The 4th International Conference of the "Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate" on human rights, democracy and religious freedom is held in Athens. The conference is attended by prominent personalities of the Greek-American community as well as important personalities of the business, political and ecclesiastical world in Greece and 22 other countries.
Eva Metis Koutoumanou
The conference takes place from 26 to 28 May with the blessings of His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. It is organized by the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia with 292 participants from 22 countries.
Keynote speakers at the Conference are former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Dr. Despina Hadjivassiliou-Tsovili and His Eminence Roman Catholic Archbishop Vilnius Gintaras Grušas, President of the Council of European Episcopal Assemblies (CCEE).
The "Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate" is a dedicated group of leading figures, working tirelessly to protect religious freedom for all and secure the future of the Ecumenical Patriarchate – the historic spiritual center of the world's 300+ million Orthodox Christians.
The first International Conference of the "Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate" follows the three previous Conferences on Religious Freedom, held at the European Parliament in Brussels, Berlin, Germany and Washington, USA.
A plethora of important personalities will take the podium throughout the four-day event, such as the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs George Kotsiras, the Mayor of Athens Haris Doukas, the Archon Exarch Athanasios Martinos, President of the Pammakaristos Brotherhood of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Europe, the former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Finance Evangelos Venizelos. PPC Chairman and CEO George Stassis, Archon Megas Aktouarios Dr. Anthony J. Lyberakis, national commander of the Archons of America, president of the Brotherhood of Archons of Europe "Pammakaristos" etc.
Among the prominent personalities who came to Athens from America stand out the commander of the US Archons belonging to the Order of St. Andrew, Antonis Lyberakis, the deputy governor and magistrate Theodoros Bozonelis, the Archbishop of America Elpidophoros as well as the spiritual advisor of the order father Alex Karloutsos, who inspired this international conference, the well-known Greek-American lobbyist Mike Manatos, the big manufacturer George Pantelidis, Alex Pritsos, a former member of the US security service, the president of the Hellenic-American Institute Nick Laryngakis, the president of the Greek lawyers of New York, George Zapantis and the well-known Greek-American billionaire John Catsimatidis with his wife Margo.
After the conference, Mr. Martin and Dr. Lyberakis will convene the first International Conference of Archons, in which they will plan initiatives to defend the Ecumenical Patriarchate and create a platform through which they will coordinate the activities of the Archons in the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia.
The meetings take place at the Stoa of Attalos, the Palace of the Old Parliament and the Zappeion Palace.
