The letter below was unanimously approved by the National Council of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, our governing body, regarding the charter reform of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
July 30, 2023
My brother Archons,
As you know, in 2020 the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople initiated a process to review and revise the Charter of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. As part of this process, the Patriarchate created a Mixed Commission of lay people and clergy, including representatives from our Archdiocese who were recommended by the Holy Eparchial Synod, to discuss concerns regarding the Archdiocesan charter and to develop a framework for an amended or new charter to be presented to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for consideration. His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America are the co-chairs of the Mixed Commission with the blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Finally, as part of the charter process, the Ecumenical Patriarchate gave its blessing for Archbishop Elpidophoros to meet with clergy and lay people around the United States to discuss his vision for a revised charter. For more information on the revision of the Charter, please visit charter.goarch.org
As Archons in service to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, we unequivocally support the above efforts by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. By charging His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros with the ability to speak directly to the faithful, the Patriarchate has given all of us a unique opportunity to participate in the process of revising the charter, and we encourage all Archons to participate in that process. While the charter of the Archdiocese, an eparchy of the Ecumenical Throne, is the sole determination of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, we are confident that in its pastoral wisdom, the Patriarchate will provide a revised charter that will be perfectly tailored to meet the needs of future generations of Orthodox Christian faithful in this country.
In the Service of the Mother Church of Constantinople, and on behalf of the National Council, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,
Anthony J. Limberakis, MD
Archon Aktouarios
National Commander
