The Society of St. John’s Responds to the “Archons of Disaster”

EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis). This article reports on a developing dispute within the Orthodox Christian community in the United States, following the circulation of an internal email by members of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (link here) and the Society of St. John’s subsequent response. Given the complexity of the organizations and terminology involved, readers may benefit from a brief explanation of the group at the center of the story.

The Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco (link to their website here) is a relatively new, U.S.-based Orthodox Christian organization founded in 2025. It describes itself as a pan-Orthodox fraternity—meaning it brings together clergy and laypeople from multiple Orthodox jurisdictions—focused on strengthening church life through fellowship, service, education, and public advocacy.

At its core, the Society operates as a network of parish brotherhoods and sisterhoods working collaboratively across jurisdictions to support Orthodox communities, promote religious education, and defend religious freedom.

In recent months, the group has also been active in public advocacy, including organizing meetings in Washington, D.C., and speaking on issues related to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church—actions that have drawn both support and criticism within the broader Orthodox world.

Understanding the Society’s mission and role within American Orthodoxy provides important context for the response published below.

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source -uoj.news

MARCH 31, 2026 — A response from the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco (SSJ) is pushing back against recent accusations made by the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, criticizing their claims as defamatory and divisive.

An email circulated amongst the Archons Monday morning referred to SSJ as a “‘pan-orthodox’ Russian group,” calling the organization “pro-Moscow.”

In a public statement, the Society dismissed the Archons’ warning about Russian influence as lacking credibility, calling the message “alarmist” and saying some assertions “border on the delusional.” The group also criticized what it described as a tendency to label fellow Orthodox Christians as foreign actors, arguing that such rhetoric “reduces the rich and diverse life of Orthodoxy in this country to a crude geopolitical caricature.”

SSJ further took issue with what it called an overemphasis on tensions between Moscow and Constantinople, stating that the “Moscow vs. Constantinople” narrative has become an “ideological battle cry” that does not serve the unity or mission of the Church.

Rejecting the accusations outright, the organization emphasized its identity as a “pan-Orthodox initiative,” adding that its work is “directed toward the defense of religious liberty, the strengthening of Orthodox unity, and the witness of the Gospel in American society.”

The statement also criticized efforts to block its engagement with public officials, suggesting that energy would be better spent on “the evangelization of the nation and the care of the least among us — the poor, the orphan, and the widow.”

A similar instance took place back in November, as SSJ responded to Archon accusations of foreign allegiance after holding meetings on Capitol Hill regarding the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The full statement from SSJ is published below.

Statement from the Governing Board in response to defamatory statements by the Order of St. Andrew (aka, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate)

The email circulated by the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is deeply concerning—not because of any credible threat it identifies, but because of its alarmist tone, sweeping accusations, and, frankly, a number of claims that border on the delusional. Its repeated insistence on labeling fellow American Orthodox Christians and organizations as “Russians” reveals a troubling mindset that reduces the rich and diverse life of Orthodoxy in this country to a crude geopolitical caricature.

Particularly disappointing is the fixation on a tired “Moscow vs. Constantinople” dialectic, which has increasingly become a kind of ideological battle cry for the Order’s leadership. This framing does nothing to build up the Church in America. It does not serve the faithful. And it certainly does not reflect the catholicity of Orthodoxy itself.

The Society of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco rejects these accusations outright. We are a pan-Orthodox initiative, composed of faithful from across jurisdictions — including the Greek Archdiocese — committed not to foreign agendas, but to the life of the Church here in the United States. Our work — whether on Capitol Hill or in our parishes — is directed toward the defense of religious liberty, the strengthening of Orthodox unity, and the witness of the Gospel in American society. It is a sad thing when fellow Orthodox Christians choose to spend their time attacking their brothers and sisters, constructing elaborate conspiracies, and even attempting to block lawful engagement with public officials. One might suggest that such energy would be better spent in the work the Church has always called us to: the evangelization of the nation and the care of the least among us — the poor, the orphan, and the widow.

We at the Society of Saint John will continue undeterred in that mission. And perhaps the Archons might consider doing the same, rather than building monuments to themselves while casting suspicion on those laboring for the good of the Church.

Signed,

Benjamin Dixon (Director of Operations)

Benjamin Langlois (Secretary)

Catherine Whiteford (Director of Govt. Operations)

Stefano Forte (Vice Chairman of Coalitions)

Rebeca Oliveira (Vice Chairman of Communications)

Constantine Poulides (Northeast Regional Director)

Note: Benjamin Dixon is also editor-in-chief of the Union of Orthodox Journalists of America.