On Saturday of Archon Weekend, October 18, 2025, at the Annual Archon Agape Family Luncheon, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (AEP), with the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, will present the Archon Sophia Award for Excellence to Helen Nixon, Ed.D. and Katina Limberakis Tsatalis, M.Ed. The Sophia Award for Excellence is given annually by the Order to an individual or individuals who have distinguished themselves in endeavors that serve the needs of the Holy Mother Church and the Sacred Mission of the Archons of the Great Church of Christ.

Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, stated: “Dr. Helen Nixon and my beloved sister Katina Limberakis Tsatalis have been the driving and creative forces behind our overwhelmingly successful Archon Ecumenical Patriarchate Global Educational Initiative Program.  This milestone program teaches our beloved youth in our catechism schools across the country, a comprehensive understanding of the canonical, historical and ecclesiastical significance of the Holy Great Church of Christ, and the person of the Ecumenical Patriarch, His All-Holiness Bartholomew.”

In addition, the Archon Sprout Program enables educators to introduce their Sunday School students to the challenges that His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy Mother Church of Constantinople face today.

“These two remarkable professional educators,” Dr. Limberakis continued, “contributed hundreds of hours pro bono to create this much needed and innovative program, and they did a splendid job. Our gratitude to them cannot possibly be overstated.”

Dr. Nixon stated: “Developing this program to help educate our children and secure the future of our Holy Archdiocese, as well as of our beloved Ecumenical Patriarchate, has been an honor enough in itself. I am deeply honored as well to receive this Award, and give thanks to God for His abundant blessings.” Ms. Tsatalis said: “It has been immensely gratifying to see the success of the Archon Sprout Program. To see our children grow in awareness of the sacred mission of His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch, and in love for him, is reward enough in itself.”

The Archon Sprout Program is age-specific and grade-specific; it covers every grade level from preschool to high school with a pre-prepared curriculum. The curriculum resides in a digital platform that is easily downloaded providing the local Sunday School teacher with specific teaching instructions and education goals of the specific lesson. View the Archon Sprout Program website here.

The annual Archon Agape Luncheon is a highlight of the AEP’s Annual Archon Weekend, which will be held this year at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City from October 16 to 19. The Sophia Award for Excellence was inaugurated in 2021, and was first presented to Santiago Calatrava, the internationally renowned architect who designed the Saint Nicholas Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, for his inspirational vision in the rebuilding of the Shrine. In 2022, it was awarded to Archon Dr. Nawaf Salameh of blessed memory and his wife Rim Salameh, along with Archon Boris and Youlianna Gurov, for their extraordinary generosity and invaluable assistance for the 2022 Archon Religious Freedom Mission to Bulgaria.

Then in January 2023, it was presented to the United States Ambassador to Greece, George J. Tsunis in recognition of his service to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. In October 2023, the Award was presented to Archon John Gumas for his work on the Strategic Branding Initiative, aiding the AEP in developing a logo, clarifying its name, and formulating a tagline for the Order that would best express its determination to protect and strengthen the Holy Mother Church of Constantinople.