Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Photos by J. Mindala
On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, on the final evening of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s Patriarchal Visit to the United Kingdom, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America hosted a farewell dinner in honor of His All-Holiness. The dinner took at place at the historic Cavalry and Guards Club in the heart of London, the Club of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Pavlos.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, thanked His Royal Highness Crown Prince Pavlos, Vice President of King’s Trust International and the eldest son of King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, for welcoming His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel Geron of Chalcedon, His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain, His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Islands, the assembled clergy, the Archons, and the other guests into his club, and making all the dinner arrangements.
Dr. Limberakis stated that it had been “an extraordinary five days” accompanying His All-Holiness on his Patriarchal Visit to the United Kingdom, first in Chichester, where he delivered two magnificent treatises on the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea; then in participating in the Consecration of the Monastery of St. John the Baptist in Essex; and finally in watching the Grand Ecclesiarch, Father Aetios, successfully defend his Doctoral Thesis in the solemn presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch at the University of Cardiff in Wales. After that, the Archbishop of York hosted a luncheon at the Oxford and Cambridge Club in honor of the 269th direct successor of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle and longest-serving Ecumenical Patriarch in history.
“I feel at home this evening,” the Commander stated, “in the presence of our worldwide spiritual father, the Ecumenical Patriarch, and the Metropolitan of Chalcedon, with whom the Archons have been working for over 25 years in fighting for the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the EU, and with Father Alex, National Vice Commander Judge Bozonelis and the Archons of America all working together side by side, day after day for the past seven years to seek the financial security of the Holy Mother Church by establishing the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, which today has over 28.1 million dollars in pledges and $18 million cash in the bank.”
The Commander then discussed the need for all Archons around the world to “adopt a culture of giving.” “The Archon Stewardship of Time, Talent and Treasure,” the Commander went on to say, “should be the guiding principle for all global Archons in order to ensure that the Great Church of Christ has the resources to pursue its worldwide ministry, without concern for economic constraint.” Dr. Limberakis then ssued a personal appeal for each and every Archon present in the room to become a FOUNDER ($100,000 pledge payable over 10 years) as “Maria and I have done making monthly donations on our credit card,” or becoming a Builder (a pledge of any amount less than $100,000).
Concluding his remarks, Commander Dr. Limberakis noted that the Ecumenical Patriarch will be receiving the 2025 Templeton Prize, Dr. Limberakis called this “an extraordinary recognition,” and observed that for decades, His All-Holiness “has pioneered efforts to bridge scientific and spiritual understandings of humanity’s relationship with nature, and for bringing people of different faiths together to promote environmental stewardship.” Dr. Limberakis also stated that this September, His All-Holiness will be making a Patriarchal Visit to America to receive the Templeton Award, and will have meetings in Washington, DC, New York City and surrounding areas with the highest political leaders, as well as with clergy and local parishioners, young and old.
Upon introducing the next speaker in the program, Dr. Limberakis presented His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain who oversees 140 parishes and ministers to 500,000 Orthodox Faithful in the United Kingdom, having recently observed his sixth anniversary as Archbishop. Previously Archbishop Nikitas served as Metropolitan of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia and currently serves as the President of the Conference of European Churches and on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, works to combat the scourge of human trafficking.
Regarding the next speaker, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Pavlos, Dr. Limberakis stated that their paths crossed in Athens in January 2023 during the AEP advance work for the 4th Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom during which time the beloved father of the Crown Prince, the former King of Greece, His Majesty King Constantine II fell asleep in the Lord. At the funeral of His Majesty King Constantine II on January 16, 2023, Crown Prince Pavlos, offered a moving farewell to his father. Said Dr. Limberakis: “I never heard a more eloquent expression of love, respect and admiration of a son towards his father than His Royal Highness’s funeral oration to his beloved father.” Although the beginning of 2023 started on a sad note for the Crown Prince, it ended with an uplifting recognition when The Princes’ Trust International (now The King’s Trust) received the 2023 Athenagoras Human Rights Award, and King Charles III (then, the Prince of Wales) designated Crown Prince Pavlos to receive the Award, on his behalf.
His All-Holiness, the Crown Prince, and the Commander all commented that they were encouraged by the large number of young people from the Sacred Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain who were attending the dinner that evening. Most were parishioners of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Divine Wisdom in London. The Dean of the Cathedral is the Very Rev. Archimandrite Nephon Tsimalis, longtime friend of the Archons who was born in Chicago.
Earlier during the dinner, the Hon. B. Theodore Bozonelis, National Vice Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, offered an uplifting toast to His All-Holiness and just prior to the Patriarchal Exhortation, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Pavlos offered a Toast to King Charles, III.
The evening concluded when His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivered a Patriarchal Exhortation and gave the benediction at the conclusion of the evening.
