The Order of St. Andrew of the Ecumenical Patriarchate was organized on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, March 10, 1966 when His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos conferred upon thirty outstanding laymen of the Church the various Offikion or Offices of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on behalf of His All Holiness Patriarch Athenagoras of blessed memory. They were honored because of their love, loyalty and support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and their contribution to its advancement and welfare. This ministry has grown over the past 55 years which have included hundreds of dedicated Archons who have given their time, talent and treasure as Defenders of the Faith and supporters and advocates for our Mother Church.

In the Metropolis of San Francisco, we are blessed with nearly 70 dedicated Archons who continue to defend our faith and the religious freedom of our Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate. A new section on the Metropolis of San Francisco website is dedicated to the work of the Archons. Learn more about their efforts both on the west coast and throughout the Archdiocese by keeping up with their latest news.