To be an Archon: A solemn honor, an awesome responsibility

Archons from all over the world, including Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia, are converging upon Athens for the 4th International Archon Conference, "Protecting Religious Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights" (May 26-28). Co-sponsored by the Archons of Greece and Europe and the Archons in America, this conference will be followed by the first Global Summit of Archons (May 29), also in Athens. This has led many in Athens and elsewhere to wonder exactly what kind of conference is in the offing, and who the archons really are.

Today, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate are a devoted group of passionate leaders, relentlessly focused on protecting religious freedom for all and ensuring the future of the Ecumenical Patriarchate - the historical spiritual center of the world's 300+ million Orthodox Christians.

The archons also have one of the longest...