Congratulations to Dr. Ivan Belya on His Investiture as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Ivan Belya, Doctor of Theology and Director of Public Relations of the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate of America, is one of 47 new Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the first native of Ukraine to receive this honor in the United States. The solemn investiture took place on October 18, 2026, at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York, following the Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.

Founded in 1966 at the initiative of Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle brings together influential Orthodox lay leaders in the United States, including public officials, entrepreneurs, attorneys, civil servants, and leaders in culture and civic life. Its members include former CIA Director George Tenet and Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The 2026 class of Archons includes prominent figures from American public life, science, medicine, business, and government service: former U.S. Representative Michael Huffington; retired U.S. Army General Andrew P. Poppas; neurosurgeon and researcher Dr. Nicholas Theodore; and Dr. Apostolos Tassiopoulos, Chair of Surgery at Stony Brook Medicine.

Dr. Belya received the ancient title of keeper of church documents (Greek: Χαρτουλάριος). Its origins reach back to the late Roman Empire, and in Byzantium such offices, which demanded particular trust, existed in both civil and church administration. Today the title is a reminder that documents are more than an archive: they are the memory of the Church and a witness to its history and spiritual heritage.

This honor is a fitting recognition of Dr. Belya’s many years of service. In the Vicariate, he is responsible for official documents and correspondence, organizes church events, and carries out research and educational work. He is the founder of five parishes in America, two of which, in Miami and New York, are now cathedrals. He is the ktetor (patron and benefactor) and restorer of St. Nicholas Monastery in Fort Myers, the oldest Orthodox monastery in Florida, and, together with his family, is among the founders of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation. Dr. Belya works with local governments in New York, Miami, and other American cities. He has been named an honorary citizen of Sunny Isles Beach, a city in the Greater Miami area. He is also a recipient of the Medal of St. Paul, the highest honor the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America bestows on laity.

Dr. Belya also designs reliquaries, orders, and medals. He is the co-designer and creator of America’s first faience iconostasis (2019–2026) and the designer of the entrance arch of St. John the Forerunner Cathedral in Brooklyn. He is currently developing the Eastern Christianity exhibition space in Hot Springs, Arkansas, which will introduce visitors to the heritage of the Orthodox Church and help pass it on to future generations.

We express our gratitude to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for approving the nomination. We offer our special and heartfelt thanks to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America for his fatherly care for the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate, his steadfast support of its work, and his celebration of the solemn investiture. We also thank Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Order of Saint Andrew, for his work to strengthen the bond between the Orthodox faithful of America and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

On behalf of the Vicar, clergy, monastics, and laity of the Vicariate, we extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Belya! We wish him good health, spiritual joy, God’s help, and many more fruitful labors for the glory of the Holy Church and the preservation of the Orthodox heritage for generations to come.