The activities of the Order for the year 2005 concentrated
on the profound issue of Defending the Mother Church of Constantinople
against the policies of religious persecution perpetrated by government
of Turkey. These repressive policies at this moment in the 2000 year
history of the Ecumenical Patriarchate threaten its very survival. With
the encouragement and blessings of the Exarch, Archbishop Demetrios
of America, the Archons have intensified our efforts to address the
following egregious violations of religious freedom:
WASHINGTON
CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING
HELSINKI COMMISSION (March 2005)
An historic presentation of the religious freedom
deficit before a Congressional Committee took place in March 2005 in
the US Capitol. Archbishop Demetrios of America, primate of the Greek
Orthodox Church in America, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Holocaust survivor Rabbi Arthur Schneier
of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, former Congressman Bob Edgar,
President of the National Council of Churches and Anthony J. Limberakis,
MD, National Commander of the Order of St. Andrew offered testimony
to the Helsinki Commission regarding the lack of religious freedom extant
in Turkey that threatens the survival of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
STATE DEPARTMENT MEETINGS
The Archon Leadership continues to meet on a regular basis with State
Department officials for several reasons:
- Report the situation on the ground in Turkey regarding religious
persecution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
- Seek the guidance of our government in helping Turkey address
their repressive policies that infringe on the religious freedom
of the Phanar
- Request assistance in obtaining meetings with key officials throughout
the world's diplomatic venues to discuss the crisis in religious
freedom in Turkey and its grave implications regarding the survival
of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
In this regard, the Archons have met with Under
Secretary of State Nicholas Burns, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel
Fried and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza.
Although the Archons did not travel to Ankara, Turkey
in 2005, the Leadership did meet with the Turkish Ambassadors to Belgium,
Erkan Gezer and to the EU, Mustafa Oguz Demiralp during the EU meetings
in April.
EUROPEAN UNION
The Archon Leadership in 2005 initiated discussions
with key members of the European Union regarding Turkey's accession.
The Order strongly supports Turkey joining the EU, so long as it adopts
the shared values of religious freedom and human rights enjoyed by EU
member states. With the assistance of Metropolitan Emmanuel of France,
the official representative of the Orthodox Church to the EU and European
Parliament Vice President Andonios Trakatellis meetings with officials
and staff of the European Commission, the European Council and the European
Parliament took place to promote Turkey's accession to the EU and concomitantly
detailing religious human rights violations that must be addressed prior
to its accession. These meetings took place in May 2005 in Brussels,
Belgium and Strasbourg, France and again in June 2005 in Brussels when
Commander Limberakis met with Commissioner Olli Rehn, in charge of Turkey's
accession into the EU. Over 800 Briefing Books containing essential
documents and evidence regarding the religious freedom deficit in Turkey
have been distributed to the Members of the European Parliament and
key Commissioners and Staff of the EU. In additional, through the beneficence
of Archon Angelo Tsakopoulos, the landmark book entitled The Mechanism
of Catastrophe; The Turkish Pogrom of September 6-7, 1955, and the Destruction
of the Greek Community of Istanbul, by Speros Vryonis, Jr. was distributed
to all 732 members of the European Parliament.
JUDICIAL REMEDY TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DEFICIT
On the way home during the 11 hour flight from Istanbul to New York,
Commander Limberakis conceived of the concept to seek judicial redress
to the religious freedom deficit that threatens the survival of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate. After receiving approval from the National
Council an Archon Legal Committee was established in June 2005 to
seek judicial remedy of the religious persecution in Turkey. Chaired
by Archon Legal Counselor Christopher Stratakis, the committee is
comprised of leading attorneys and scholars. The work of the Committee
has been facilitated by a Yale University Law School Document commissioned
by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America which details the violations
of religious freedom in Turkey (Treaty of Lausanne, Organization of
Security and Cooperation in Europe [OSCE], Constitution of Turkey
and other treaties of which Turkey is a signatory). In addition, the
Order sought the guidance of the Cornell Law School and its well-know
human rights professor Muna B. Ndulo to develop a roadmap for legal
redress of the religious freedom violations that threaten the survival
of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Cornell report was released in
December 2005.
The Order continues its sacred mission to Defend the Mother Church
and ceaselessly work to address the issue of religious freedom.
The accomplishments of the Order are a direct result of the work of
the National Council, its officers and our Spiritual Adviser Fr. Alex
Karloutsos. National Vice Commander Nicholas J. Bouras, Secretary
John Halecky, Jr. and Treasurer James C. Fountas, the officers, demonstrate
extraordinary Archon Stewardship every day of the year. Legal Counselor
Christopher Stratakis, Historian Christo Daphnides, Sergeant-at-Arms
Alex Pritsos, the Committee Chairmen and our hard working National
Council and Regional Commanders deserve our deep gratitude. The hard
work and dedication of our administrator Dina Theodosakis and Presvytera
Xanthi Karloutsos are invaluable and the Order is most appreciative
of their efforts.
In closing this report, allow me to express the appreciation of the
entire Order to our beloved spiritual father in the United States,
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America. His constant encouragement,
guidance and love have been inspirational.
On behalf of the Archons of America, we express our utmost respect,
affection and fidelity to our beloved spiritual father Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew. As Archons of the Great Church of Christ we pledge to serve
as Defenders of the Faith with dedication and tenacity in pursuit of
our sacred ΑΓΩΝΑ. We offer this 2005 Annual Report in testimony
of our love of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
With profound respect and affection,
Archon Aktouarios
National Commander
October 10, 2006
Philadelphia
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