Protecting the Future of Faith
The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is a devoted group of passionate leaders, relentlessly focused on protecting religious freedom for everyone and ensuring the future of the Ecumenical Patriarchate — the historical spiritual center of the world’s 300+ million Orthodox Christians.
With 65 Archons in the Metropolis of Chicago, under the direction of Regional Commanders Gus M. Pablecas, John G. Manos and Perry C. Siatis, the Archons in the Metropolis of Chicago are among the most active in promoting and defending the Holy and Great Mother Church.
Pilgrimage of Discovery
A Transformative 7-Day, Expenses-Paid Journey
Through Constantinople
2026 Applications Now Open!
The Pilgrimage of Discovery annual program is a 7-day, all-expense paid, religious and cultural annual summer journey to Constantinople awarded to Orthodox Christian young adults across America, connecting them with their ancestral religious roots. Participants deepen their Orthodox faith through a curated, guided experience, exploring holy sites, having a private audience with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and much more. This immersive journey creates a lasting impact on identity, faith, family, community and culture and helps secure the continuity of the Orthodox church from a grassroots level.
Learn more by visiting pilgrimageofdiscovery.org our Instagram and Facebook, or by clicking the button below.
Recent News
Archons in the Metropolis of Chicago Hold 9th Annual Business Meeting
On Saturday, May 11, 2024, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chicago held their 9th Annual Metropolis of Chicago Archon Business Meeting at the Saint Iakovos Retreat Center in Kansasville, Wisconsin. A large portion of the meeting highlighted Archon...
The Metropolis of Chicago Mourns the Falling Asleep of Louis (Lou) Laros
It is with great sadness, but eternal hope in the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, that we inform you that a Louis (Lou) J. Laros has fallen asleep in the Lord on April 20, 2024. He was 64 years old. The Hierarchs, clergy, laity, and friends of the Greek...
Pilgrimage of Discovery Presentation Held at Holy Taxiarhai & St. Haralambos Church
On Sunday, March 31, 2024, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Metropolis of Chicago held a Pilgrimage of Discovery (POD) presentation at Holy Taxiarhai & St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church in Niles, Illinois. During the event, the Archons...
Pilgrimage of Discovery Leadership Event Held at St. Catherine’s Chapel
On Sunday, March 24, 2024, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Metropolis of Chicago held a Pilgrimage of Discovery (POD) presentation in St. Catherine’s Chapel following Divine Liturgy at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago. During the event,...
Archon Presence at the YAL Conference in Chicago
The Archons in the Metropolis of Chicago recently sponsored a vendor table during the YAL Conference to promote the Archon National Pilgrimage of Discovery (POD) Initiative and its second annual trip to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Archon Regional...
Hellenic American Academy Students Learn About Religious Freedom and the Archons at The National Hellenic Museum
Hellenic American Academy Students Learn About Religious Freedom and the Archons at The National Hellenic Museum On Friday, December 1, 2023, students from the Hellenic American Academy in Deerfield, Illinois, traveled to the National Hellenic Museum in Chicago to...
Metropolis of Chicago Archons Attend St. Andrew’s Day Vespers
Metropolis of Chicago Archons Attend St. Andrew’s Day Vespers On Wednesday, November 29, 2023, the Archons in the Metropolis of Chicago attended the Vespers Service for the Feast Day of their Patron Saint, Saint Andrew, at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago....
Metropolis of Chicago Welcomes Three New Archons
Metropolis of Chicago Welcomes Three New Archons The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America hosted their annual Archon Weekend on October 19-22 in New York. On Sunday, October 22, at the conclusion of Divine Liturgy at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of...
Second POD ALN Leadership Event Held at St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Second POD ALN Leadership Event Held at St. George Greek Orthodox Church On Sunday, October 1, 2023, the Pilgrimage of Discovery (POD), a 2023 Pilot Program of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate involving an all-expenses paid trip to Constantinople and...
Young Adults In Pilgrimage of Discovery (POD) Have Moving Experience with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
Photos by Nicholas-George A. Papachristou, Director, Patriarchal Press and Communication Office On Friday, August 4, 2023 at the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Phanar in Constantinople, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew received the...
42nd Annual Commemoration of the Fall of Constantinople
On Thursday, June 1, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chicago, and the Hellenic Society of Constantinople hosted the 42nd Annual Commemoration of the Fall of Constantinople at Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox...
Metropolis of Chicago Archons Hold Religious Freedom Youth Symposium
On Sunday, May 21, 2023, Pericles C. Siatis, Esq., an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate from the Metropolis of Chicago, gave a religious freedom presentation to youth and youth advisors at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Libertyville, Illinois. Archon...
Annual Reports
The Five Key Issues Impacting the Ecumenical Patriarchate
- The Turkish Government Imposes Restrictions on the Election of the Ecumenical Patriarch and Hierarchs Who Vote for Him by Requiring That They Must Be Turkish Citizens
- The Ecumenical Patriarchate Has No Legal Identity or Bona Fide Legal Personality in Turkey
- The Turkish Government Does Not Recognize the “Ecumenical” Status of the Ecumenical Patriarch and Ecumenical Patriarchate
- The Turkish Government Has Confiscated Thousands of Properties From the Ecumenical Patriarchate
- The Ecumenical Patriarchate Cannot Train New Clergy in Turkey and Its Theological School Was Forcibly Closed Down by the Turkish Government
For more information
Archons website: www.archons.org
Ecumenical Patriarchate Website: www.patriarchate.org
Pilgrimage of Discovery – pilgrimageofdiscovery.org
Contact Person(s): Perry C. Siatis, Esq., and James G. Lakerdas, Esq
Email [email protected]
