Dr. Limberakis explained: “Going back to the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Saint Luke, who was a physician, Saints Cosmas and Damian, the Holy Unmercenary Physicians, and so many other saints who were physicians of the body as well as the soul, the care of the ill and infirm has been a cornerstone of what it means to be a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accordingly, it is altogether fitting and proper that medical care would be central to the diakonia of the AEP. In fact, the Bylaws of Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate state that a key part of the mission of the Archons is to ‘provide for and contribute towards the general welfare of the poor, handicapped and disadvantaged.’ That’s what this new Archon Engagement Committee, The Archon Medical and Dental Missionary Work, is dedicated to doing, and Archon Dr. Thomas Williams, with his many years of dedicated service in the field of medical missions, is just the man to lead it.”
Archon Dr. Williams stated: “I am both honored and humbled to serve as Chairman of Archon Engagement committee. I will give all my efforts on behalf of the Archons and hope we can advance the health and well-being of our greater Orthodox community. I look forward to beginning my work in this regard.”
The Archon Medical and Dental Missionary Work Engagement Committee will be focused upon providing basic medical and dental care to indigent children in Orthodox countries such as Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, and Romania, as well as possibly in Turkey also, wherever there may be need. Diligent care will be taken in determination of need, and the medical care itself will be provided by a mission team of volunteer, self-funded Archon medical specialists, dentists and nurses.
Archon Thomas P. Williams DDS, MD, FACS has participated in medical missions since 1976. He has participated in medical missions to Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Cuba, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines, primarily performing cleft lip and palate reconstructive surgery, as well as major oral and maxillofacial surgery. Archon Dr. Williams is Chairman of the Global Initiative for Volunteerism and Education Committee of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Thomas P. Williams was invested as an Archon on October 9, 2022 and conferred with the offikion Orphanotrofos. Dr. and Mrs. Williams are FOUNDERS of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation.
The mission of the Archon Engagement Committee is to provide meaningful opportunities for all Archons to participate in the active and ongoing defense of the Ecumenical Patriarchate across a wide range of fields. Divided into several, subject matter specific subcommittees, the Archon Engagement Committee is designed to encourage participating Archons to develop original initiatives for consideration of inclusion in the national policy of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
