The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, an organization with the fundamental goal of directing an ongoing concern for religious freedom and the defense and advancement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, inducted 15 Ahepans into its ranks, including AHEPA Executive Director Basil N. Mossaidis, at ceremonies officiated by Archbishop Demetrios this past October in New York.

“It is truly an honor for AHEPA to have so many of its members become Archons," said Supreme President Nicholas A. Karacostas. "It solidifies the historic bond that exists between AHEPA and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. I congratulate all the new inductees and wish them well. Axios! "

Ahepans who joined Executive Director Mossaidis in the Archon class that totaled 42 individuals were: Peter T. Arbes, John J. Blazakis, Paul G. Chiligiris, Jimmy Daskalos, George J. Kallins, Arthur Labros, Frank Mihalopoulos, Nicholas Nichols, Dr. Spiridon Spireas, William S. Stavropoulos, James Tasios, Demosthenes Vasiliou, James B. Zafiros and Leonard Zangas.

Last year, Supreme President Karacostas and Past Supreme President Ike Gulas joined a long line of previous supreme presidents that have been inducted into the Order. In 2003, AHEPA presented The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle with its Medal of Freedom Award for the Order's championing of religious freedom and human rights for the Ecumenical Patriarchate.