NEW YORK – Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Brooklyn has become the first parish in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America to undertake the all-important and sacred mission of promoting and defending the Ecumenical Patriarchate by donating $100,000 to become a Founding Member of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation. In a press release it was noted that, “this extraordinary and generous gesture of sacrificial love puts the total amount of donations above the ten-million-dollar mark.”

Other parishes are expected to follow the lead of Saints Constantine and Helen in the near future.

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America commented: “As is the first parish in the Archdiocese to commit to becoming a Founding Member, Saints Constantine and Helen Cathedral has become a trail-blazer for the Archdiocese, and demonstrated the immense devotion of the Orthodox faithful in America for the Mother Church of Constantinople. The generosity of this parish is exemplary and warrants the gratitude and emulation of the entire Church.”

Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and Chair of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, said, “Saints Constantine and Helen Cathedral has taken a significant step toward ensuring the economic security of the Ecumenical Patriarchate so that it may pursue its worldwide salvific ministry without challenging financial constraints. We give thanks to Almighty God for this parish and for the example it has set for parishes nationwide.”

The Rev. Economos Evagoras Constantinides, Dean of Saints Constantine and Helen Historic Cathedral, stated, “it is with great joy and pride that I am able to announce that the Saints Constantine and Helen Historic Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Brooklyn Board of Trustees unanimously voted to become a Founding Member of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation. Our Cathedral community stands next to the Ecumenical Patriarch in his mission of spreading Orthodoxy throughout the world. Now we make our support tangible with more than just words – we do so with this commitment to our beloved Center of Orthodoxy, under the paternal leadership of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and as we do so, we pray he have many years!”

Saints Constantine and Helen Board of Trustees President Haralambos Paloumbis added, “as the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn, one of the oldest in the country, we have a particular bond with the Mother Church of Constantinople through our patron Saints Constantine and Helen. We offer this gift to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in recognition of its nearly two millennia of leadership in the Church, under the protection of Saint Constantine, and with the determination to secure its stability for generations to come.”

Also instrumental to the decision of Saints Constantine and Helen Historic Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Brooklyn to become a Founding Member of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation were Archons John Volandes and Peter Vlitas, and Athanasios Kampessis, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, as well as George Poulon, a Past President of the Cathedral, who is the Chair of the Saints Constantine and Helen Bartholomew Foundation Committee.