At its National Council meeting on Saturday, February 20, 2021, the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, voted unanimously to become a Founding Member of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation for the Sacred See of Saint Andrew. The Order pledged $100,000 to the Foundation.

Just in the past several days, additional dedicated faithful have become Founding Members by each pledging $100,000, including: Maria Allwin, Thomas and Elizabeth Cappas, John and Margo Catsimatidis, Stephen and Arete Cherpelis, Harry and Carol Lee Dimopoulos, William and Elizabeth Doucas, Nicholas J. and Anna K. Bouras Foundation, Michael and Katherine Johnson, Joseph and Anna Kokolakis, Drs. Anthony and Maria Limberakis, Dr. Nicholas and Susan Loutsion, Gus and Gail Pablecas, Dr. Gregory and Stellee Papadeas, Michael Petridis, Dean and Linda Poll, Michael and Robin Psaros, George E. Safiol, Peter and Aphrodite Skeadas, Theodore J. and Anne Theophilos, Christopher and Georgette Tsavoussis, Steve and Frosene Zeis, and the Order of St. Andrew. A total of $3.1 million dollars has been raised before the actual launch of formal fundraising!

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation is a response to a deep and longstanding need to establish a solid financial foundation for the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Indeed, the time has come for Orthodox Christians around the world to come together and ensure that the voice of the Apostolic Throne of Andrew never goes silent and the Spiritual Center of our Faith is able to lead Christ’s Holy Church for generations to come. It is a global initiative to:

• Increase the Orthodox Christian presence on the global stage;
• Foster increased inter-Orthodox dialogue; and
• Expand charitable and humanitarian aid.

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America pointed out that “our community in America has known material success on a scale that is seldom reached by any grouping. This is why the legacy aspect of the Foundation is so important. As legacies are passed on to succeeding generations, the inclusion of a portion for the Ecumenical Patriarchate will slowly become part of the planned giving that families embrace as a way of life. This will be a marked change in the way the Mother Church has been supported, and will make a substantial impact on Her material resources.”

For more information about the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation for the Sacred See of Saint Andrew, please contact Fr. Alexander Karloutsos or Andrew Veniopoulos, by calling the Bartholomew Foundation Office at 212-774-0444.