2017 Washington D.C.

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Speakers

Conference Chairman

Mike Manatos

Chairman of the Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom

Panel Chair

Congressman Gus Bilirakis

Vice Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee

The Hon. B. Theodore Bozonelis

Secretary of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle

George E. Demacopoulos

Fr. John Meyendorff & Patterson Family Chair of Orthodox Christian Studies at Fordham University

Anthony J. Limberakis, M.D.

National Commander, Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Andrew E. Manatos

CEO of Manatos and Manatos

Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou

Tufts University Fletcher School for Law & Diplomacy Visiting Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution

Panelist

Archbishop Angaelos

The Coptic Orthodox Church, United Kingdom

Kristina Arriaga

Vice Chairwoman, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian

Diocesan Legate in Washington, D.C. and Ecumenical Director of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) USA

V. Rev. Fr. Isaac Crow

Ss. Peter & Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church

Sidney H. Griffith

Professor of Early Christian Studies, Catholic University

Christina Hioureas

Council of Foreign Relations

Nathaniel Hurd

Policy Advisor, Commission on Security & Cooperation in Europe, US Helsinki Commission

Archbishop Dionysius Kawak

Archbishop and Patriarchal Vicar, Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern United States

Anna Koulouris

Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Senator James Lankford

Speaking on the unjust incarceration of Pastor Brunson in Turkey

Johny Messo

President, World Council of Arameans (Syriacs)

Mark L. Movsesian

Frederick A. Whitney Professor and Director of the Center for Law and Religion, St. John’s University

Kate Nahapetian

Executive Director of the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights

Gene Policinski

Chief Operating Officer, Newseum Institute

Rabbi Arthur Schneier

President and Founder, Appeal of Conscience Foundation

Timothy Samuel Shah

Senior Director, Religious Freedom Institute

James C. Skedros

Professor of Byzantine Studies, Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

Samuel Tadros

Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute

Ambassador Patrick N. Theros

U.S. Ambassador (Ret.) to Qatar

Session Moderator

William Antholis

CEO of the University of Virginia’s Miller Center of Public Affairs

George E. Demacopoulos

Fr. John Meyendorff & Patterson Family Chair of Orthodox Christian Studies at Fordham University

Lauren Green

Chief Religion Correspondent, Fox News

Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou

Tufts University Fletcher School for Law & Diplomacy Visiting Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution

Speaker

Senator Ben Cardin

Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former Chairman, Helsinki Commission

Archbishop Demetrios

Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America

Dr. Andrew J. Ekonomou

PhD, Senior Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice and the European Centre for Law and Justice

Hank Hanegraaff

President, Christian Research Institute President

Carl Hollister

Supreme President, Order of AHEPA

Anthony J. Limberakis, M.D.

National Commander, Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Reince Priebus

Former White House Chief of Staff and former Chairman of the Republican National Committee

Wilbur Ross

U.S. Secretary of Commerce

Congressman Ed Royce

Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee

Senator Marco Rubio

Chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Human Rights Subcommittee & Commissioner, Helsinki Commission

Jay Alan Sekulow

Chief Counsel, American Center for Law and Justice and the European Centre for Law and Justice

Jordan Sekulow

American Center for Law and Justic (ACJL)

John Zavitsanos

Attorney, Archon of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle

Speeches & Addresses

Persecution of Christians in the Middle East by Chairman Ed Royce - Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
Unfortunately there is a rising wave of persecution of Christians in the region, and the Christian population in these nations has dramatically shrunk as a result.
Farewell Dinner Remarks by Archons Commander Anthony J. Limberakis
On behalf of the Order of Saint Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America, please allow me to express on behalf of all the Archons our abiding gratitude and appreciation for your presence and participation in these most urgent conversations on the fate of Christianity in the lands of its birth and growth.
Statement on Destruction of Religious Sites by Archon Commander Anthony J. Limberakis
My opening remarks will be brief, as I am anxious to hear from the notable members of our panel – and if you will allow me a moment of personal privilege, especially from a man who understands this issue as well as anyone alive today. Rabbi Arthur Schneier.
Greetings at Newseum Luncheon by Archon Commander Anthony J. Limberakis
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
Welcome at Wednesday Breakfast by Archon Commander Anthony J. Limberakis
On behalf of the Order of Saint Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, I welcome all of you to this morning fellowship. Yesterday was truly an inspirational day,
GREETING By His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
From the Sacred Center of our Faith, the Holy and Great Church of Constantinople, we commend our beloved and faithful Archons of our Ecumenical Patriarchate and express our thanks to them, for their zeal and faithfulness in holding their Third International Conference on religious freedom under the title: “Persecution of Christians In The Holy Lands & Middle East: Consequences and Solutions.”
Rep. Chris Smith: Persecution of Christians in the Holy Lands and Middle East: Consequences and Solutions
More than ever before, vigorous U.S. leadership and diplomacy are needed to address religious freedom violations in the region and globally. All the tools embedded in laws like the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act which I authored
Banquet Remarks by Archon Commander Anthony J. Limberakis
There is a reason that the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Western Hemisphere are dedicated to Saint Andrew, the First-Called Disciple of our Lord. Saint Andrew the Apostle was the not only the “First-Called” – he was also the first to gather someone else to the invitation of the Lord, in fact, his own brother Simon, who would become Saint Peter, the Chief of the Apostles.
Introduction of Archbishop Demetrios by Archon Commander Anthony J. Limberakis
We thank you for your presence here this evening, for it affirms our government’s commitment to religious liberty and human rights for all people.
Introduction of Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross by Archon Commander Anthony J. Limberakis at the Metropolitan Club
Secretary Ross was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence as the 39th Secretary of Commerce on February 28, 2017. He is the principal voice of business in the Trump Administration, ensuring that U.S. entrepreneurs and businesses have the tools they need to create jobs and economic opportunity.
Welcoming Remarks by Archon Commander Anthony J. Limberakis
As we commence this vitally important conversation here in the capital of the world’s greatest living democracy, we do so by honoring the sacrifice of our martyred Christian Brothers and Sisters throughout the world, but especially in the historic lands of the Middle East and North Africa
Greetings at Capitol Hill Luncheon by Archon Commander Anthony J. Limberakis
As we gather here in this most magnificent setting of the Capitol complex, the Kennedy Caucus Room, my mind travels back in time to October 21, 1997 – and another magnificent setting – the Capitol Rotunda
Opening Remarks by Archon Commander Anthony J. Limberakis
This grave subject is the raison d’etre of the Order of Saint Andrew, the restoration of the legal and human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and by extension, of all the religious minorities of Turkey and the Holy Lands and Middle East.
Anna Koulouris - Panel Session 2: Persecution of Christians and Possible Solutions
All the Churches in the Holy Land were completely united and immediate in their response to disturbing developments that unfolded this summer, following increasing efforts in the last few years by radical settler groups within Israel to alter the Christian character of Jerusalem.
Seven Steps America Can Take to Save, Protect and Empower the Aramean Christians of the Middle East
I will not repeat what others already have said about their underreported sufferings such as genocide, ethnic cleansing and alarming mass exoduses from their homeland. Instead, this opening statement will propose seven crucial steps America can take to empower the indigenous Aramean or Syriac people of Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

News

Order of Saint Andrew Establishes New Website On Worldwide Christian Persecution
In accord with the goals of the 3rd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom, and as a result of the follow-up meeting of the 2018 Religious Freedom Summit, the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, has established a new and dynamic website dedicated solely to the timely and egregious issue of the persecution of Christians throughout the world.
3rd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom in Washington focuses on persecution of Christians
A three-day conference was held Dec. 4-6 in Washington, D.C., on the "Persecution of Christians in the Holy Lands and the Middle East: Consequences and Solutions." The conference was sponsored by the Order of St. Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This is the third such conference held by the Archons on religious freedom with the previous sessions held in Brussels, Belgium, in 2010 and Berlin, Germany, in 2013.
Sen. Rubio urges help for displaced Middle East Christians
Sen. Marco Rubio emphasized Wednesday that with the increasing persecution of Christians in the Middle East, complacency with the current situation is not an option for the United States.
Leading Senators and Members for Religious Freedom urge stronger action to protect religious liberty
Leaders in the United States Congress for Religious Freedom stressed the need for the U.S. government to take a more vigorously active role in protecting endangered Christians in the Holy Lands and the Middle East.
US Secretary of Commerce troubled by persecution of Christian
“Violence arising from religious intolerance is a huge global problem,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross pointed out at the opening session of the three-day International Conference on Religious Freedom in the nation’s capital Monday night.
3rd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom to spotlight persecution of Christians and impending disappearance of Christianity from the Holy Lands and Middle East
Open Doors USA, the California-based non-profit that has tracked Christian persecution for the past 25 years, points out that millions of Christians face interrogation, arrest, torture, and/or death because of their religious convictions and cultural or ethnic identification.
The 3rd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom to be held in Washington, D.C., December 4-6, 2017
With the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate invite you to attend and witness the Archons' Third International Conference on Religious Freedom. The theme of the Conference will be: "The Persecution of Christians in the Holy Lands & The Middle East: Consequences and Solutions."

Photos

Video

Schedule

The Persecution of Christians
in the Holy Lands & Middle East

Consequences & Solutions

The 3rd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom

Washington, D.C.
December 4-6, 2017

(As of 11/28/17)

 

Monday, December 4, 2017 – Day One

3:00 – 5:00 pm   Conference Registration
[Trump Hotel, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Presidential Ballroom] 
 
       
5:30 pm   Buses begin departing Trump Hotel for Metropolitan Club  
     

6:00 – 8:00 pm

 

Welcome Reception
[Metropolitan Club, 1700 H Street, NW] 

Program

  • Welcome: Conference Chairman Mike Manatos
  • Greetings: Archon National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis
  • Remarks: US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross
  • Remarks: Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios 
     
8:15 pm   Buses return to Trump Hotel 

 

Tuesday, December 5, 2017 – Day Two

8:00 – 9:30 am

 

Breakfast and Opening Remarks

[Trump Hotel, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Presidential Ballroom] 

Program:

  • Welcoming Remarks: Conference Chairman Mike Manatos
  • Invocation: Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
  • Remarks: Archon National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis
  • Remarks: Christian Research Institute President, Hank Hanegraaff
  • Patriarchal Message & Response: Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America, HE Archbishop Demetrios
  • Benediction: His Grace Bishop Angaelos,  Coptic Orthodox Church, United Kingdom
     

10:00 – 11:30 am

 

Session One: History of the Christian Church

[Trump Hotel, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Presidential Ballroom]

Moderator/Panel Chair

  • Fr. John Meyendorff & Patterson Family Chair of Orthodox Christian Studies at Fordham University, Archon George E. Demacopoulos

Panelists:

  • S.T., Professor of Early Christian Studies, Catholic University of America, Sidney Griffith
  • Fredrick A. Whitney Professor of Contract Law, St. Johns Law School, Mark Movsesian
  • Dean & Michael G. and Anastasia Cantonis Professor of Byzantine Studies, Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, James Skedros
  • Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, Samuel Tadros

 

 

 

12:30 – 1:30 pm

 

Capitol Hill Lunch

[Capitol Hill, Russell Senate Office Building, 2 Constitution Ave, NE, Kennedy Caucus Room]

Program:

  • Welcoming Remarks: Former Assistant Secretary of Commerce Andrew E. Manatos
  • Invocation: His Eminence Archbishop Dionysios Kawak, Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese
  • Greetings: Archon National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis
  • Remarks: Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former Chairman, Helsinki Commission, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD)
  • Remarks: Chairman, House Global Human Rights Subcommittee and Co-Chairman, Helsinki Commission, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) (invited)
  • Benediction: Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
     

2:30 – 4:00 pm

 

Session Two: Persecution of Christians and Possible Solutions

[Capitol Hill, Capitol Visitor Center Auditorium] 

Please note that this event is not covered by the conference registration fee and is free.

Opening Remarks:

  • Panel Co-Chair, Former Assistant Secretary of Commerce Andrew E. Manatos
  • Senator James Lankford (R-OK)
  • Co-Vice-Chair, Congressional Religious Freedom Caucus, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)

Moderator

  • CEO of the University of Virginia’s Miller Center of Public Affairs, William Antholis

Panelists:

  • His Eminence Archbishop Dionysius Kawak, Syriac Orthodox Church
  • His Grace Bishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Church, United Kingdom
  • V. Rev. Fr. Isaac Crow, Antiochian Orthodox Church
  • Anna Koulouris, Communications Advisor, Patriarchate of Jerusalem
  • Johny Messo, President, World Council of Arameans (Syriacs)

 

 

 

6:30 – 7:15 pm

 

Cocktails

     

7:30 – 10:00 pm

 

Conference Banquet

[Trump Hotel, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Presidential Ballroom] 

Hosted by The Nicholas J. and Anna K. Bouras Foundation

Program:

  • Welcoming Remarks: Archon National Secretary, The Hon. B. Theodore Bozonelis
  • Invocation: Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
  • Greetings: Archon National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis
  • Remarks: American Center for Law& Justice Executive Director, Jordan Sekulow
  • Remarks: Former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus
  • Response: Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
  • Benediction: His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion, Bishop of Los Angeles and Metropolitan of Southern California and Hawaii

 

   

 

Wednesday, December 6, 2017 – Day Three

8:00 – 9:30 am

 

Breakfast

[Trump Hotel, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Presidential Ballroom] 

Program:

  • Welcoming Remarks: Archon National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis
  • Invocation: Rabbi Arthur Schneier, President and Founder, Appeal of Conscience Foundation
  • Remarks: Former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus
  • Remarks: Chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Human Rights Subcommittee & Commissioner, Helsinki Commission, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)
  • Benediction: Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios

 

 

 

10:30 – 12:00 pm

 

Session Three: Freedoms of Religion and the Press

[Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Auditorium]

Opening Remarks:

  • Panel Chair/Archon National Secretary The Hon. B. Theodore Bozonelis

Moderator

  • Fox News Chief Religion Correspondent, Lauren Green

Panelists:

  • US Commission on International Religious Freedom Vice Chair Kristina Arriaga de Bucholz
  • Helsinki Commission Policy Advisor, Nathaniel Hurd
  • Newseum Institute Religious Freedom Center COO, Gene Policinski
  • Religious Freedom Institute Senior Director, South & Southeast Asia, Dr. Timothy Samuel Shah
     

12:30 – 1:30 pm

 

Lunch

[Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave, NW] 

Hosted by the American Hellenic Educational and Progressive Association (AHEPA)

Program:

  • Welcoming Remarks: AHEPA Supreme President Carl Hollister
  • Invocation: Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
  • Greetings: Archon National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis
  • Remarks: Archon Dr. Andrew J. Ekonomou
  • Remarks: American Center for Law & Justice Chief Counsel, Jay Sekulow
  • Benediction: Very Reverand Father Isaac Crow, Antiochian Orthodox Church
     

1:45 pm

 

Participants begin walking from Newseum to Trump Hotel

     

2:30 – 4:00 pm

 

Session Four: Sacred Sites and Property Rights

[Trump Hotel, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Presidential Ballroom] 

Opening Remarks:

  • Panel Chair/Archon National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis

Moderator

  • Tufts University Fletcher School for Law & Diplomacy Visiting Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution, Elizabeth Prodromou

Panelists:

  • US Ambassador to Qatar (retired), Ambassador Patrick Theros
  • President of the National Council of Churches / Director of the Ecumenical Office of theArmenian Church of America, His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian
  • Chair of the FoleyHoag UN Practice Group, Christina Hioureas, Esq.
  • Executive Director, Armenian Legal Center for Justice & Human Rights, Kate Nahapetian
  • President and Founder, Appeal of Conscience Foundation, Rabbi Arthur Schneier 

.

 

 

6:30 pm

 

Buses begin departing Trump Hotel for USIP

     
7:00 pm   Cocktails
     

7:00 – 9:30 pm

 

Farewell Dinner

[US Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Avenue, NW] 

Program:

  • Welcoming Remarks: Archon Andrew Manatos
  • Invocation: Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
  • Remarks: House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA)
  • Remarks: Archon National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis
  • Response: Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
  • Benediction: President, Hellenic College Holy Cross, Father Christopher Metropoulos
     

9:30 pm

 

Buses return to Trump Hotel 

     

 

 

Conference Concludes