Apostle of Love, Hope and Reconciliation

A short documentary film about the 270th successor of the
Apostle Saint Andrew to the Ecumenical Patriarchate

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2011

Capitol Visitor Center, North Congressional Meeting Room

1st Street and East Capitol Street, NE
Washington, DC

5:30 – Doors open
5:40 - Opening remarks
5:50 – Screening of Apostle of Love, Hope & Reconciliation
6:15 – Reception
7:00 – End

Hosted by:

Senator Benjamin L. Cardin & Rep. Chris Smith,
The Helsinki Commission

Representatives Frank R. Wolf & James P. McGovern,
The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission

Representatives Trent Franks & Emanuel Cleaver,
The International Religious Freedom Caucus

Representatives Gus Bilirakis, Carolyn Maloney, & John P. Sarbanes,
The Hellenic Caucus

On November 30th each year, the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians – the world’s second largest Church - venerate Saint Andrew, or as he is commonly known in the Orthodox world, Apostolos Andreas. Saint Andrew, the first called apostle, is the Patron Saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Seventeen centuries ago, Saint Andrew laid the foundations for the establishment of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the ancient Anatolian City of Byzas, which later became the Byzantine capital Constantinople, and which is now modern day Istanbul, Turkey. Over the last one hundred years, the Ecumenical Patriarchate - the Center of the Orthodox Christian Church - has struggled for survival against state-sanctioned abuse and discrimination. Upon the occasion of the annual tribute to Saint Andrew, it is appropriate to step back and assess what progress is being made towards restoring the full dignity of religious freedom to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Sponsored by The Honorable John P. Sarbanes

RSVP or for questions contact: [email protected].