For many years, Archon Savas Tsivicos has been a committed, active and dedicated Greek Orthodox Christian. He is Supreme President of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), serves on the Metropolitan Council of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey, and is a member of the Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Church of America. He was a founding member of the Hellenic American Heritage Commission of New Jersey, and has been an active leader in the Cyprus Federation of America, the American Hellenic Institute, the Greek American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, and the Hellenic Federation of New Jersey. In addition to all that and more, Archon Savas and his beloved wife Maria are fulfilled FOUNDERS of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation.

Archon Tsivicos was forthright about why the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation is so urgently needed. He explained that “Orthodoxy and our Ecumenical Patriarchate are under attack and under siege. It is very critical that we all rise to the occasion and do our part to safeguard the future of Orthodoxy and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. That is the mission of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation: to support the ecumenism of the mission of our Mother Church.”

“Without the necessary resources,” said Archon Tsivicos, “there is no oikoumene. An ecumenical mission requires tremendous resources; without resources, the Ecumenical Patriarchate simply will not be able to carry out its mission. There’s an old expression that applies here: ‘No money, no honey.’ It’s easy to talk about title of ‘Ecumenical,’ but it’s another thing to be able to lead as Ecumenical.”

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation is the fruit of many years of labor on the part of Dr. Anthony Limberakis, the Executive Committee, the National Council and other Archons who were determined to safeguard the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s ability to carry out its global mission. In fact, the Foundation began when the Archons’ spiritual advisor, Fr. Alex Karloutsos, and Presbytera Xanthi Karloutsos were honored with the Athenagoras Human Rights Award in 2018. The Archons then set aside $1,300,000.00 to implement the vision of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation. The bylaws were approved by early 2019.

“We discussed founding it for many years,” Archon Tsivicos stated. “It took shape five years ago with the coming of the new Archbishop, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, and now it is reality, and is doing a wonderful job. We have raised $25 million for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and I have hopes for $100 million.”

“It was an honor and a privilege for Maria and me to be among the first to join the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation,” said Archon Tsivicos, “because we understand the mission and the challenges the Ecumenical Patriarchate is facing in an Islamist country, in an adversarial environment with limited resources. God works in mysterious ways, and I’m very glad I was able to do it.”

Archon Savas and Maria Tsivicos are not just fulfilled FOUNDERS of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation. Archon Tsivicos has also made intensive efforts to lead others to become FOUNDERS, which involves donating $100,000 over ten years. “I enlisted friends and colleagues to become FOUNDERS,” he explains, “because they also understand the urgency of the Foundation’s mission. A large number of my friends have committed to do so, and I’d like to thank them for stepping up to the plate.”

“I will ask my fellow members of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation to do the same,” Archon Tsivicos added. “I often characterize our mission as new apostles – protectors of the faith. It should be a priority for all Archons and members of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation to talk to their friends and explain to them why this is such a vital effort.”

Archon Tsivicos welcomes the expansion of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation’s efforts to include all Archons and Greek Orthodox Christians worldwide. “We have made the first step at the Fourth International Conference on Religious Freedom and First Summit of Global Archons in Athens in May 2024. Archons from around the world came together, and we have decided to establish an international foundation. That’s the way that we Hellenes can come together. When united, we can do anything.”

As a result, Archon Tsivicos is optimistic about the future of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation: “As long as we are committed, we can conquer the world.”

To Archons and other faithful Greek Orthodox Christians who are prayerfully considering a donation to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, Archon Tsivicos has a simple message: “Sign up today. Don’t wait another day. It’s the most fulfilling thing you will do in your life.” ν