Dr. Nawaf Salameh, the first Romanian invested Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Dr. Nawaf Salameh, Founding Chairman of the Alexandrion Group and the Alexandrion Foundation, has become the first Romanian to be invested as a member of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle and Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The mission of the Archons is to support religious freedom for the Mother Church in Constantinople, to promote the Orthodox Christian faith and solidarity worldwide, and to foster dialogue and understanding among the different religions of the world.
Dr. Salameh was invested as Archon on 9 October, during a Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York. On 8 October, he was presented with the Order’s Sophia Award in recognition of his service to the Mother Church and the sacred mission of the Archons.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, accompanied by His Eminence Demetrios, former Archbishop of America, presided at the investiture ceremony, at which 36 new Archons from across the United States were invested. Also present was His Beatitude Theodore II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, who presided over the Divine Liturgy.
Dr. Salameh said: “We are defined by our beliefs and values. And some of us have been blessed with the opportunity to put these to work for the benefit of the community. I have always been guided by my faith in Jesus Christ, and have sought freedom, which can only have full meaning in every aspect of my life in the context of faith. I am honoured and grateful to have been inducted into the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle – the First Called – among the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Beatitude Theodore II, I received the Offikion (office) of Referendarios and the Cross of St. Andrew, thus joining the Archon Class of 2022. As an Archon, I will devote myself to the Order’s mission on behalf of the Mother Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”
Images from the ceremony can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oe0uMD6Bls
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros told the new Archons: “The day of the installation of the new class of Archons is indeed an auspicious one, for this ceremony is taking place in the presence of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa. You are receiving the high office and title of ‘Archon’ at this first and very special Patriarchal Divine Liturgy, presided over by the one who is enthroned on the See of Saint Mark the Apostle and Evangelist – and on the very day of his enthronement eighteen years ago.”
His Eminence added that the Archons were being endowed by His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, “with the Offikion that he has personally selected for you. Let his brother Patriarch, standing before you, be a living reminder of the privilege bestowed upon you, and of the responsibility that you now bear to defend and magnify the Mother Church of Constantinople with all your strength, with all your heart, and with all your mind. May you always be worthy of these gifts! Axios!”
Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, congratulated the Archons of the class of 2022 and praised the systematic selection process, carried out with great care.
Mr. Nawaf Salameh and Mrs. Rim Daoud Salameh were presented with the Archon Sophia Award for Excellence
On Saturday, 8 October 2022, at the annual Archon Agape Luncheon in New York, the Order of St. Andrew presented the Archon Sophia Award for Excellence to Archon Dr. Nawaf Salameh, Mrs. Rim Daoud Salameh, Archon Boris Gourov – Alexandrion Group’s partner in Bulgaria – and Mrs. Youlianna Gurova. The Sophia Award for Excellence is given annually by the Order to one or more individuals for distinguished service to the Holy Mother Church and the Sacred Mission of the Archons. This year, the awards recognised the contribution of the Salameh and Gurov families in facilitating the visit of the delegation of Archon leaders to Romania and Bulgaria in June 2022, during which they held meetings with senior Orthodox leaders, government officials and American diplomats in these countries.
Dr. Maria A. Limberakis, wife of Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, presided over the luncheon and spoke about the role of an Archon from a family perspective. Dr. Maria Limberakis stated: “Archon-elect Nawaf Salameh and Rim Daoud, from Romania, exemplify what it means to live a life in service to the Church. They are staunch supporters of the Mother Church and of our Orthodox faith in Romania, Bulgaria and throughout Europe (…) On a recent religious freedom mission to Bulgaria and Romania, they embraced our delegation as family. They arranged meetings with civil and ecclesiastical authorities at the highest level, individuals who can further the Archons’ mission of religious freedom.”
Nicholas S. Kass, Executive Director for International Corporate Affairs at Alexandrion Group, noted: “The Salameh and Gurov families are being honoured today for the indispensable service rendered to the Archons and to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. As a former diplomat, I can attest to the impact of this trip, which took place at a time of war between the West and Russia in Ukraine.” Mr. Kass, who accompanied Dr. Salameh and the delegation throughout the region, observed that the Archons “came with a message of support for His All Holiness, an emphasis on our common Orthodox faith and heritage, and an abiding sensitivity to local traditions and customs – the building blocks of progress in these relations.” He also encouraged the Archons to continue to regard the honoured families as ambassadors of the Order in a region of vital importance to the Orthodox faith and to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. “With this recognition and support, they will continue to help broaden the Archons’ understanding and perception of the wider dynamics among the Orthodox countries, of the particular interests of the Orthodox institutions in this region and in the Middle East, and of the countless other ancient Christian denominations that persevere in the face of unprecedented challenges to their survival. This, in turn, will help you to shape a wise policy for fulfilling the core mission of the Archons: restoring the proper functioning and order of the Ecumenical Orthodox world throughout the globe.”
About the Alexandrion Foundation
The Alexandrion Foundation was established as a result of the many social activities carried out by the companies within the Alexandrion Group. Projects have been running under the umbrella of the Alexandrion Foundation for more than 20 years. The Alexandrion Foundation follows the evolution of the Alexandrion Group. It has actively supported culture since 2014 through the Constantin Brâncoveanu Awards, and honours excellence through the Constantin Brâncoveanu Diaspora Awards and the Constantin Brâncoveanu International Awards. Through the Matei Brâncoveanu Awards, the Alexandrion Foundation recognises the development potential of young people, together with exceptional research and achievements in their fields of activity. Over time, the Foundation has also made its mark in supporting the performance of Romanian sport. The Alexandrion Trophies have rewarded the international performance of Romanian athletes since 2016. The Foundation stood alongside the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee at the Olympic Games from 2004 to 2012, in an effort to encourage young athletes to achieve the best results.
