International Conference of the Archons of the Ecumenical Throne opened Sunday in Athens

The conference, held in Athens with the blessing of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, will feature distinguished speakers including Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Dr. Despina Hadjivassiliou-Tsovilis, and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vilnius, Gintaras Grušas, President of the Council of Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE).

A number of other important figures will also participate in the event, including Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Mayor of Athens Haris Doukas, Archon Exarch Athanasios Martinos, President of the Brotherhood of Pammakaristos of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Europe, Archon Aktouarios Dr. Anthony J. Lyberakis, National Commander of the Archons of America, Greek-American businessman John Catsimatidis, and others.

Following the Conference, Lymberakis will convene the first International Archons Conference, at which they will design initiatives to defend the Ecumenical Patriarchate and create a platform through which they will coordinate the Archons’ activities in the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia.

The meetings will take place at the Stoa of Attalos, the Old Parliament House, and the Zappeion Mansion. The official language of the conference is English.

Sunday Reception

A reception for the participants of the 4th Conference of Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on Human Rights, Democracy, and Religious Freedom was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday afternoon.

In attendance were Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Fr. Alex Karloutsos, Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira, Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium, Metropolitan Theodoritos of Laodicea, and head of the office of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Athens, Deputy Foreign Minister G. Kotsiras, along with the entire delegation of the Archons.

Greetings were extended by Athanasios Marinos, president of the Brotherhood of Offikalia “Panagia Pammakaristos” and co-chair of the Conference, as well as Anthony Lyberakis, National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the USA, and co-chair of the Conference.

The final address was delivered by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, representing Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.