On Friday, September 18, 2026, the Regional Commanders of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the Metropolis of Pittsburgh, Archons Nicholas Terezis and Nicholas J. Tranto, presented a program honoring the “Green Patriarch,” His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, featuring a lecture by Archon George J. Spanos, Chair of the Green Patriarch Diakonia Ministry, and a tree-planting ceremony at Saint Constantine School in Pittsburgh, one of the largest Orthodox schools in the nation.
175 children participated as eight Archons. In addition to Archons Terezis, Tranto and Spanos, Archons Nicholas Loutsion, Nicholas Spanakis, Nikolaos Theofanis, Chris Vasilakis, and Philip Yamalis coordinated activities throughout the day, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Archons conducted interviews with priests, students, parents, administrators and Archons on the importance of the Archon SPROUT Program’s lessons on the Ecumenical Patriarchate. These interviews were filmed, and the video will be available soon.
The Archon SPROUT Program is a cornerstone of the Archon Ecumenical Patriarchate Global Educational Initiative, which is designed to provide students with an introduction to the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Patriarchate in an engaging and creative way. The Archon SPROUT Program provides Sunday School lessons that teach students about the factors that shape their Orthodox identity and help them develop an appreciation for the ways in which our Ecumenical Patriarch and other Orthodox leaders work tirelessly to inspire, lead, and defend the Orthodox faith around the world.
Archon Tranto stated: “It was a great day for our SPROUT team and the Archons locally. Archon Terezis and I are immensely grateful to Archon Spanos and to all our other brother Archons who made this day such a resounding success. These students came away with a deepened appreciation of the pivotal role our beloved Ecumenical Patriarch plays in the Church, as well as with a new understanding of the crucial importance of efforts to protect the natural environment. Heartfelt thanks once again to all those who worked to make this such a fruitful day!”
