GREETINGS AT NEWSEUM LUNCHEON

ARCHON COMMANDER ANTHONY J. LIMBERAKIS

3rd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom

The Persecution of Christians In The Holy Lands & Middle East Consequences and Solutions

Newseum
Washington, DC
(December 6, 2017 – 12:30 – 1:30 pm)

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Your Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Exarch of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
Your Eminences and Excellencies,
Congresswoman Eshoo,
Dr. Sekulow, Recipient of the 2014 Athenagoras Human Rights Award,
AHEPA Supreme President and Brother Archon Carl Hollister
Distinguished Guests,
Brother Archons,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

What a privilege it is for me to offer these few greetings on behalf of the Archons, especially because our brothers of the American Hellenic Progressive Association, AHEPA are our co-hosts for this luncheon. Nothing could be more appropriate than the Archons teaming up with AHEPA, because AHEPA was founded precisely to assist and protect the young Greek-American Community during difficult days right here in America, when bigotry and racism threatened our Greek Orthodox people in their newly adopted country. By fighting ignorance and cultivating understanding, AHEPA served the young immigrant communities across our great Nation, and continues to do so today, even as our current needs are changing.

And how appropriate that we are gathered at a museum dedicated to the First Amendment of our Constitution – which enshrines our Nation’s resolute affirmation of freedom of religion, of thought, of conscience, of speech, of the press, and of our right to peaceable assembly. I am reminded that in Greek, the word for “assembly” is ekklesia, the word for Church. That is what we are here defending today – our assembly, our Church.

Thank you all for coming and joining in this noble cause.