FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The primary mission of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate / Order of Saint Andrew is to promote and defend the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The spiritual, educational and philanthropic initiatives of the Archons in America are focused on the general well-being of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and its institutions, as well as on related religious, educational and philanthropic institutions in the United States. Currently, there are approximately 700 Archons in the USA.
The title of Archon is conferred by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for outstanding service to the Orthodox Church, and for distinguished leadership in the Orthodox Christian community. The honor carries with it significant responsibility and sincere dedication. Consequently, it is of utmost importance that this honor of vocation and obligation be bestowed upon individuals of proven Orthodox Christian character. Archons are expected to conform faithfully to the teachings of Christ as well as to the teaching, worship, and life of the Church.
By the grace of God, an Archon is able to offer good works and contribute good acts of faith. Further, it is the sworn oath of the Archon to defend and promote the Orthodox Christian faith and tradition. An Archon’s unique concern and interest is to serve, support, and strengthen the religious and cultural mission of the Sacred See of St. Andrew the Apostle. An Archon is also concerned with the inalienable rights of all humans –especially the freedom of worship, and when these rights are violated.
The Archons, through their significant political contacts and networking mechanisms, educate policy and decision makers at the federal and state levels on human and religious rights being denied to the Ecumenical Patriarch. These contacts include Congress, State Legislatures, and the European Union. Through contacts with diplomats, politicians and journalists, the Archons present evidence of human rights and religious freedom violations worldwide including the suffering of the religious minorities in Turkey and the decades long persecution of our Patriarch in Constantinople, the Holy See of the Mother Church.
Archon candidates must demonstrate service to the local parish, the Metropolis, the Archdiocese, or the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Once a candidate is identified, they must receive the recommendation of two Archons, the local Regional Commander(s), your parish priest, and your local hierarch.
There is an intense vetting process that takes place at the local and national levels. The final approval is given by the Ecumenical Patriarch.
In 1966 when the office of Archon was established in America by Archbishop Iakovos, it was a reward for a layperson’s service to the Church. As the Order has developed during the past fifty years, the duties of an Archon have matured into a call to action for the Mother Church – in defense of religious freedom.
Candidacy to become an Archon is dependent on one’s overall service to the Church rather than wealth.
The majority of Archons are not materially wealthy. They have devoted a lifespan of time, talent, and treasure to the Church. As with any organization, funding is necessary to sustain and grow an organization. Therefore, Archons are also invited to offer a stewardship pledge, but always according to their ability. There are no mandatory pledges.
All Archons are listed online at www.archons.org as well as in the Archdiocese yearbook. Please contact your local Regional Commanders further information about the Order.
Like people of all faiths, Orthodox Christians are persecuted throughout the world. Our beloved Ecumenical Patriarch lives in a country which is politically and religiously not always friendly toward non-Muslims. As a result, the Patriarch’s life is under constant threat. The Archons help to defend the Patriarch and Orthodoxy by educating government officials (local, state, national, and international) about mission of our Mother Church.
In addition, the heads of the eagle represent the dual sovereignty of the Byzantine Emperor, with the left head representing Rome in the West and the right head representing Constantinople in the East. The claws of the eagle clutch a cross and an orb (or, in some depictions, a sword and an orb). This combination is still found on the official flag of the Ecumenical Patriarchate today.
You should learn about the history of our Church and the issues related to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Christianity in general. Also, you should become aware of our “Church in Captivity,” as the Church of Constantinople has been described.
It is true that we take religious freedom for granted in our country. However, this is not true everywhere. In some parts of the world, you can be persecuted for making the sign of the cross in public.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate (EP) is the spiritual leader of worldwide Orthodoxy. The Archdiocese of America is one of many territories under the jurisdiction of the EP. In America, the Archbishop is the Exarch or representative of the EP. The hierarchal structure of our Church includes the Ecumenical Patriarch, our Archbishop, your Metropolitan, Bishop, Priest, and deacon.
In the early Church, there were five Patriarchates. In order of seniority and importance, these included Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. In the 4th century, the capital was transferred from Rome to New Rome (Constantinople, also known affectionately today as the “Polis”) and the Patriarch of the new capital became the Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome. The title of Ecumenical Patriarch was adopted at the Fourth Ecumenical Council in the 5th century.
The Ecumenical Patriarch is officially elected by the Holy Synod in Constantinople from a list of three candidates. We believe that the Holy Spirit guides the members of the Synod to elect the most appropriate candidate. One example of how Turkey interferes with the day-to-day function of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is that its government can veto any candidate. Also, they demand that all candidates must be Turkish citizens.
All seven Ecumenical Councils occurred in what is today the modern state of Turkey. Constantinople is an historic “See” of the ancient Church, and it has existed in the same place for over seventeen centuries. To give you a simple illustration: Would the Pope still be considered the Pope of Rome if he moved to New York City? Our Patriarch is the Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome. We are blessed and honored to have such ancient roots.
This is a major problem. There are only 1,500 Greek Orthodox Christians in Constantinople. The Ecumenical Patriarchate depends on its Exarchates (or Eparchies) for funding as well as on private donors. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and the Order of St Andrew are major contributors and donors. In 2021 the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation was formed in America, and has already raised over twenty-one million dollars. Prior to the challenges and economic collapse, Greece was a major source of funding.
When Hagia Sophia was a museum, it was at least a neutral site for all people to visit and enjoy its history and architecture. Hagia Sophia was built as a Church, not a mosque. In fact, it was the largest Church in Christendom for one thousand years. The current Turkish regime deliberately changed its status in order to denigrate its Christian roots.
That’s the point. Our freedom is taken for granted in the USA. There is NO religious freedom in Turkey, China, North Korea, and many countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa.
Non-Greek jurisdictions under the EP include the Albanian Orthodox Church of America, the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church Diocese, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America, the Jordanian/Palestinian Vicariate in America and the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate. Recently the Archdiocese launched also the African-American and Spanish Ministries.
We have in fact received support from the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches, as well as from international agencies. However, the religious freedoms of the Turkish Christian citizens and other minorities in Turkey have eroded considerably in recent years.
Turkey is a strategically important country because of its geographical location at the crossroads between the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. It has become especially important as a global military and energy player. This places the US in a difficult diplomatic dilemma. Beyond being an overwhelmingly Muslim nation, Turkey has often aligned itself with other superpowers and created delicate diplomatic relations. There have even been efforts in recent decades and years to eradicate the Ecumenical Patriarchate completely. To this day, the Turkish government does not acknowledge the Ecumenical nature and name of our Church.
Russia seeks world domination as “the third Rome” with a global patriarch headquartered in Moscow. The Russian State and the Russian Church have unfortunately bought into this dream and collaborate very closely. A recent example of this can be seen in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where the Church has endorsed the aggression of the State.
This action caused the Russian Orthodox Church to unilaterally “break communion” with Patriarch Bartholomew, and create a schism between Moscow and Constantinople.
