Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
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The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate are honorees of the Patriarch of Constantinople, who have been selected from among the laity due to service to those portions of the Eastern Orthodox Church under his particular guidance. Upon induction into the "Order of St. Andrew", as the Archons are styled as a group, the honoree swears an oath "to defend and promote the Greek Orthodox faith and tradition".
The Order of Saint Andrew was founded in 1966 under Patriarch Athenagoras, when Archbishop Iakovos conferred the honor upon thirty members of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The Order's first Grand Commander was Pierre De Mets. The current Grand Commander is Anthony J. Limberakis.
In recent years, it has concerned itself strongly with the situation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate within Turkey. While it refers to itself as an "Order", it does not claim to be an order of chivalry, as such.
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