The 2016 Nicholas J. Bouras Award for Extraordinary Archon Stewardship was presented to Theofanis Economidis, Archon Ekdikos, on Friday, October 14, 2016. The festivities were held at the Marriott Marquis in New York City, and the award was presented by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America, along with National Commander of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis.
Fanis is only the sixth recipient of this honor which was created in 2010 and named after the late National Vice Commander of the Order, Nicholas J. Bouras, Archon Depoutatos, who had demonstrated remarkable leadership as a faithful son of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and was an exemplary steward of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
For over 35 years, Fanis has dedicated himself to serving the Church at all levels. He was bestowed the title of Archon Ekdikos in 1986 by His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos, of blessed memory, and has been a stalwart defender of the faith and staunch advocate for the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
George Marcus introduced Fanis and offered these words, “Fanis is a visionary and devoted steward of the church and has exemplified extraordinary leadership. His lifelong humble service to the Orthodox Church is truly an inspiration to us all.” George concluded his remarks by saying, “Fanis, my brother, you are an inspiration to me and I truly value our friendship. I can think of no one who deserves this honor more."
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America, extolled the dedication of Fanis and his perseverance in supporting the Mother Church, along with his sound judgment and wise counsel he always brings to the work of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle.
His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco said, “Fanis Economidis is a true steward in every sense of the word. His trustworthy leadership, his unwavering devotion, and his willingness to not just go the extra mile but the extra 100 miles for the church, are just some of the traits that make Fanis an extraordinary person. He is a worthy example of what a good steward should be. Mr. Bouras personified this example and Fanis is continuing this paradigm with his own unique commitment to the Church locally, nationally and internationally. AXIOS!” Metropolitan Gerasimos also commented on Fanis’ extraordinary leadership in the Metropolis of San Francisco as Vice President of the Metropolis Council and an exceptional collaborator and laborer for the Church.
In his acceptance speech, Fanis spoke eloquently about his service to the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, commenting, “I stand before you this evening humbled and overwhelmed with the love and affection you have shown to me. Words do not adequately express my gratitude for this honor as this year's recipient of the Nicholas J. Bouras Award,” stated Fanis Economidis as he accepted the award. “I came to America, a place and idea modeled after our heritage and powered by our faith in God. With the values we learned from our parents – philotimo, integrity, and public service, we exceeded their dreams and expectations of us and now it is our turn to pass on that flame to our children.” When commenting on the issues facing the Ecumenical Patriarch, Fanis continued, “Defending our faith and passing this torch to our children is essential. If we fail to inspire them they will not learn; they will fall into the trap of complacency. We must inspire them to be the future Ambassadors of religious freedom.” As Fanis concluded his remarks he offered this poignant reflection, “They say that behind every successful man stands his wife. The fact is that for every eagle that flies, the wind beneath its mighty wings is what lifts it up. This was my wife, Efstathia, of blessed memory, a force of nature that our family and her many friends truly miss. In her memory eternal permit me to dedicate this noble award to her.”