ARCHONS DEFEND RIGHTS OF ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE IN MEETINGS WITH EUROPEAN LEADERS
April 28, 2006-New York, NY- In a week of meetings earlier this month with decision makers of the European Union, a concerned group of Orthodox Christian lay leaders and clergy defended the religious freedom and human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey while also advocating Turkey's integration into the EU community.
Under the leadership of Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Order of St. Andrew/Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America, comprised of Greek Orthodox churchmen who are committed in conscience and purpose to the promote the well-being of the Patriarchate, which has been the world's spiritual center of Orthodox Christianity since the fourth century A.D.
As Turkey continues negotiating its possible admission to the EU, Archons urged that EU leaders require the Turkish government to live up to democratic standards by reforming its religious discriminatory policies. Since the formation of the modern Turkish state in 1923, systemic discrimination has severely repressed the Ecumenical Patriarchate and decimated the Orthodox Christian community in that country.
"We just returned from very successful meetings with key officials of the European Union," said Archon National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis. "We also had very frank meetings with the Ambassadors of Turkey in Brussels and Vienna, which were a follow-up to our Religious Freedom Mission for the Ecumenical Patriarchate initiated in Europe a year ago."
The delegation, composed of Dr. Limberakis, Legal Counsel Chris Stratakis and Father Alexander Karloutsos, was guided throughout the week by the Ecumenical Patriarchate's representative to the European Union Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and while in Vienna, by Metropolitan Michael of Austria. Prior to their departure Dr. Limberakis and Father Alex met with Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns and other State Department officials who fully supported the Archons' mission. The group divided its time between Brussels, Belgium, site of the European Union's administration and missions; Strasbourg, France, site of the European Parliament plenary sessions; and Vienna, Austria, since Austria holds the current presidency of the EU.
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