Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 20, 2024, as the investiture of twenty-eight new Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate will take place following the Divine Liturgy at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City.
Under the leadership of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, this ceremony will mark the conclusion of the annual Archon Weekend. The newly appointed Archons, hailing from various parts of the United States, will pledge their commitment to safeguarding and advocating for the Holy Mother Church of Constantinople.
Each Archon will be bestowed with the Cross of St. Andrew and an official Patriarchal Certificate during the service, outlining the specific Offikion designated by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. These Offikia, elucidated by the Ecumenical Patriarch, carry profound historical significance, symbolizing crucial public and ecclesiastical roles within the Eastern Roman Empire and the Orthodox Church.
Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, Archon Megas Aktouarios and National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, expressed, “The Archons boast a rich and storied history, tracing back to the Archons of Ancient Greece in the 11th century BC, with Medon of Athens being the inaugural bearer of the title. They embody the nobility of the Church, both in the Byzantine Empire era and the present day. Archons are entrusted with the sacred duty of being unwavering guardians of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, securing the future of faith, and serving as ambassadors of goodwill for the Phanar in their daily lives.”
Dr. Limberakis further remarked, “These outstanding and dedicated new Archons have been selected for their exceptional Christian Stewardship, which they will now elevate to a higher level of service to the Sacred Center of our Holy Orthodox Faith. To the Archon Class of 2024, congratulations are in order. Axios! A big thank you is owed to the Committee to Recommend New Archons. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, chaired each meeting where all candidates were meticulously reviewed, analyzed, and recommended for investiture. The Committee, led by Archon Constantine G. Caras, Esq., diligently managed the selection process with thoroughness, efficiency, and great effectiveness.”
The investiture will celebrate the following new Archons:
- Paul L. Bitsos, Omaha, Nebraska
- Gregory M. Cokinos, Houston, Texas
- Thomas A. Copulos, D.D.S., Boca Raton, Florida
- Christopher P. Daifotis, Westfield, New Jersey
- Anthony W. Djinis, Potomac, Maryland
- William P. Galatis, Saugus, Massachusetts
- Peter Gerazounis, P.E., Searingtown, New York
- Peter F. Giorgi, Esq., Reading, Pennsylvania
- Jani Gjoni, Addison, Illinois
- Nicholas D. Kambitsis, Highland Park, New Jersey
- Vassilios Kassimatis, Garden City, New York
- John Constantinos Vasilios Katsanos, Astoria, New York
- Lazarus M. Kifirides, D.O., Wilmington, Delaware
- Markos Kounalakis, Ph.D., San Francisco, California
- Hon. Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos, Chicago, Illinois
- Dean T. Maragos, Winnetka, Illinois
- William B. Martin, Little Rock, Arkansas
- George B. Naftis, Colleyville, Texas
- Alexander A. Nikas, Esq., Malvern, Pennsylvania
- Peter A. Palivos, Esq., Henderson, Nevada
- Demetri Papacostas, Bedford, New York
- Harry N. Pateroulakis, Bayside, New York
- Nicholas N. Patricios, Ph.D., Pinecrest, Florida
- General Andrew Poppas, Fort Liberty, North Carolina
- George L. Staphos, Old Tappan, New Jersey
- George Tsetsekos, Ph.D., Devon, Pennsylvania
- John Vasilantonakis, Brooklyn, New York
- Andreas Zigouras, Saddle Brook, New Jersey
Source: archons.org