What is an Archon?
 

An Archon is an honoree by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his outstanding service to the Church, and a well-known distinguished, and well-respected leader of the Orthodox Christian community.

It is by the grace of God that the Archon has been able to offer his good works and deeds of faith. Further, it is the sworn oath of the Archon to defend and promote the Orthodox Christian faith and tradition. His special concern and interest is to serve as a bulwark to protect and promote the Sacred See of St. Andrew the Apostle and its mission. He is also concerned with the human race's inalienable rights wherever and whenever they are violated - and the well-being and general welfare of the Christian Church.

This honor extended by the Ecumenical Patriarchate carries with it grave responsibilities, deep commitments, and sincere dedication. Consequently, it is of utmost importance that this honor of obligation be bestowed upon individuals of proven Orthodox Christian character, who conform faithfully to the teachings of Christ and the doctrines, canons, worship, discipline, and encyclicals of the Church.

To learn more, please visit www.archons.org/home

A Report on the South Florida Archon Luncheon by Dino Mastorakis, 
Regional Commander of the Archons in Southern Florida

We enjoyed a truly wonderful gathering this past Saturday, highlighted by our tribute to Emeritus Regional Commander John C. Scurtis. It was my honor to present the inaugural Dr. Anthony G. B. Borden Regional Commander Award for Distinguished Diakonia. My wife, Contessa, also had the pleasure of presenting Evan with a bouquet in appreciation. 

During the evening, we bid farewell to Archon Dr. Harry Dimopoulos as he prepares to relocate to Pennsylvania. Archon Carl Hollister also shared thoughtful remarks regarding the upcoming Lenten Retreat—please save the date for the second weekend of Great Lent (March 26–28).  We also had the pleasure of Archon Nicholas Patricios presenting his book, Architecture and Art: Byzantine Churches of Mount Athos, which is available on Amazon.  Additionally, we extend our thanks to Archon Dean Poll for curating an exceptional food and wine experience. It was especially meaningful to connect with several Archons who have recently made South Florida their permanent home. 

We were also honored by the presence of Father Mark and Presbytera Anastasia. We are grateful for their support and for attending, as they represented His Eminence Metropolitan Sevastianos and the Metropolis of Atlanta.  I have attached several photos to help capture and share these special moments with all of you. 

Overall, it was a memorable evening for our Archons and their spouses. Thank you to everyone who attended—I sincerely appreciate your support. I would also like to extend special thanks to Evan Scurtis and my wife, Contessa Mastorakis, for their efforts in coordinating and executing such a successful event. 

Finally, to our Emeritus: you are truly a legend. While you leave very big shoes to fill, your guidance and mentorship have already been invaluable to me. I wish you continued success, and please know that I remain deeply grateful. Congratulations