The Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch is the philanthropic arm of our Archdiocese. It’s an organization of Orthodox laypeople and clergy who commit to financially supporting the work of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America through annual pledges.
Think of it as the Archdiocese’s major donors society, but with a spiritual dimension. Members aren’t just writing checks. They’re taking on a commitment to support the Church’s mission through selfless giving, following the example of St. Ignatius of Antioch, who gave his life for Christ in the early second century.
The Order started in 1976 at an Archdiocesan convention in San Francisco. A year later, during Patriarch Elias IV’s visit to North America, it was formally blessed and inaugurated at the Washington conclave. That first gathering inducted officers, a chaplain, and members who wanted to take on greater responsibility for supporting the Archdiocese’s work. It’s grown steadily since then, with members in parishes across North America.
What Does the Order Actually Do?
The money raised goes to Archdiocesan programs that would otherwise strain parish budgets. Two big ones: the Retired Clergy Fund and scholarships to Antiochian Village Camp.
The Retired Clergy Fund matters because it means parishes don’t have to fund their retired priests’ pensions out of their operating budgets. That’s huge for smaller parishes. The camp scholarships send kids to Antiochian Village in Pennsylvania for week-long sessions, giving them a chance to experience Orthodox community and teaching in ways that Sunday School alone can’t provide.
Beyond those specifics, the Order supports whatever the Archdiocese identifies as priority needs, charitable work, outreach, administrative functions that keep the whole operation running. It’s flexible funding that goes where it’s needed most.
Who Can Join?
Any Orthodox Christian eighteen or older can join with their priest’s blessing and sponsorship by a current member. You make an annual financial commitment based on which rank you choose.
Knights and Dames pledge $500 a year. There’s a junior level for ages eighteen to twenty-six with a lower commitment. Knight Commanders pledge $1,000 annually. Life Members give $15,000 as a one-time gift (or in three installments of $5,000), which gets invested so the interest funds the Order’s work in perpetuity. Some parishes also recognize a Metropolitan level at $30,000.
These aren’t small amounts. The Order isn’t for everyone, and that’s fine. Not every form of service involves major financial giving. But for those who can make this kind of commitment, it’s a way to support the Church’s work at the Archdiocesan level in a sustained, meaningful way.
Why “St. Ignatius”?
St. Ignatius was the third bishop of Antioch, appointed in the first century. He knew the Apostles. On his way to martyrdom in Rome around 107 AD, he wrote letters to various churches that still shape how we understand the episcopacy, the Eucharist, and the unity of the Church. He went to his death willingly, even eagerly, seeing it as his chance to be fully united with Christ.
The Order takes his name because he embodied selfless commitment to the Church. He gave everything. Members aren’t called to martyrdom, but they’re called to sacrificial giving that supports the Church’s mission without counting the cost.
If you’re in a position to consider membership, talk to your priest. He can connect you with current members and explain how the Order functions at the parish level. It’s one way among many to serve, but for those called to it, it’s a chance to support the Church’s work in a way that echoes across the whole Archdiocese.
