Metropolitan Chicago Archons Host Business Retreat – Archon News Article

On Saturday, April 30, 2022, after two years without being able to meet in person due to the pandemic, the Chicago Metropolis Archons hosted their seventh annual Chicago Metropolis Business Retreat in person at the Saint Iakovos Retreat Center in Kansasville, Wis.

Among the guests of honor at this year’s retreat were His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, Father Stamatios Sfikas of the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Chicago and two family members of Regional Commander Emeritus Harold Peponis of blessed memory, his beloved wife Faye and his son Arthur.

During the meeting, Regional Commanders Gus M. Pablecas and John G. Manos paid tribute to newly invested Archons Dr. George Bovis, Ostiarios, and Dr. Jeremy Orhyon, Determinefs, and Metropolitan Chicago Archons been appointed to National Archon Committees over the past year. , including National Council Member John S. Koudounis, Eftaxias; Members of the investment committee of the Foundation Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Robert A. Buhler, Referendarios, John S. Koudounis, Eftaxias, and William Spell, Laosynaktis; and National Secretary Gus M. Pablecas, Ostiarios. They also remembered the Archons of our Metropolis who recently fell asleep in the Lord: Archons Gus A. Chafoulias, Hieromnimon; Dr. George Korkos, Aktouarios; and Anthony A. Nichols, notary public.

Another key theme of the meeting was religious freedom, including a discussion of religious persecution in the world today, and the impact of the war in Ukraine.

The Archons also discussed current local and national Archon initiatives, shared thoughts and ideas on how to continue the Archon mission and increase Archon involvement, and reviewed upcoming local and national events. related to the Archons, as well as corresponding grant opportunities from the Chicago Metropolis. The Archons have established with the Renaissance Fund and the Hellenic Foundation to help them continue their mission locally. Also discussed were general ways to help the metropolis of Chicago.

After the business meeting, the Archons formally dedicated the prosikinitario of Saint Andrew, which was installed in the Tomaras Lodge of the Saint Iakovos Retreat Center in memory of Regional Commander Emeritus Harold Peponis. His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael and Father Stamatios Sfikas presided over the dedication. Faye and Arthur Peponis were present, along with the Archons and their wives.

The retreat ended with a lecture by Archon Aristotle Papanikolaou, who is a professor at Fordham University, holder of the Archbishop Demetrios Chair of Orthodox Theology and Culture, and co-founder of the Center for Orthodox Christian Studies at Fordham. .

His presentation, titled “Russia, Religion, Ukraine,” explored the role of religion in the current Russian invasion of Ukraine. Professor Papanikolaou evoked the history of relations between the Russian and Ukrainian peoples; the emergence of the Russian Orthodox Church as a public political actor in Russia in the post-Soviet period; Vladimir Putin’s recent support for Russia’s religious history as an aspect of Russian national identity; the use of Russian religious soft power in Russian foreign policy; and why Patriarch Kirill supports the war.

Comments are closed.