SPRING 1983 OF r)ie Aposr-je National Campaign To Save The Ecumenical Patriarchate NEW YORK, N.Y. - Strengthened by the addition of 17 new Archons, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle has launched a national campaign to restore religious freedom and human rights to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the world­ wide center of Orthodox Christianity. Archbishop lakovos, spiritual leader of Greek Orthodox Chris­ tians in the Americas, officiated on the Sunday of Orthodoxy _at_a-Cejemony--af Investiture during whith-he-conferred-the- highest honor that the Church can bestow, the title of "Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate", upon 17 dedicated laymen from throughout the United States. These new Archons will join their fellow members in the Or­ der of St. Andrew the Apostle, which is undertaking an ambitious effort to raise the consciousness of Americans about the long­ standing oppression and harassment of the Patriarchate by the Turkish government. Partly by distributing up to one million copies of an informa­ tive pamphlet entitled "The Plight of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople", the Order is hoping to produce a ground- swell of public opinion not only among Orthodox Christians These buildings comprise the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Christianity. or Greek Americans but among the general populace. the worldwide center of Orthodox National Archon Commander Dr. Anthony G. Borden out­ Sarbanes, D-Md., a member of the Senate lined the campaign at a Sunday of Orthodoxy Banquet in the U.S. Senator Paul Relations Committee, briefly addressed the audience Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where he announced that April 24th Foreign in his capacity as an Archon. has been designated as"Ecumenical Patriarchate Sunday" with John Brademas, who championed religious freedom and Priests speaking from the pulpit on the subject and distribution Dr. human rights around the world during 22 years in Congress of the pamphlets in the Parishes. before becoming President of New York University, delivered "With persistence and dedication we will succeed in our efforts the main address. He, too, is an Archon. to save the Ecumenical Patriarchate," he said. "Fighting for jus­ Brademas spoke "about matters I believe to be of great im­ tice and human dignity is not an exercise in futility. It is a diffi­ portance to Americans of Greek origin the survival of the Ecu­ cult but inspiring struggle in which we should all participate. menical Patriarchate in Turkey, the issue of American-Greek- "As defenders of the Faith, we understand that for significant relations and the questions of how we as American citi­ historic, ethnic and religious reasons, the Ecumenical Patriar­ Turkish of Greek descent can and should bring our influence to chate should remain in Constantinople where God through zens bear on both questions._____= ; ~—^~^—^=^~=^s^— .._SL-Andj;ew founded it in 36 A.DJ1, "Let me say as forcefully as I can that we must not and cannot lose heart nor should we allow our earlier failures to deflect or discourage us. Instead, as we launch this new campaign, we must clarify the issues before us, identify the groups that share our concerns and mobilize their support. "We are not here speaking of a narrow issue, one that con­ cerns only Greeks and Greek Americans or, for that matter, solely Christians. We are rather voicing our concern about the sanctity of human and religious rights more broadly. "I see here, therefore, an opportunity for effective coalition building that transcends religious, racial, ethnic and political loyalties. "What Greek Americans discovered from the Cyprus crisis was that well organized political action, combined with able leadership and the right issue, could affect national policy. "I am encouraged by the appointment of a valued friend. Congressman Gus Yatron of Pennsylvania, to chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Human Rights photo by Costa Hayden Organizations. Archbishop lakovos, spiritual leader of Creek Orthodox Christians in the and International to con­ Americas, reads the names of the 17 new Archons of the Ecumenical "I understand that Congressman Yatron plans soon Patriarchate of Constantinople. Their investiture as defenders of the duct hearings on Turkish violations of human rights, including, Faith took place on the Sunday of Orthodoxy at the Archdiocesan Ca­ for the first time sessions on the situation of the Greek minority thedral of the Holy Trinity. in Turkey and on the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Through such hearings, we can draw these matters to the attention of the wider Executive Officer And State Commander American public. "For finally, in making our case, we must stress that this is an Visit Ecumenical Patriarchate issue of concern not only to Greek Americans, nor is it merely a The Reverend Dr. Miltiades B. Efthimiou, Executive Officer question of politics or diplomacy. of the Order of St. Andrew, and Archon Depoutatos Thomas ''We speak rather of something that transcends these issues; Demery, State Commander of the Order from Detroit, and Chair­ we speak of religious persecution and ethnic discrimination, of man of the "Plight of the Patriarchate" pamphlet used in the gross violations of international treaties. We speak of issues that are fundamentally moral in nature. 1983 national campaign, visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate in "We must, therefore, send our appeals to the United Nations, Istanbul, Turkey, during the month of June. The purpose of the to the leaders of American Churches and synagogues, to the visit was to meet with the Ecumenical Patriarch, His All Holiness heads of all the world's Churches and denominations, and to Demetrios I, and members of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical organizations concerned with the rights of humankind. We must Patriarchate in order to discuss the situation and the needs of ask them to join a cause which is their cause, too the pro­ the Patriarchate. Fr. Efthimiou and Archon Demery brought tection of human and religious rights. the best wishes of the Order of St. Andrew. They also briefed "I remind you of words written 19 years ago by His Eminence, the Patriarch and the Synod on the various activities, goals and Archbishop lakovos: 'The Patriarchate is not a collection of build­ objectives of the Order in the United States, and received some ings, walls and grounds. It is a living spiritual force embodied guidance and direction as to how the Archons can proceed to in an institution that has for centuries been the very core and even further the support that has heretofore marked the pro­ heart of the Greek Orthodox Christian tradition.' gress and scope of the Order. "You and I must make sure that this force, this institution, this While in Istanbul, Fr. Efthimiou and Archon Demery visited tradition continues." the various Institutions connected with the Patriarchate, and, Archon Historian Dr. Deno Geanakoplos, Professor of Yale in particular, the Hospital of Balukli, which is one of the chari­ University, delivered the historical remarks entitled "The Ortho­ table institutions supported by the Order. Dr. Karamouratoglou, dox Church and the Survival of the Greek People Under Turkish Director of the Hospital, told of the appalling conditions at Domination". He is President-elect of the American Society of Balukli. Approximately $1,000.00 per year per patient is bud­ Church Historians, the first Orthodox Christian so honored. geted, an incredibly small amount. The financial problem be­ "One of the miracles of history it seems to me," he said, "is came more acute when as a result of recent Turkish law citizens the survival of the Greek people under Turkish domination in are not allowed to make any arrangements with the facility to the four centuries between 1453 and 1821. This Turkish occupa­ bequeath any assets they may have for subsistence and care tion was characterized by severe oppression, harassment, humi­ during the balance of their living years at the hospital. liation. .at times even by purposeful decimation of the Greek The trip may be considered a supplement to the national cam­ population. Hundred of thousands of Greeks were executed. paign which was launched during the weekend of the Sunday Entire villages were obliterated and their inhabitants replaced of Orthodoxy, and to the pamphlet, which was distributed to by Moslems. all the 550 parishes of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North "In view of all these unremitting pressures and almost intol­ and South America. The purpose of the pamphlet is to enlighten erable conditions, how were the Greek people able to survive the public about the conditions which prevail in Turkey. The their long ordeal? I think their survival should be attributed in purpose of the visit is to bring back up-to-date news in order considerable part to the Greek Orthodox Church, headed by its to further enlighten the Greek Orthodox constituency in the Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople, and particularly to the Americas as to the extent of the problems in Turkey relative lowly town and village Priests who clung tenacioulsy to the faith to the Ecumenical Patriarchate so that, in the words of Dr. An­ and were able to impart no small degree of strength to their thony Borden, National Commander, "an improvement in the parishioners. present conditions can be brought about". The 77 newly elected Archons on the Sunday of Orthodoxy are: John Billinis John N. Parker Dr. George Bithos Nick Payne George Douris Paul M. Psillos John Giovanni Peter Sedereas Andrew G. Kampiziones George Speal James Kirie Nicholas Trataros Dr. Thomas C. Lelon Zenon Trivelis John G. Loizos Dr. George Zazanis George Nicholas Resident ladies of Balukli Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. The hospital is un­ der the auspices of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and is helped by the Archon Emblems: Order with financial contributions. Silver Cross $ 200.00 Founder Sash $1,000.00 Lapel Pin 10.00 ARCHON Album 100.00 Pocket Emblem 10.00 Moslem And Greek Christian Minorities To order please send in check for proper amount making it In March 1982, the Turkish government implied that the payable to the Order of St.