Religious leaders of a wide variety of faith traditions from across South Carolina, along with state political leaders, gathered together on Thursday, January 8, 2026, for the second annual South Carolina Religious Liberty Conference. The conference, sponsored by the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, was held in Chambers at the State House of South Carolina. Among the featured speakers was Archon Stephanos (Steve) G. Trakas, Regional Commander for North and South Carolina.

The theme of the conference was “Religious Liberty is the Bedrock of Human Dignity and the Soul of our State.” The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate were invited to speak on behalf of the Holy Orthodox Church. Archon Steve Trakas gave a historical presentation of on the Ecumenical Patriarchate from its founding by the Saint Andrew the First-Called Apostle to the present. (Photos courtesy of screligiousliberty.org)