The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society has announced that it is becoming a Founder of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation For the Sacred See of Saint Andrew. Founders have committed to ensuring the financial foundation of the Holy Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, by pledging $100,000 over 10 years.

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America stated: “The National Philoptochos Society has done the entire Church a wonderful service by joining this noble and worthy initiative. It has long been the desire of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew himself, and my own desire, to secure the financial foundations of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, so as to ensure that it would be able to exercise its global ministry for generations to come. That is the mission of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, and I give glory to God that the National Philoptochos Society has joined us in fulfilling that mission.”

Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and Chair of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, said: “The National Philoptochos Society’s mission is to ‘help the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, those with disabilities and the victims of disasters.’ Its members well know that the spiritual needs of every human being are paramount; its decision to become a Founder is the culmination of its entire mission, as it will help ensure that the Ecumenical Patriarchate will be able to continue its salvific work of aiding the poor in spirit, those who hunger and thirst for the truth.”

National Philoptochos President Arlene Siavelis Kehl commented: “For ninety years, the National Philoptochos Society has supplied resources, support and agape to all those who are suffering and in need, for the benefit of the Greek Orthodox community and others in the United States and throughout the world. Additionally, and for many decades, National Philoptochos has provided direct financial support to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for its philanthropic programs and charities. It is our immense honor and great joy to be able now to also extend our financial support to the Mother Church in Constantinople though the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation.”

The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc. is the philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. It has offered nearly a century of philanthropy through a multitude of programs for the aid of the Church and the entire world. The Society was established in November 1931, by the late Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I, who was then serving as Archbishop of North and South America.

For further information about the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, see bartholomew.foundation. For further information about the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, see archons.org. For further information about the Philoptochos Society, see philoptochos.org.