeded Archon Anthony G. Borden, MD, of blessed memory, who was National Commander from 1976 to 1989. The first National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the United States was Archon Pierre DeMets of blessed memory, who served from 1966 to 1975.
Archon Judge Bozonelis added that the honor was not for Dr. Limberakis alone, but for “his beloved wife and partner, Dr. Maria A. Limberakis, who herself has served our beloved Ecumenical Patriarchate and Archdiocese for these twenty-five years, and provided the wisdom, guidance, and support to the National Commander in his vision and leadership that has transformed the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate from an honorary award into a call to action to become the most worthy and dynamic organization dedicated to the protection, preservation, and promotion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”
Archon Bozonelis then called Dr. Maria Limberakis to join Dr. Anthony Limberakis on the dais. The National Vice Commander then offered “a few examples of the vision and leadership of the National Commander.” He explained that the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarcate “have been taken to another level and now constitute global advocacy. Starting with continuing meetings at the Ecumenical Patriarchate and with His All-Holiness; major religious freedom missions throughout the United States and Europe, the European Union, the European Court of Human Rights, meetings with all United States government leaders, foreign heads of state, ambassadors, diplomats, and religious leaders of all faiths; international religious freedom conferences in Brussels, Berlin, Washington, D.C. and upcoming in Athens.”
Judge Bozonelis noted also that under the leadership of Dr. Limberakis, the Archons how had “an appointed National Council and Regional Commanders committed to giving their time, talent and treasure with annual and regional retreats, and new Engagement Committees to bring in hundreds of Archons volunteering on committees: Academic Symposia, Communications, Editorial, Government Affairs, International Affairs, Metropolis and Parish Education, Patriarchal Green Initiatives, Property and Legal Issues, Women In Orthodoxy, and Youth Participation Activities. This was the Commander’s vision, and the vision to create and implement the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation and its Engagement Committee, to ensure the financial independence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.” To this already impressive list of achievements, Archon Bozonelis added: “Now our new Branding Initiative, coupled with social media impacts, creating an Archon global presence.”
Archon Bozonelis concluded: “That is vision, and that is leadership.” He then invited the Spiritual Advisor of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Father Alex Karloutsos, along with the Executive Officers and the Limberakis family, to the dais for the presentation of a plaque to Dr. Anthony and Dr. Maria Limberakis that recognized their twenty-five years of service to the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Holy Mother Church of Constantinople.
