top

The National Herald - December 29-30, 2012

Anthony J. Limberakis
Steadfast Crusader for the Ecumenical Patriarch

_____________________

By Sophia Stratakis Huling
TNH Staff Writer

“Archon (noun): 1. A chief magistrate in ancient Athens. 2. A presiding officer(Merriam-Webster).”

As Merriam-Webster suggests, archons were known in ancient Athens as men who played significant leadership roles in the society. When the Roman Empire became a Christian empire, the emperor began conferring the title of “archon” upon those who served as leaders in the Christian community. Even the word “archon” comes from a root that means “to lead.”

Fast-forward to March 1966 in the U.S.A., and Archbishop Iakovos, on behalf of Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople, bestowed the “offikion,” or title of archon on 30 laymen as an honor for their past service to the church. And the Order of St. Andrew, the U.S. version of “Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate” was born. For the next 30 years, the title of archon was considered an honorific title, earned by Orthodox Christian laymen for past work well done, reminiscent of an honorary knighthood bestowed by a monarch. Not a knight of medieval times, who actually had to wield a sword in battle to protect his sovereign, but a modern-day knight, of whom less was expected after he earned the title than before.
|
But in 1998, Spyridon, Archbishop of America and Exarch (representative) of the Ecumenical Patriarch appointed a new Archon National Commander named Anthony J. Limberakis, and things began to change, gradually but irrevocably.

“Before the tenure of Dr. Limberakis, the offikion was given by the Mother Church as an award for outstanding service to the church by a prominent layman,” said Dr. Nicholas Loutsion of Pennsylvania, an archon since 2003 and chairman of the Archon Regional Commanders Liaison Committee. “This new generation of archons is indoctrinated with the premise that becoming an archon is not only an honor, but a call to arms. As members of the Order, we are asked to use our time, our talent, and our treasure to actively pursue the task of ensuring religious freedom for the Mother Church. I am convinced that no one other than Dr. Limberakis could have succeeded in leading this organization to this level of professionalism, achievement, and success. He is a man on a mission! The mission being not only the preservation of our Mother Church which Sir Steven Runciman called the ‘Church in Captivity,’ but to ensure that the Ecumenical Patriarchate thrives. He is a true “Defender of the Faith’ in every sense of the phrase.”

[ ... ]

[ The National Herald - (Special Insert: Hellenic Leaders) - December 29-30, 2012 - pp. 2 & 4 ]