Pilgrimage of Discovery, Archon Presentation Held at Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church

2024 POD participant Marina Dimas speaking to Holy Apostles parishioners and guests. Photo credit: Peter Bell

On Sunday, November 24, 2024, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Metropolis of Chicago gave two presentations at Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church in Westchester, Illinois. Marina Dimas, a 2024 Pilgrimage of Discovery participant, spoke to her home parish about her life-changing experiences traveling to Constantinople with fellow Greek Orthodox young adults from across the United States. Dimas was one of 16 young adults, ages 23-30, from across the United States selected for the 2024 Pilgrimage of Discovery program. The experience included guided tours of holy sites and a private audience with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Archon John Fotopoulos, Ph.D., who is a member of the POD Committee and travels with the young adults offering his vast knowledge as a theologian, also spoke about the initiative. Additionally, Fotopoulos gave a presentation on the issues facing the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the role of the Archons. Archon National Secretary and Regional Commander Gus M. Pablecas, Archon Regional Commander John G. Manos, and Archon Theodore Theophilos also were in attendance.

A special thank you to Father George Dokos, Father Nicholas Georgiou and Deacon Perry Hamalis from Holy Apostles for allowing us to speak about the POD program and the issues facing the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The POD was conceived in Chicago as a pilot program and is now a National Archon program. The Pilgrimage of Discovery is a transformational program dedicated to sending Orthodox Christian young adults to Constantinople to learn about Orthodoxy, our Patriarchate, the history of the Church, challenges facing the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the experience of the remaining Orthodox Christians living in Asia Minor, and other important priorities. The seven-day, all-expense paid, religious and cultural annual summer journey to Constantinople is awarded to Orthodox Christian young adults across America, connecting them with their ancestral religious roots. Applications for the 2025 POD are now open. Visit https://www.pilgrimageofdiscovery.org/ for more information.

With Service in His Name,
The Regional Commanders in the Metropolis of Chicago

Left to right: Archon Regional Commander John G. Manos, Father George Dokos, Archon Theodore Theophilos, Marina Dimas, Archon National
Secretary and Regional Commander Gus M. Pablecas, and Archon John Fotopoulos, Ph.D. Photo credit: Peter Bell

Left to right: Archon Regional Commander John G. Manos, Archon National Secretary and Regional Commander Gus M. Pablecas, Archon
John Fotopoulos, Ph.D., and a Holy Apostles parishioner. Photo credit: Peter Bell.