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Published
by the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America,
November 4, 2004
Order
of St. Andrew Holds Annual Meeting in New
York; bestows Athenagoras Humanitarian Award
on Archon Alex G. Spanos |
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The
Order of St. Andrew-the Apostle Archons of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate bestowed the Athenagoras
Humanitarian Award upon fellow Archon Alex G.
Spanos at their annual banquet Oct. 9 at the New
York Hilton as part of the Order’s annual meeting
held Oct. 8-9 at the New York Hilton.
On Sunday, Oct. 10, the annual investiture of new
Archons took place at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan
Cathedral.
National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis said the
annual gathering also included the first meeting
held with regional commanders from throughout the
country.
“It helped energize the local base and will aid
our efforts to bring the Ecumenical Patriarchate
to the local communities,” he said.
At the banquet, Dr. Limberakis outlined the Order
of St. Andrew’s immediate future plans.They
include:
-Sustaining economic assistance to the Phanar and
increasing individual Archon participation and
level of stewardship.
-Nurturing and fortifying the bond with the Mother
Church.
-Continuing to educate the federal government and
international community, including the European
Union, regarding issues of religious freedom
relating to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
-Mobilizing Archons throughout the country with
regional meetings.
-Reorganizing the Order’s website.
-Continuing the development of education
initiatives regarding the Patriarchate and,
-Establishing a strategic planning committee.
He also noted the Archons upcoming pilgrimage to
the Ecumenical Patriarchate and other parts of
Turkey scheduled for Nov. 27-Dec. 4.
During the presentation of the Athenagoras Human
Rights Award, Dr. Limberakis remarked, “The Order
of St. Andrew/Archons of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate is thrilled to honor one of our own,
an extraordinary humanitarian philanthropist,
human rights advocate and defender of the faith.
Archon Spanos represents the very finest of our
Order, our Orthodox faith and our Hellenic
Heritage in the world community.”
Mr. Spanos, an archon since 1972, is founder and
CEO of A.G. Spanos Construction, one of the
largest builders of apartments in the United
States; and owner of the San Diego Chargers
National Football League team.
He is a benefactor of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,
of St. Basil Church in Stockton, Calif., where he
is an active parishioner, St. Nicholas Cathedral
in Tarpon Springs, Fla., and Hellenic College-Holy
Cross School of Theology.
Other recipients of Mr. Spanos’ philanthropic
efforts include St. John’s School for Boys, under
Greek Orthodox jurisdiction in Whitewater, Calif.,
the Children’s Hospital and Health Center in San
Diego and many other organizations and causes.
Mr. Spanos is one of the founding members of
Leadership 100 and was recently elected as
chairman of Faith: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and
Hellenism, a new organization dedicated to
significantly increasing support of the critical
ministries of the Archdiocese into the 21st
century. He has also served as president of the
Archdiocesan Council.
In a message from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
read at the banquet, His All Holiness said of Mr.
Spanos that he has “achieved a level of success in
your professional career attained by very few
individuals. From very humble beginnings, you have
become one of the most successful and admired
businessmen in America.”
In his remarks, Archbishop Demetrios said of Mr.
Spanos that “His generous heart, abundant faith
and charitable works reveal what Clement
Alexandrinus wrote in the 2nd century AD: ‘it is
not he who has and keeps, but he who gives away,
that is rich; and it is giving away … which
renders a man happy, and the fruit of the Spirit
is generosity. It is in the soul, then that riches
are …’”
Archbishop Demetrios also said of Mr. Spanos that
he gives “in a full spirit of generosity … to a
point that is really amazing” and that his
approach to giving is “methodical and full of
wisdom.”
Mr. Spanos, whose autobiography “Share the Wealth”
was published earlier this year, cited his
mother’s words she imparted to him as a youth,
that “You should do good so that good will come
back to you,” as being the driving philosophy he
has lived by. “It’s in our best interest to treat
others well,” he said following the presentation
of the humanitarian award.
In honor of Archbishop Demetrios’ fifth
anniversary of his enthronement, the Order of St.
Andrew presented him with a large mosaic portrait.
During the presentation, Dr. Limberakis cited
comments in praise of the Archbishop in a letter
from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who wrote
that His Eminence, “has accomplished a most
significant spiritual work in the New World,
giving us the opportunity to rejoice and to boast
in the Lord, glorifying Him for your most
successful archiepiscopal ministry.”
New Archons invested
Clifford Argue, Mercer Island, Wash.; Peter James
Barris, McLean, Va.; Boys Bazylevskyi, Chicago;
Thomas S. Cappas, Muster, Ind.
Dr. Nicholas L. Carayannopoulos, Dallas; John
William Demetropoulos, Brookfield, Wis.; James
Dimitriou, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
Victor J. Economy, Stone Mountain, Ga.; Isidoros
Garifalakis, Vancouver, Wash.; Peter T. Kikis, New
York City; Louis Angelo Kircos, Grosse Pointe,
Mich.
George J. Kontogiannis, Columbus, Ohio; Notis
Kotsolios, Westfield, N.J.; Dr. Cary John
Limberakis DMD, Ambler, Pa.; James G. Logothetis,
Riverwoods, Ill.
Dennis Mehiel, Armonk, N.Y.; Christopher J.
Pappas, Hopkinton, Mass.; John Patronik, South
Holland, Ill.
William Planes, Tarpon Springs, Fla.; James A.
Poll, Manhasset, N.Y.; Jerry Nicholas Renesis,
Norfolk, Va.; Peter James Skeadas, Greenwich,
Conn.; Dean A. Spanos, LaJolla, Calif.; Michael A.
Spanos, Stockton, Calif.
William Sutzko, St. Clair, Pa.; Patrick Nickolas
Theros, Washington; Dr. Andreas Tzakis, Miami; Dr.
Sotiros John Vahaviolos, Ph.D.; Princeton, N.J.;
and John Zavitsanos, Houston.
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