Biting Off More Than You Can Chew

It’s been clear now for several months that the new Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, Elpidophoros Lambrianides, has probably bitten off a little bit more than he can chew.

To be fair, the mission which Patriarch Bartholomew entrusted to him was rather impossible (forgive the pun). Think of him as the next coach for the Dallas Cowboys: no matter who it is, Jerry Jones is going to bolix things up forever because he views that franchise as his personal plaything. Likewise the GOA, which is the jewel in the crown of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The last independent archbishop –Iakovos Coucouzis–was unceremoniously removed twenty-four years ago and the GOA is worse for the wear. And by all indications, his tenure was the apogee for the GOA.

Attendance is dropping, churches are being sold, the priests’ pension fund is depleted, Holy Cross has been in danger of losing its accreditation and St Nicholas Shrine and Non-denominational Bereavement Center is so far in the hole that its completion is an open question. On the social front it can’t decide if it endorses open communion or not. And all of the blame is being placed at the feet of the previous archbishop (Demetrios Trakatellis). Real classy. In addition, Lambrianides’ tactics have been maladroit for the most part vis-à-vis the other jurisdictions. (Supposedly, he openly bragged to various and sundry people about how he was going to bring the OCA under Istanbul.) The Episcopal Assembly, which was withering on the vine before his arrival, appears more-or-less defunct, it’s mission as a cover for Greek domination of American Orthodoxy has now been exposed for all to see.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel but at this point, it might as well be an oncoming train as far as the new archbishop is concerned.

Oh sure, there is a brief flurry of news items regarding the re-startup of St Nick’s. A photo-op with the infanticidal governor of New York was engineered for the cheering masses. He has been wined and dined by all the appropriate people. I imagine he has brought the Athonite monasteries to heel but none of this is progress, as such. It is in fact, nothing but stasis. The reality is far bleaker: think of all this activity as the furious bailing of water out of a leaky lifeboat.

Thanks to our sources in Manhattan, we have some indication of how truly desperate things are. First, it looks like the Feds are closing in on 79th Street: Jerry Dimitriou, the former Executive Director is singing like a bird to the FBI. Some seventeen million dollars right off the top has gone unaccounted for (most likely for sexual misconduct payments). Second, it’s looking more and more likely that the State of New York is going to have to pitch in to finish St Nick’s. Then there’s the most recent news that in order to jump-start the fund-raising effort for that edifice, Lambrianides is demanding $100 from every woman in the Philoptochos. To add insult to injury, the annual stipend to Istanbul has been increased from a cool million to $1.5 million. And then, what will happen when the documents from the State Department finally leak out and it’s finally confirmed that the Department of Justice was asked by them to look the other way in order for Patriarch Bartholomew to do State’s Russophobic bidding in Ukraine?

Oh, and the Phanar is demanding another audit of all of the GOA’s properties –churches, parish halls, day-schools, and monasteries. That’s against the law by the way; a foreign government cannot order audits of American institutions. Lambrianides, who likened himself to a “Sunflower” when he received his marching orders, has unfortunately brought all this upon himself. He made the cardinal mistake of believing all the flattery heaped upon him by the courtiers at the Phanar. Compared to the mediocrities which “preside” over extinct dioceses of the long-defunct Byzantine Empire, the well-educated, urbane and multilingual Lambrianides is a standout. Admittedly, that’s a low bar but his talents are nonetheless real. If he was willing to come to America and actually minister to this country, to actually work with the other jurisdictions in humility, he could conceivably make a go of it. That’s never the game plan as far as the Phanariotes are concerned so even if he did want to embrace a new paradigm, he’d never be able to get away with it.

In the final analysis, he was set up to be the fall guy. Not by intention mind you: the Phanariotes have long believed their own hype, living as they have in a fantasy world for centuries.

Oh sure, it’s possible that he could succeed; on some level at least. If nothing else, the attrition of congregants might be halted, perhaps even turned around. This could happen at the parish level with congregational singing, more use of (proper) English in the services, more local philanthropic activities, etc. None of this costs money and would (I dare say) increase enthusiasm in the parishes.

Instead, the GOA continues to function as a top-heavy “national” church, issuing top-down decrees that don’t acknowledge the different world we now live in. Worse, it is still steeped in neo-Byzantine nostalgia which unfortunately expresses itself in a Zorba-the-Greekist sensibility on the parochial level. It simply cannot let go of the past. The pull of Anthony Quinn is still too great for many.

The latest proof of this is the latest hare-brained scheme which is being proposed by some on 79th Street. Arb Elpidophoros recently hosted the new Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on his state visit to America. While at the annual Epiphany celebration at Tarpon Springs, the archbishop announced that the Greek government was going to bail out Holy Cross/Hellenic College.

Yes, you read that right: the foreign government of the poorest country in the Eurozone, which can’t make the minimum payments on its sovereign debt, is going to shell out several millions of Euros to keep HC/HC from shutting its doors.

This is insane on so many levels. The worst possible understanding is what this says about the GOA’s commitment to jurisdictional unity: ain’t gonna happen. Worse, it’s nothing less than a direct slap in the face to the other jurisdictions –especially the OCA.

The OCA, as you know, has three seminaries in the United States. One of them (St Vladimir’s Seminary) is considered the finest Orthodox seminary in the English-speaking world. Holy Cross has never –even in the best of times–been considered to be on a par with St Vlad’s or the best at anything. The Antiochian jurisdiction has long maximized its resources by sending its young men there on scholarship (one notable exception being when Metropolitan Philip Saliba pulled three seminarians out of St Vlad’s, in a pique with an OCA internet personality who Metropolitan Jonah Paffhausen wouldn’t discipline, but I digress).  The GOA should likewise consider pulling the plug on the wasting asset that is HC/HC as well and use the millions of dollars raised to establish a scholarship which can be used at St Vlad’s (or St Tikon’s). After all, if it sold its property in Brookline, Massachusetts, it could easily make millions of dollars. Some estimates peg the number as high as twenty million.

But no. The GOA will do anything to stave off the embarrassment of having to send its future priests for education at a “Slav” seminary. And of course, in the end, it will all come to naught. The Greek government will be anything but generous with its stipends. It will in fact behave in as niggardly a fashion as possible, exacting many concessions for every Euro it sends to Brookline. Nor will it’s academic rigor be enhanced to any appreciable extent. And the more well-off and intelligent sons of the Greek-American community that is still Orthodox will continue to seek a secular education, ostensibly in one of the STEM fields which will pay more upon graduation. After all, why not? An engineer, physician, MBA or attorney can easily make six figures.

As to why the Greek government is willing to bail out Holy Cross when it can barely afford to meet its own domestic obligations, one must come to the conclusion that the benefits outweigh the risks. After all, they’ve gone down this road before, three decades ago, when the hierarchy of the Evangelical Orthodox Church flew all the way to Istanbul to seek entry into the GOA. Unfortunately, the patriarch at the time, Demetrios, couldn’t speak English and so it was left to his right-hand man (the future patriarch Bartholomew) to show them the door.

The reason? Because the Greek government didn’t want a sudden and massive infusion of non-Greeks into the GOA.

With old-world politics, the more things change, the more they stay the same.  More about that to come. . .   

Comments

  1. Greatly Saddened says

    This latest fiasco in a long history of many makes me absolutely sick! And unfortunately it never seems to end, but rather continues to get worse. Is this truly a church or a joke! All I can say is … “shameful and disgusting!” God help us and save us. Lord have mercy!

    • George the communists used to continually claim the Church was a corrupt self seeking organization, living of the backs of the simple.  Now most of this was tosh. but undoubtedly some truth, human nature being what it is.  If only they had survived long enough to read yr blog!!
       Very, very sad.  Re Greece. Actually things in Greece improving and Greece IS  making it’s payments,  but yr over all point is sound. 
      Although Thessaloniki looks prosperous,  the continual approach of people in desparate straits to us either at a cafe or in street,  tells it’s own story. Perhaps when we return on Monday we can cheer them up with what the government is doing with it’s money.  
       
      Phanar could if had humility and lack of greek nationalism,  play a pivotal role in the Church and especially in diaspora and USA. But only as First amongst equals and realizing this is a historical and not dogmatic teaching and its power is loaned,  loaned, not given,  by the plenitude of the Church.
      Sadly it’s lost in a Fantasy world bringing down the greek church with it. When will action be taken to bring it’s rubbish to heel? 

    • Loras Camzekes says

      You need to send emails to various Euro-MPs and ask them if they want Greece spending their money at HCHC, not to mention supporting three Patriarchs that all actively undermine European policies.

  2. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today in The National Herald.
     
    St. Andrew Ecumenical Patriarchal Fund Established
    By TNH Staff 
    January 10, 2020
     
    https://www.thenationalherald.com/278406/st-andrew-ecumenical-patriarchal-fund-established/

  3. Let’s be accurate – HC/HC is on probation; it has not lost its accreditation. Also, although you may want to defend Trakatellis, if all this came down during his nearly 20 year run, does he not bear principle responsibility for the catastrophe?

    • Gail Sheppard says

      I’m all for being accurate: “Holy Cross is not in compliance with the Standards for Accreditation.” https://www.hchc.edu/why-hchc/accreditation/

      Would you send your kid there? One can’t solve a problem if one isn’t willing to acknowledge it.

      • George Michalopulos says

        Again, interesting points Gail.

        If I may, I just received an e-mail from another priest in the GOA and he told me something disturbing that I hadn’t considered.  And that is, the 2 million euros that Greece is planning to send annually to HC will come with this particular string attached:  that is, HC will be forced to take in a set quota of Greek citizens to be educated.  It may very well be cheaper for Greece to spend 2 million euros on this end of the Pond while they are forced to cut their education budget on the other side of the pond.

        Either way, those students will go back to Greece to fulfill their vocations, which will do nothing to address the priest shortage here in the States.

      • “Hellenic College, Inc. is accredited on probation by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), effective December 18, 2019, because the Commission finds that the institution is in danger of losing its accreditation because it is not in compliance with the Standards for Accreditation.”
        Precision …. no thanks to Trakatellis who guided the School to the brink of closure. 

  4. GOA Priest says

    George,

    It looks like you bit off more than you can chew with this silly article.

    I’m no fan of the GOA, but at least approach the task of a take-down with a modicum of due-diligence.

    1. “Attendance is dropping…” in some parishes yes, in others no, but based on widely available statistics, Church attendance is dropping everywhere, across denominations.

    2. “…churches are being sold…” A SINGLE Church has been sold in the Metropolis of Chicago.

    3. “Holy Cross has lost its accreditation…” No. It was announced yesterday that it was placed on two year suspension, but it has never lost its accreditation.

    4. Notwithstanding your silly comment about SVS being the best seminary — by what metric have you come to that conclusion? Have you ever actually been to SVS? If so, then you would know that the physical plant in Crestwood is big enough to manage a combined enrollment. Furthermore, competition in the educational marketplace is a good thing.

    As for the “state” of the GOA administration, the “GOA continues to function as a top-heavy “national” church,” you aren’t wrong. However, you are too quick to imagine it will all come crashing down because of missteps at the top. To use your own words, “it ain’t gonna happen.” The inertia of the GOA as an institutional Church is large, and it is not going to suddenly stop rolling along because of administrative stupidity of institutional petrification.

    As for a foreign gubbamint bailing out HC/HC, who honestly cares? It is hardly the harbinger of doom that you portray. It is easy to play fast and free with the facts, and treat rumors as reality, as if you have been that proverbial fly-on-the-wall.

    Really, George, you are better than that.

    • George Michalopulos says

      GOA Priest, may I take your well-spoken criticisms seriatim?

      1. “Attendance is down”. You are right, that is an across-the-board generalization. However it’s not incorrect. Even by your parameters (some parishes are increasing, others are decreasing), what is being described is stasis, not growth. However there is one metric which shows that growth is negative: subscription rates to The Orthodox Observer. When you compare its subscribers to the almost one million Americans who self-identify as Greek in the national census, then we are left with an dramatic attrition rater. Also in many parishes funerals outpace baptisms during any given year.

      2. You are correct, a single church has been sold in Chicago. However according to my sources another fifteen are on the chopping block. Regardless, that church in Chicago should never have been sold. This in fact is the broader picture. The people there were more than willing to reach into their pockets and make the necessary sacrifices to keep it. Unfortunately, they had Met Nathanael resolutely willing to do what it took to make the sale happen. Why? That’s the bigger question in my estimation and as such, does not speak well about the future.

      3. I made a mistake about HC losing its accreditation. I stand corrected (and will correct the record). Even here though, the picture that is painted is far from rosy. Schools placed on “suspension” or “probation” are usually on the way out. Moreover, it bespeaks to the underlying problem of its worthiness as an educational institution. I must believe that if it were really a first-class educational institution, then the lines of applicants would circle around the block. At the very least, its accreditation would not be in jeopardy.

      4. I have never been theologically trained therefore I have never been to either St Vlad’s or HC to receive an education. Therefore anything I do know comes to me second-hand, from graduates of both institutions and the precious few I know who have attended both and found HC wanting in comparison. Then again there is the famous SVS Press: I really don’t want to get into a measuring contest but there is a measurable difference between the output and quality of one versus the other. Moreover, there is another more important metric: Metropolitan Philip and his successor Joseph have almost without interruption sent their young charges to St Vlad’s to receive their MDivs. If both HC and St Vlad’s are equal in academic stature, then why not send their young men to HC exclusively or perhaps splitting the difference and sending half to one and half to the other?

      This actually brings up another interesting angle which I believe further proves my point: as most everyone knows, the Antiochian rubrics and liturgical tradition are almost identical with those of the Greeks. Thus it would behoove the Antiochians to send their young men to HC for their education. It’s always been an easier “fit” for Greek-Americans to go to worship in Antiochian parishes and visa versa, all things being equal. The differences between the Russian/OCA rubrics/liturgical tradition and the Greek/Antiochian is very distinct. One could almost say jarring. Yet that is where the Antiochian jurisdiction sends their scholars and money.

      5. “Foreign gubbemint”. I like your style (and hope to meet you someday as I think we have more in common than not). In a day in which America’s foreign policy is being held hostage by foreign lobbies, which I believe we can all agree is not beneficial, we must be chary of a foreign govt (in this case Greece) bailing out HC. From a purely (Greek) political perspective, this is horrendous. I imagine the average Greek citizen asking why his hard-earned tax dollars are going to bail out a seminary which is located in the richest country on earth. This cannot make them happy and will increase resentment against “the Americans” which a future Greek government will be forced to address. If so, then HC will be right back to square one.

      Perhaps I should ask forgiveness from my readers, because the major point which I was trying to make may have been missed one of which is this: with three American-based seminaries, none of which are controlled or influenced by foreign governments and one which has an international reputation, why not sell HC/HC for $20 million, set up a scholarship fund and give young Greek-American men the opportunity to choose which one they will attend?

      The other point? Looking to the corrupt Greek govt to bail out HC is nothing less than a slap in the face to the OCA and tells the other jurisdictions that unity can never happen in the United States. This may be unfair and it’s possible that the GOA doesn’t see it this (mainly because their extremely insular) but it does appear that way to the other Orthodox in America.

      6. Yes, Arb Demetrios wasn’t perfect, a lot of bad things happened on his watch. My point however is that under the present Phanariocentric paradigm, no GOA primate is ever really in control. It’s never “his watch”. Hence my analogy to the Dallas Cowboys and their overlord Jerry Jones. As is known, he is not only the owner but fancies himself the general manager, head coach, defensive-line coach and Lord knows what else. The GOA is caught in this same scenario: the real primate of the GOA is none other than Patriarch Bartholomew. The primate located in NYC is merely a placeholder.

      • I know of an old lady who has worked all her days and now lives in Athens in a house with no furniture as she sold the furniture to buy food because her pension has been cut and cut and cut again. There are many more like her.

        • Brendan yes and even in Thessaloniki, which has weathered the storm better than Athens and is beautiful city. But look deeper and u see the misery, constantly approach one in the street or at a cafe for help. The Church of Greece itself has needs and parishes without clergy because government will not pay salaries and etc. 

      • As a graduate of St Tikhons, I must vouch for that terrific institution, monastery and spirituality wealthy professors and community. Lots of dirt beneath OCA carpet, and our experience was inside a fiery furnace, but Christ was in our midst of that crucifixion.  Absolutely remarkable. 

        • Yes and I treasure the beautiful cds sent me by St Tikhon’ s of it’s centenary liturgy and  compositions by Sheehan. Pure gold compared to greek american, And I am greek, smultz. Says much more than just music. 

        • John Belushi says

          I would go to Saint Tikhon’s or Holy Trinity over Saint Vladimir’s or Holy Cross if I was in the marketplace for an Orthodox education. There are good people at the latter two institutions but the Satanic rot of modernism and homosexualism has infected both more than any Orthodox person should be comfortable with. I have a little hope for St. Vlad’s in that the new dean is supposed to be an Orthodox priest who is actually Orthodox, but the house has not been cleaned of all the infecting professors at this point.

      • Greek priest said competition is good in education. Yes. But Church is not running an education business but in business of getting future clergy.  Therefor duplication of effort when money is short is stupid is it not.  
        As for keeping an establishment on it’s toes. YES, VERY IMPORTANT. That is what accreditation standards and checking on them,  are  meant to do and obviously does. 
        I only know St Vladimir’s from one atfendance at their chapel for vigil.  Beautiful Orthodox worship in english and superb choir.WARM feeling. And from their books and programmes. As St Tikhon.  I am impressed.  
        I did not know much about Holy Cross except it, like most greek american organizations, seemed too american to be properly greek and too greek to be american. And it seems to have gone down hill and with the badly handed late 1990s sexual scandal.
        I can’t imagine greek students attending there will return well equiped for greek society so much. 
        And yes Antiochan archdiocese ideal fit for those used to greek typikon such as Bulgarians, Serbs and of course Greeks and arabs. 
        Contrary to whst may be thought, bulgarian and Serbian churches are, except in singing, but not even entirely here,  for more greek than russian.  My, as a greek, personal experience. 

    • Gail Sheppard says

      You’re splitting hairs, Father.

      1. Just because something is happening here, does not mean it’s not happening there. What makes a drop in attendance particularly concerning for the GOA is that they have a longstanding aversion to converts. Their ability to evangelize to make up for the deficit is going to be harder than for a convert friendly jurisdiction, if not downright impossible, given their other obstacles.

      2. Unless you want to make the argument that Holy Trinity is not a Church, Churches are being sold.

      3. Hellenic College, Inc. is accredited on probation by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). It’s provisional. The suspension of something is the act of delaying or stopping it for a while or until a decision is made, but in the meantime, Holy Cross is not in compliance with the Standards for Accreditation. In contrast, SVS has been fully accredited since 1973.

      4. With regard to SVS, by the fruits, you will know them. Who can argue we haven’t seen some pretty good fruit coming out of SVS, e.g. Father Thomas Hopko, Metropolitan Jonah, etc.?

      The GOA is a top-heavy “national church.” You’re speculating that it won’t come crashing down, even though corruption is rampant, large amounts of money are being mismanaged, projects are not getting completed . . . And (this is important) they’re backing the wrong horse. No good thing will come from the Phanar.

      • George Michalopulos says

        Gail, thanks for setting me straight regarding the term probation, that it means that its accreditation is provisional.  That is a crucial distinction. 

      • Greatly Saddened says

        So true Gail. Especially as we like to call them, the so called “G” parishes. I am sad to say and please forgive me, but I have seen this with my very own two eyes when it comes to converts and it truly bothers me!

        Unfortunately, I seem to get the feeling with the so called “G” parishes. They like to think of themselves as kind of “Greek” elitists. Like a private club for “Greeks” only!

        As someone very well pointed out … “Greek first” and secondly “Orthodox Christian.” As if “Greeks” are the only Orthodox Christians! And how sad is that. Exclusive rather than inclusive! Oh well, this is only my personal observation through the years. A nice dose of “humility” would serve these so called “G” parishes well!

        • Linda Albert says

          When I first became Orthodox in the OCA, I was in Great Falls, MT and went to eat lunch at a Greek restaurant. The owner was greeting customers and as there were icons in a glass case beside the register, I mentioned that I had recently become Orthodox at …., naming a non Greek Orthodox church. He pushed his face into mine and through gritted teeth informed me, “is not Greek, is not Orthodox.” And that was the end of his courtesy to me.
           I have come to have a rule of thumb for predicting an Orthodox of any ethnicity church’s growth. What provision have they made for adult baptisms? 

          • George Michalopulos says

            Linda, it has increasingly become a bugbear of mine that most Orthodox churches should make provision for adult baptistries. While in Russia, I saw quite a few. They are not that obtrusive, nor expensive in the grand scheme of things. In America, I saw one in the GOA parish in Las Vegas and the Antiochian cathedral in Wichita. It can be done and it should be done.

            I will try to scroll through my photos of Russia and post them soon.

            • Michael Bauman says

              George the Antiochian parish where I was received has a Temple that is quite small. Their baptistry is a very large bowel set in a rolling cabinet with a top that allows it to serve other functions.  
              The bowl is adequate for babies to be immersed–no one else.  The Holy Waters of Baptism were poured over my head.  
               

            • Antiochene Son says

              Totally agree. Every church should have a baptistry right in the middle of the Narthex, where it belongs, reminding the faithful of their baptism vow as they enter the church, and their mission in the world as they leave the church.

            • Our parish of Saint Katherine’s GO Church in Falls Church, Virginia has a built in adult baptistry on the solea. A son in-law was the first to be baptized 7 years ago as well as granddaughters fiancée. We are blessed at our parish which is welcoming to all. Our parish president is a convert to Orthodoxy. Not only do we support our Missions but many County, State and International Charities. 

          • Linda Albert: “He pushed his face into mine and through gritted teeth informed me, “is not Greek, is not Orthodox.”

             
            He was lucky I was not there. Did he have a masonic ring on his finger? 😉

            • Many years ago in George’s home Church, I was speaking with the daughter of a teacher I remembered fondly from high school.  During our conversation the young woman told me I was not really Orthodox, and I never could be because I was not Greek.  That was nearly 40 years ago.  One never forgets those things.  It has caused me to think that there are Greeks who are prouder of their Aristotle than of their Christianity.  

            • Martin what makes me laugh is how do they imagine their pewed, organed dog collared shaven, and that is just the outward show, let alone mentality, is Greek, let alone Orthodox?.   It’s the ‘ as long as it’s in Greek’ the rest does not matter’.  Very sad and limited and dead and I an greek. 
              Sadly pews disfigure churches in Greece.  After Bulgaria ,it’s always a shock. Even worse,   rigid chairs in many  as in St Dmitri in Thessaloniki.  I was actually there,  ‘trapped’ against a pillar by rows of chairs!!  Quite funny if not sad. 

              • John Belushi says

                If the EU, Germany, and the NWO have their way, they will soon be neither Greek nor Orthodox.

        • Well that’s what is being spewed out nowadays isn’t it? That without Constantinople (Greeks), there is no Orthodoxy. Laughable. There is Orthodoxy without Rome, and there certainly can be Orthodoxy without Constantinople.

    • Ashley Nevins says
      • Gail Sheppard says

        Well, Ashley, you’re not wrong about the GOA, although as we’ve argued in the past, the Church is not the GOA. The GOA, contrary to what many of its affiliates believe, is part of the vine; it is not THE vine and few would argue that it is not in need of some pruning.

        The GOA on a “death spiral?” That would be like confusing a diseased part of the body with the body itself. I recently had my appendix removed and apparently it was beyond even bursting. Very rare, especially for my age. I remember the ER doctor looking at my CT scan, mumbling more to himself than to me, “Gail, Gail, why haven’t you been in here to see me before?” To which I replied, “If I had known how cute you were I would have been in here sooner!” – Ignoring my morphine induced response, he said, “Let me put it this way: you would have been in here, today, one way or another.”

        George and I continue to pray for Scott every day.

  5. George, a “minor” point,
    the Greek Prime Minister is Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
    Please correct it and then delete this”noise” of mine.

  6. Greatly Saddened says

    There is absolutely no excuse other than due to total malfeasance, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America presently finds itself in. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America shouldn’t even think of accepting the Hellenic Republic’s kind offer of 2 million Euros annually to help bail out Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. The Hellenic Republic presently has enough on its plate trying to turn things around, than to add an additional burden on the government and its taxpayers. Once again, shameful and disgusting, to say the least!

    • George Michalopulos says

      Folks, I’m Greek.  I got oodles and oodles of relatives back in Greece.   Believe me, when they find out that the Greek govt is going to shell out 2 million euros they’ll go ballistic.  And they’re the religious ones.  The secular people will be driven to even more fervent anti-religiosity.  

      Eventually, the Mitsotakis govt is going to get a lot of grief for making this offer.  If I were Arb Elpi, I would be actively looking for other sources of income just in case.  

      • George just spoke to my family there and can’t tell u what was said as u run a family show.!! ? 

  7. I want to keep this brief. 
    Reading something that strikes me as ‘news’ here always makes me doubt its veracity. A colleague told me yesterday that the Greek govt is going to underwrite HCHC at $2M/per annum; I was inclined to believe him but now I’ve read it here so it seems less credible. 
    When Metr. Philip of blessed memory pulled his seminarians out of SVS it had nothing to do with Metr. Jonah (who was an Abbot and Hieromonk at that time) not anything to do with any Internet personality as there was hardly an Internet then.
    Antiochian Priest Joseph Allen was teaching at SVS when he, a widower, remarried a divorced woman from his own parish. He was let go from SVS as soon as they found out. Allen was one of Philip’s ‘golden boys’ and he was furious that his Metropolitan Sovereignty would be impugned by the priests and academics of SVS.  He responded by sending all his students to HC.  A few years later he relented but all AOCNA seminarians at SVS had to pass the litmus test of loyalty to His Eminence by interning with Fr. Joseph at his nearby NY parish.  

    • Gail Sheppard says

      You are mistaken, Lance. It had nothing to do with what your colleague told you yesterday.

      “Just three weeks before the 2009-2010 term begins, Metropolitan Philip informed first-year Antiochian students scheduled to begin St. Tikhon’s Seminary in South Canaan PA, and St. Vladimir’s Seminary in Crestwood NY, that they are to not to attend the OCA schools – but move to Boston and enroll at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary instead. . .

      Towards the end of the 2008-2009 academic year, senior Antiochian faculty at both St. Tikhon’s and St. Vladimir’s were reported to have met with school administrators with a message from Metropolitan Philip: unless OCANEWS.org, ceased reporting on the Archdiocese there would be “consequences” for the two OCA schools. . .

      In May 2009 OCA Chancellor, Fr. Alexander Garklavs, External Affairs Chair, Fr. Leonid Kishkovsky, and Metropolitan Jonah conveyed Metropolitan Philip’s displeasure to Stokoe in a conference phone call. Out of concern for the two schools – of which Metropolitan Jonah is the President – they asked for Stokoe’s voluntary cooperation to resolve the problem. Stokoe, on principle, declined to cease publication, likening +Philip’s threatened action against the helpless schools to little more than “blackmail”. . .

      And so, three weeks before the beginning of the new term, Metropolitan Philip made good on his threatened action. . .”

      http://www.ocanews.org/news/PhilipPullsStudents8.14.09.html

      • George C Michalopulos says

        That’s the way I remembered it.   Anyway, as your link proves, that’s the way Mark Stokoe reported it.  Whether there were other reasons for Philip to be angry, I suppose we’ll never know.  

  8. A concerned observer says

    George,
     
    Great piece – thank you for posting it.  I also appreciate the comments. 

    As a partial Greek-American but as someone who never could find a life in Christ within the GOA, the secular Greek government’s willingness to “bail out” HC/HC speaks volumes as to how so many Greeks and Greek-Americans view the Church: as only a cultural accoutrement.
     
    Yes, this cultural view of the Church happens to some extent in any country that overwhelmingly identifies with a faith (Orthodox Russia, Orthodox Serbia, Catholic Ireland, Catholic Italy, etc.). It can be good, in that it gives people of that culture ample opportunity to discover, know, and grow close to Christ. 

    But this cultural view starkly contrasts with how most of us struggling Orthodox Americans view our Churches in America.  We do not see them as cultural paraphernalia but rather as the result of our blood, sweat, tithes, and toil.  We see them as the places where we meet Christ in holy confession, at the Eucharist, at the divine services. 

    Probably the most glaring difference is that in the other American Orthodox churches, the priests and the bishops are usually the ones who most stress that Church is emphatically not a cultural ornamentation but it is where we are to meet Christ and to grow in Him. It’s also where we have the associated responsibility to allow all of our American neighbors to meet and grow in Christ and to become Orthodox if God leads them to Him in our churches. 

    But in the GOA, it’s the freaking leadership who clearly imply (vis-à-vis this Greek gov’t bailout) that the Greek churches have no point or mission in America, other than to be cultural adornments for those who identify with Greek culture and heritage. 

    And much as the porn addict doesn’t think about the miserable lives of the drug-addicted and STD-afflicted porn stars whom he or she watches, will the GOA and Greek govt leadership think much about this burden that they now shift to the struggling Greek taxpayer?
     
    They say that true healing can’t begin until you hit rock bottom in whatever area that you need to heal. I believe this is true.  Which is why my opinion is that the GOA will wither away (despite these temporary “fixes”) until it places worshipping Christ and missionizing to America as its only priority. 

    God didn’t send Greek Orthodox to America to use her to get rich. He sent Greek Orthodox to America to bring Christ and His Church to this country. 

    Unity of the GOA with whatever other Orthodox body in America is really not even on the table. The OCA, the Antiochians, ROCOR — all view growth in Christ and mission to America with the utmost priority.  The GOA’s mission is far too different for there to be any commonality, even completely disregarding Patr Bartholomew’s curious promise to unify with Rome soon. 

    And I disagree that if HC/HC ever shuts its doors that the GOA would send its sons to SVOTS, STOTS, Jordanville, or to one of the other American Orthodox seminaries. To those men willing to do it, the GOA would almost certainly send them to seminary in Greece.

    And as you said, it ain’t like there are many young Greek American men who are drawn to the priesthood through the GOA.

    The other seminaries that I listed above have a very heavy “convert American” cohort to their student body. As you write, the GOA tremendously fears this happening to HC/HC, for the aforementioned reasons. 
     
    May God have mercy on us. 

  9. Posted with no comment, from Patriarch Bartholomew’s most recent letter to Patriarch Theophilos III: 
    “We are unpleasantly surprised by the fact that for the first time in the long history of the two Patriarchates, the“ Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem ”refers to the Ecumenical Patriarch in a foreign language and not our native language, as if he suddenly ceased to feel our shared blood bonds, and that he belongs to the same historical and suffering nation, – addressed Patriarch Bartholomew to Patriarch Theophilus III. “What prompted your Beatitude to send us this honorary circular letter in English instead of following the centuries-old standard correspondence between our Churches?”

    • Gail Sheppard says

      I guess he objected to using English. Of all the problems he created for the Church, this seems a little petty. What he’s really concerned about is that the kids are throwing a party without him. He keeps talking about the diptychs as if this will protect his standing in the Church. He doesn’t seem to understand that if Russia (3/4s of the Church) can delete him the rest of the Church can do it, as well.

      • George Michalopulos says

        Indeed, Gail.  While this letter to the JP is scandalous (and bigoted), it is small beer in the grand scheme of things.

        The message is as you say –the worry that a “party” is going to be held without him.  The language issue is just a last-ditch effort to throw up some dirt and hope that the subject gets changed. 

        • George, can you imagine ,
          Bartholomew’s first point is about the language of the letter!
          That’s very important!

      •  A little petty?  God forbid that anyone should use the English language lest it supplant Greek as the international tongue.  Oh wait…it long since has!  But we can’t have that.  Never mind the message.
         
        What a pathetic little baby.  

        • A concerned observer says

          Pathetic and petty. Yes. 

          It’s also called living in delusion, something that Christ commands us not to do. So many times in the Holy Scriptures He commands His people to open our eyes to see reality and to live in reality – even if that’s difficult.

          Patr Bartholomew and his clique live in delusion and are stuck there. May God help them. 

        • Brian is Chinese, cantonese,  now!!! 

      • If the EP objects to English then obviously it would insult his majesty and all holiness to send him dollars (ooooh, ick!).  That settles the issue of the annual tribute to Istanbul.  Glad that’s cleared up.

        • Gail Sheppard says

          Yeah, I’m glad you cleared that up, too, Bob. Don’t want to offend the guy by sending him currency in English.

        • bob, thumbs up!

        • Bob. DOLLARS ARE LANGUAGE BLIND!!!!!! ? ? ????

          • Michael Bauman says

            Nikos, but US currency still has printed on it: “In God We Trust”. That might offend his sub-Holiness Patriarch of Nothing.

            • Michael, he will over look that slip up and just bank it trusting in erdogan and Pompeo. 
              Hopefully there will be a little over for manuela’ s ‘ stallions ‘    I do live in Bulgaria so if I can help find any always glad to help the Church and the  local economy 

        • As Vespasian said: Pecunia non olet. (Money has no smell.)

    • The Jerusalem Patriarch should have written in Greek, not because that is somehow required, but to avoid the petty response. 
       
      However, since it was written and sent in English, it is instructive to witness the reaction to the language used.  That reaction reveals something about the world view of the Constantinople Patriarchate. Bart seeks to make a mountain out of a barely existing molehill, to deflect attention away from what he has done, and to rally “Hellenism” to his side (I.e., Anastasios of Albania, some of the hierarchs in Greece who have not supported him vis-a-vis Ukraine, the Greek laity.)

      • Gail Sheppard says

        Exactly.

        • Maybe the Jerusalem Patriarchate wrote it in English intentionally, as a courtesy, so that the State Department wouldn’t have to go through the effort of getting it translated.

        • George C Michalopulos says

          All true, blimbax.  A further point:  whoever does public relations for the EP needs to be replaced.  While I realize that he’s trying to deflect attention from the fact that the walls are closing in and buy himself some time, he has resorted to a type of racialism that is very unattractive.  As such, the little time he has bought himself will not do him any good in the end.

      • I have the feeling that JP wrote the letter in English because 
        it would be immediately easily understood or translated in the whole world.
        It is “virtually” an open letter, not a secret/classified one. Just like the schismatics event.  

      • I read somewhere else another opinion:
        English was chosen to avoid the “technical” or canonical Greek words for  “Synod” (=Council) by using kinda generic English words.
        Actually a good idea!

  10. Well, here is an article stating that the Greeks are outraged about the money being sent over here: https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2020/01/10/theology-school-boston-grant-2million-euros-diaspora/

    • Gail Sheppard says

      And I don’t blame them. Greece is not responsible for fixing this mess. They have their own problems.

      Here in America, especially under Trump, we are uniquely qualified to fix our own problems. In fact, we have no excuse NOT to. Why would we look to Greece to resolve anything? It’s the Phanar’s attempt to tie us all together (and to sink us if we allow it).

      If we have a failing seminary in this country, then we need to fix it. . . or not. Let the GOA go to their brother bishops in this country to figure out how important it is. If it’s important, then WE’LL take care of it. No Bartholomew.

      • Ask Putin, or Kyrill, for aid…   🙂

      • George C Michalopulos says

        Indeed.  Once the Greeks get wind that they are going to help bail out a school in America –the richest country on earth–then the sh!t will hit the fan.
        I’m surprised that Elpi couldn’t foresee this development.

      • Gail, you are lucky AFTER ALL in the US to have many jurisdictions.
        You can go to the best one.
        In Greece we actually have one, which is moving closer to Bartholomew all the time. What can WE do?
        You are the lucky ones!  

        • Gail Sheppard says

          Isn’t that the truth! All these years of complaining and yet here we are, saved by our jurisdictional mess! The thing is, we want unity but not under an existing jurisdiction. We want our own patriarchate with our own patriarch, understanding that our bishops, who could easily form a synod, will continue to have ties to their mother Churches. These ties would not supersede or eclipse our own priorities but instead would compliment them, perhaps bringing greater unity abroad.

          On a very basic level, think of a parish where there is a priest and a site council. The parish operates relatively independently. If there is a conflict, it is escalated to the bishop.

          On a larger scale, the “parish” could be compared to an American Patriarchate, the “priest” to the Patriarch, and the “site council” to a Holy Synod, where each Bishop represents not a territory within the United States, but a mother Church within a territory. The bishops would be assigned based on the need. Because America is a very diverse nation, it wouldn’t make sense to say, “OK, you live in this state so you have to go to an Antiochian parish because that’s who we’ve assigned to that territory.”

          No. We could have multiple bishops (hopefully fewer) in the same territory if the need supports it, understanding that we would not want too many bishops over too few parishes, making them redundant, or too few bishops over too many parishes, making them inaccessible.

          • It makes sense.

          • Martin what makes me laugh is how do they imagine their pewed, organed dog collared shaven, and that is just the outward show, let alone mentality, is Greek, let alone Orthodox?.   It’s the ‘ as long as it’s in Greek’ the rest does not matter’.  Very sad and limited and dead and I an greek. 
            Sadly pews disfigure churches in Greece.  After Bulgaria ,it’s always a shock. Even worse,   rigid chairs in many  as in St Dmitri in Thessaloniki.  I was actually there,  ‘ trapped’ against a pillar by rows of chairs!!  Quite funny if not sad. 

        • George Michalopulos says

          Gail and I talked about this. May I suggest going to one of the OC parishes/monasteries in Greece for services?

          • George, Gail,
            problem is
            -there are a few groups ,which one is right and has apostolic succession.
             

            • Gail Sheppard says

              In Jordan, in this meeting called by Jerusalem, maybe they could talk about how each patriarchate could grant autocephaly to those under them in America with the provision they unite into a single American patriarchate at some set date. I would like to see them figure out some way to include the old calendarists, too, assuming they would repent. I wonder if something like that has ever been done.

            • Ioannis.  I do not know where u are but a sound, not fanatical relatively open one, with an english bishop for one in their synod, is the ‘Synod in resistance’  based at monastery in  Fyli, (Χασια)  a relatively  short bus journey out of Athens. The Metro  actually will now take u most of way there with a short taxi  ride after. Taxis pass by Metro stn all the time. 

              • Thanks Niko.
                I am normally based in the greater Athens area and I visited the Fyli monastery many years ago.
                If I  have the need to make the move to the OC I will need to know (besides not-fanatical) which one(s) have real apostolic succession. There are quite a few of them.
                Any idea?

                • IOANNI The synod in resistance does have apostolic succession and was in Communion with ROCOR until it joined with Moscow. The problem there was ecumenism..  They have churches in Athens and Thessaloniki and in many other greek cities as well as monasteries and outside Greece, in Uk etc.   They are the only one i have experience of. The services are beautifully done and they are welcoming.  

            • Try the GOC under Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens.

    • A concerned observer says

      The fact of the matter is that Orthodox Christians in North America are the wealthiest faith group, per capita. And as is no secret, the GOA is the wealthiest of the Orthodox jurisdictions in America.

      If the GOA faithful wanted to pay for and maintain a seminary, then they could and would do it. No one is talking about this elephant in the room: clearly the bulk of the GOA faithful DO NOT WANT to maintain their seminary in North America.

      The OCA (less wealthy) is able to maintain 3 seminaries. ROCOR (much less wealthy and gets no handouts from the MP or from Russia) maintains Jordanville, which is currently expanding (spiritually, physically, and financially) by leaps and bounds. (It’s certainly no longer a Russian-language-only seminary/monastery that it was in decades past.)

      ACROD (tiny ACROD!) can maintain a small seminary in Johnstown. The Serbs maintain a small seminary in northern Illinois. Even the UOCofUSA maintains a small seminary in central New Jersey.

      But the wealthiest of the American Orthodox jurisdictions can’t maintain even one seminary in North America? Come on man, it’s plain as day. THEY DON’T WANT TO PAY FOR HC/HC AND DON’T WANT TO MAINTAIN IT.

      We pay for and spend our time on what we value. If the GOA faithful don’t value HC/HC, then why should it exist? Most certainly, no one else should pay for or sponsor it for them.

      And since we Orthodox Christians in North America are the wealthiest faith group in this country, per capita, it’s scandalous that we do not have a network of Orthodox Christian schools for our children to attend, K-12, in all major American and Canadian cities. Why do we not have this? Same reason as above: because most of us do not (yet) want it.

      • Gail Sheppard says

        I agree. It is scandalizing to think we need any other country to support one of our own seminaries, were it ours. But it’s not ours. It’s Bartholomew’s and that’s what needs to change. Elpi should be just one of many bishops seated on the Holy Synod of America, headed by one of our own bishops, and if our Holy Synod thinks we need to rescue Holy Cross for the Greeks in our country then we should do it. We’ve got to get away from the “ties that bind.”

        • Greatly Saddened says

          Gail, There is one thing we all need to remember. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros is in a unique position. He is the heir apparent to the EP throne. Knowing that makes a “BIG” difference. Everyone is extra careful as to not offend or upset him. Because as we are all too familiar with the word … “payback!”

      • George Michalopulos says

        Observer, you hit the nail on the head.

        As a Greek-American, I’d like to offer an explanation as to why the GOA laity will not bail out HC: and that’s because it’s not important. Neither is St Nick’s, or the HQ at 79th St, etc. We simply don’t trust the American-based hierarchy to not use our monies as a slush-fund to cover up the scandals of some of the Phanariotes. Truth be told, the more wealthy among us look down our noses at some of these bishops. Worse, we look down at many of the priests here. Very often we think that the only “right” occupation for a young Greek-American man is to be a wealthy professional or tradesman/businessmen. If you can’t cut it, it’s off to seminary for you.

        I realize that this characterization is manifestly unfair on its face. Hence I ask for forgiveness from the many good priests in the GOA. Unfortunately, this is the perception of a lot of the laity and to be honest, the hijinks associated with some of the Phanariote bishops (e.g. hush-money for “Bulgarian stallions”, hushed escapes from East Asian locales, etc.) make it very difficult to paint a better picture to those who are already doubtful about the rectitude of the rest.

        And it certainly wasn’t the case 100 years ago. Back then in the Old Country, the average priest was the only educated man in his periphery. It was an honor to be a priest and every family that was even marginally devout wanted one son to be ordained. Priests had tremendous authority.

  11. Alitheia1875 says

    Sexual misconduct funds were supplied, for the most part, by several very wealthy Greek Americans, as well as by insurance. There was a time when Holy Cross was the match of any Orthodox seminary in the US. Unfortunately, that was from the mid-50s to the mid to late 60s. And, of course, Holy Cross produced the greatest Orthodox theologian in the US, Father John Romanides. This is not the first time Greece has given money to HCHC. The Greek government made an annual contribution for many years and only stopped doing so when financial difficulties beset the country. (Not sure of the amount). As to whether there is a quid pro quo, money in exchange for students from Greece, that remains to be seen. HCHC had a long tradition of students coming from Greece, as did St. Basil’s Academy (even after it merged with HCHC). This has not been the case for many years. Also, given the expense of attending HCHC, the 2 million euros won’t support many students. And, even if students do come from Greece, it can be debated whether they would want to return to Greece. HCHC’s biggest problem is that it has long been run as a Greek school. The by laws make the archbishop the chair of the trustees. The new president is a successful business man who has no experience in higher education administration but deserves credit, and a chance to succeed, if only because he was willing to take on such a daunting task. He needs to bring in an Orthodox (not necessarily Greek Orthodox) person who has experience as a dean, etc., to be provost. The college, if it is to survive and grow, must have a curriculum that provides an education that is useful. As for the value of the property, $20 million doesn’t even come close to what the 52 acres are worth. It’s much more. But the property will never be sold. Hellenic College could close, but Holy Cross will not. 

  12. Greatly saddened. A lot of these so called greek parishes with their dog collars and harmonium and trite harmony  nursery rythym choirs, and 19c boring old fashioned worship decorum etc,  i hardly recognise as Greek. 
    That is the big joke. 

  13. George Costalas says

    “Brought the Athonite Monasteries yo heel?” For what? Have you even visited one? Who are you? Satan? I grew up in the GOARCH and went to HC/HC and became a lawyer and am a fervent supporter of the Athonite Monasteries who have returned Orthodoxy to the GOARCH.  Elder Ephraim is viewed as a Saint by the entire Orthodox world, except GOARCH which is all about money and power.  Are you even Orthodox? Do you even go to Confession? Do you pray daily? I think not, if only by your arrogance. 

    • George Michalopulos says

      Mr Costalas, in case you didn’t know, I am now, have been and continue to be a defender of Elder Ephraim and his monasteries here in America. Even a cursory reading of this blog should alert you to this fact. Indeed, I have taken much flak from many in the GOA and elsewhere for doing so.

      I too, consider the late Elder a saint. Fortunately, I have been blessed to have been in his presence on three different occasions. The first time I was actually given a private audience him. (I ask all to please forgive this seeming braggadocio.)

      It is possible that I overestimated the control that the new primate has exerted over the monasteries. I certainly hope so, because those monasteries are the only bright spot in the GOA presently. I pray daily and go to confession, not as often as I should but more than most laypeople I know in the GOA. (Again, please forgive my “puffing up”. I’m not doing it because I believe myself to be a magic Christian but to merely set the record straight.)

      • George we don’t agree on everything ( trump et al)  but u a good man and Christian. I wish I was half way there..  

        • George Michalopulos says

          Niko, you’re too kind. I wish I was…

        • Michael Bauman says

          Here is the key to all of our problems: Love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. Love our neighbors as ourselves.

          That includes those with whom we disagree and especially those who might be considered our enemies.

          Similar to the young man who asked, “Who is my neighbor” perhaps we need to be clear on who constitutes our enemy. It is never really our fellow human beings, even the GREEKS. It is rather the evil one who seeks our soul like a ravening lion. He lays down all sorts of land mines, distractions, false teaching and personal upheaval and temptations to keep us from love.

          Of course being a lover of God, does not make things easier in most cases. Sometimes, just the opposite. Nevertheless, persisting in that love, enduring the “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” allows for transformation and blessing in spite of it all.

          The world will not change, to seek to change the world is the ultimate modernist delusion and ultimate temptation that works toward damnation.

          Jesus’ promise is one of tribulation, hatred and death from this world.

          Most politicians hate us of whatever party as they seek only power and destruction. They will use false promises and seduction. Some will even seem to protect us for awhile as part of the seduction (Assad, Saddam, perhaps Trump), but ultimately as Chairman Mao recognized, “All political power grows from the barrel of a gun”. There is not anyone now in political leadership who will not turn on The Church. Trump has already shown this. He is just as much a part of that cult of death, doom and destruction as aunt Hillary and uncle Billy.

          So, what is a fellow to do living in a pseudo-participatory oligarchy such as the United States?

          • Michael,
            let me emphasize this:

            Here is the key to all of our problems: Love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. Love our neighbors as ourselves.

    • Mr. Costalas,
       
      Your reaction – coming in here with all your bluster to defend the monasteries, obviously without any knowledge of the author or the context – is what gives the followers of the Elder’s monasteries a negative, cult-like reputation. You’re not doing yourself or the monasteries any favors by acting like that, and I say this as a firm supporter of what they are doing here.

      • George Michalopulos says

        Thank you Basil.

        In any event, I ask for forgiveness from anybody who thinks I have been antagonistic of the monasteries. As Basil has pointed out, I have most decidedly been a supporter of said monasteries.

        • Someone Else says

          One wonders, nevertheless, about the silence from the GOARCH monasteries regarding the current events (Ukraine/neo-Papist EP) about which several brave Athonite monasteries have spoken boldly, and proactively as in the case of  Karakalou which wrote against the Small and Unholy Crete synod before it took place, based on how it was organized and the documents hierarchs were forced to endorse ahead of time. Interestingly, the GOARCH monasteries in the USA have the same sentiments toward the Greek vs English language as does the EP as revealed recently (response to Jerusalem’s letter), and they do fly the EP flag on American Soil (at least at St. Anthony’s).

          • A concerned observer says

            Karakallou monastery on the Holy Mountain is where the Archimandrite Alexis (Trader), who is the OCA’s new bishop-elect of Bethesda, Maryland, spent years as a monastic.

            Hopefully he will bring a new dynamic to the episcopal scene in North American Orthodoxy.

            He has an interesting background: an American who became Orthodox Christian through St Tikhon’s Monastery in South Canaan, Pa., and who spent years on the Holy Mountain in Greece. Fluent in Greek and pastored a flock as their priest/spiritual father in Greece; he wrote his doctoral dissertation in Greek.

            Perhaps the soon-to-be Bishop Alexis will be a welcome bridge between “American” Orthodoxy and Greek Orthodoxy and will help make the OCA a more attractive option for Greek-American Orthodox who are fed up with the GOA/C’ple, its neo-papalism, and its systemic dysfunction.

            Per OCA.org, Bishop-elect Alexis’s installation in Washington, DC, is scheduled for two weeks from now: the weekend of Jan 25-26, 2020.

            It is heartwarming to hear that Bishop-elect Alexis spent his years on the Holy Mountain with the monastery that boldly spoke out against the false Cretan “robber (non-)council” (Karakallou monastery).

            He seems exactly what we need for our American bishops: an American who is fully steeped in the Orthodox Christian faith tradition and who has a deep formation as a monastic. Someone who understands where an American audience is coming from with respect to Orthodox Christianity. (Well, that describes Met. Jonah, does it not…. and recall what the OCA did to him? Hopefully no one will make Bishop-elect Alexis the new OCA Metropolitan anytime soon.)

            • I’m stoked we have a new bishop-elect with monastic credentials. That makes three : Metr. Tikhon (St. Tikhon’s former abbot), Abp. Alexander (formerly of Simonopetra on Athos disciples of Elder Aimilianos as well as distinguished scholar of St. Maximos and Dionysius Areopagitis, and professor of Patristics at Marquette University).
              I have yet to meet a Greek Orthodox  person, neither hierarch, nor presbyter nor layman, who has ever even heard of these not inconsiderable men and their credentials. 
              The invidiousness of Greeks as regards all the rest of us is appalling and portends spiritual disaster for their community. 

      • This bluster and hostility is meant to shut up anyone who would dare to question anything that the monasteries stand-for or might-stand-for in the case of their collective silence before the antics of the GOA Archbishop.

        Mr. Costalas, do you honestly believe that you represent the spirit of the monasteries by hurling accusatory questions and judgment down like Zeus on Mount Olympus?

        Perhaps from your vantage, you believe that your thunderbolts are awe inspiring enough to cower the readers of this blog…but….nope.

        The question needs to be answered whether these monasteries serve the agenda of Elpidophoros or do they stand with the Orthodox Church?

        As you ponder this question and finger your next thunderbolt know that I have my shield raised: I pray, go to confession…I have met personally with Elder Ephraim (Memory Eternal) on more than one occasion…I visit a monastery regularly. BTW I am an Orthodox Christian. Even with these impressive bona fides, I’d like to hear an answer to the question sometime soon.

        Otherwise, as time wears on, silence sounds more and more like complicity.

        • Ioan I am a great defender of SANE monasticism and the untold good they have done in USA with bringing back a modicum of Orthodox spirituality to the greek side of things.  BUT seems to me they are falling at the hurdle of greek nationalism.??  I do not know but I get this feeling??  Anybody out there know more?

          • I get the impression that the monasteries of Elder Ephraim in North America are, at this point, looking to protect and/or save themselves and their followers from the predations of their Archbishop and Patriarch. Thus, they are laying low, trying not to rock the boat, or [insert Greek idiom of your own choice for: “hiding out”].

            This is understandable but still disappointing from the “flower” of Greek Orthodox Christianity here on these shores. We’ve read and heard of their strength, their holiness, their philotimo , their LEVANTIA for years, on this blog, elsewhere and on the grounds of their monasteries.

            I think (please, anyone correct me if I am wrong) that the monasteries are in self-preservation mode right now though they would be more inspiring to me as a Pan-Orthodox Christian if they would join us NOW in the fight against the Bartholomewite Schismatics.

            Perhaps the monastics will come out swinging around the time when Bartholomew and/or Elpidophoros officially announce their upcoming union with Rome.

            Better late than never.

            • Gail Sheppard says

              I’m not sure that’s accurate, Ioan, although I guess it would be understandable.  They’re just doing what they always do, which is not getting too involved in extraneous things.  I doubt they talk much about what’s going on outside their walls to any great degree.  Nor do I think they worry about the machinations of this hierarch or that hierarch as they monkey around with the Church.  

              Not too long ago, there was an issue with the land around St. Anthonys.  Some developers wanted to build right up to their invisible walls which would have desecrated the silence, caused congestion and generally changed the “feel” of isolation necessary to get away from the world.  We were upset. Petitions were signed, letters to the City Council were written, and people from far and wide flooded the City of Florence to stop this travesty.  The monks?  Nothing changed.  They really do depend upon God to provide which He always does.   They are protected.

              So with Elpi, I’m not sure they think about him one way or the other.  When he called them all together, they used it as an opportunity to teach him (I believe) about monasticism in this country which is nothing like his experience in conjunction with Halki.  They’ve always played it close to the vest regarding finances, too, which has bugged the GOA to no end. Because they depend on donations, many of them private, they don’t ask for money a hierarch can then use as leverage.  I do not see anything changing where they’re concerned.  Their world is not our world.          

              • Sorry Gail, but  I’m with Meriadoc Brandybuck on this one
                https://youtu.be/AXgWZyb_HgE

                • George Michalopulos says

                  Ioan, I totally get Merry’s exhortation to Pippin.  I too, would love for them to get into the fight and set Bart aright.  But in reading Gail’s explanation, I can’t say that their quietist approach is wrong.   Read it again. 

                  I especially like her point about that it wasn’t Elpi who brought them to heel, but that they showed him how real monasticism is done.  Not the faux monastery on Halki which is attached to the faux theological academy that’s been shuttered for four decades.

                  I trust in the Lord.  Elpi may be chastened by his stay here in the States.   I seriously doubt he’s going to be unaffected by what he finds here.  If nothing else, his accomplishments (such as they are) will not be transferable to a dead See.

                • Gail Sheppard says

                  Instead of expecting them to fight in our world, maybe we should enter their world.

                  • I made the assumption that “their world” is part of the Orthodox Church.

                    • Gail Sheppard says

                      Wait for it! They’ll fight by simply saying: “No.”

                    • Gail Sheppard says

                      Of course, it is. We undervalue (I do, anyway) what they do which is pray. I’m sure they’re praying for our Church.

                    • “Unscathed” perhaps as of this date, since Archbishop Demetrios was known to be hands-off with Elder Ephraim’s monasteries.
                       
                      After the Monastic Assembly, the GOA Archbishop and Metropolitans announced that they would revisit and revise the GOA’s Regulations for the Establishment and Operation of Holy Monasteries.
                      https://www.goarch.org/documents/32058/3058354/2005-monasteryregulations.pdf/3d5f18fa-997a-424a-8f27-103bf68e8918
                       
                      Do any of you think that Elpidophoros is going to rewrite the regulations in a way that will keep the monasteries untouched?

                      For example, check out these regs that are ALREADY on the books:

                      Article 4: Rights and Duties of the Metropolitan
                       
                      As
 a
 member
 of
 the
 local
 Eucharistic
 Community,
 each
 Monastery
 functions
 under
 the
 canonical
 and
 ecclesiastical
 jurisdiction
 of
 the
 local
 Metropolitan
of
the
Metropolis
to
which
it
belongs.



                      b)
 Paternally
 and
 in
 a
 protective
 way,
 the
 local
 Metropolitan
 exercises
 the
 highest
 oversight
 of
 the
 Monasteries
 in
 his
 Metropolis,
 ensuring
 their
 regular
 operation
 in
 accordance
 with
 the
 Divine
 and
 Holy
 Canons,
 the
 Charter
 and
 the
 Regulations
of
the
Archdiocese,
and
the
current
civil
law.



                      c) In particular,
the
rights
and
duties
of
the
local
Metropolitan
include:


                      
1)The
 commemoration
 of
 his
 name
 during
 all
 services
 and
 ceremonies
 that
 take
 place
 in
 the
 Monastery,
 in
 accordance
 with
 established
 ecclesiastical
tradition
and
canonical
order;


                      
 2)
The
ratification
of
the
election
and
the
ordination
and
installation
of
the
 Abbot
or
Abbess
of
the
Monastery
by
means
of
a
special
public
ceremony
 as
follows:
At
the
end
of
Orthros
Doxology
and
before
the
Divine
Liturgy,
 the
 Metropolitan
 bestows
 upon
 them
 the
 Cross,
 the
 Monastic
 Mantle
 (Mandyas),
 and
 the
 Abbatial
 Staff.
 Also,
 the
 Abbot
 is
 the
 only
 one
 to
 be
 raised
 to
 the
 rank
 of
 the
 Archimandrite
 of
 the
 Monastery.
 
 The
 other
 clergy
 monks
 remain
 as
 simple
 Hieromonks,
 according
 to
 the
 ancient
 monastic
customs.


                      
3)
The
approval
of
the
tonsure
of
Monks
and
Nuns;
 


                      4)
 The
 dispensation
 of
 judgment,
 in
 his
 capacity
 as
 President
 of
 the
 Spiritual
 Tribunal
 of
 the
 Metropolis,
 in
 cases
 of
 accusation,
 or
 the
 ascertainment
 of
 canonical
 or
 other
 infractions
 on
 the
 part
 of
 thoseaffiliated
 with
 the
 Monastery,
 as
 well
 as
 the
 demonstration
 of
 care
 and
 solicitude
for
their
blameless
manner
of
life;


                      
5)
 The
 auditing
 of
 the
 financial
 records
 of
 the
 Monastery
 in
 accordance
 with
the
Regulations
of
the
Archdiocese
and
civil
law;
and,

                      6) According
to
tradition
and
ecclesial
order,
the
Metropolitan
appoints
an
 Abbot/
 Abbess
 when
 he
 determines
 that
 the
 Monastery
 having
 no
 longer
 monks
or
nuns
is
in
no
position
to
elect
an
Abbot/Abbess.

                       
                      Article 15: Finances, Management

                      
b)
The
economic
resources
of
the
Monasteries
shall
consist
of
income
derived
 from
 every
 source
 and
 activity.
 
 The
 Monasteries
 are
 self‐supporting,
 and
 shall
 contribute
financial
assistance
to
the
local
Metropolis
and
the
Archdiocese
for
the
 benefit
of
the
Church
and
the
community.


                      c) The
 fiscal
 year
 for
 the
 Monasteries
 in
 the
 Archdiocese
 is
 the
 calendar
 year
 beginning
 on
 January
 1,
 and
 ending
 on
 December
 31.
 
 At
 the
 end
 of
 each
 year,
 every
 Monastery
 shall
 submit
 to
 the
 Metropolis
 a
 financial
 report
 for
 the
 previous
 year
 and
 a
 budget
 for
 the
 coming
 year.
 
 The
 Metropolitan,
 in
 consultation
with
the
Hegumenal
Council,
may
modify
some
of
the
figures
of
the
 budget.


                      
d)
 In
 the
 event
the
 Monastery’s
 actual
 expenditures
 are
 to
 exceed
 that
 foreseen
in
its
budget,
the
Hegumenal
Council
shall
seek
and
receive
the
consent
 of
the
local
Metropolitan.

                        ———

                      The GOA Archbishop waited until the passing of Elder Ephraim from this world, and now he and his cohorts will attempt to take control of the monasteries.

                       

                    • Gail Sheppard says

                      Elpi is going to do all he can to wrestle the monasteries under his control. But can he? I’m not so sure.

                    • Gail,
                      careful,
                      don’t mix up “pray” and “prey”.

                    • Zelly Manipas says

                      Offline monasteries was not Trakatelis choice, Bart had them directly under his control.

                  • And fight there?

                    • Gail Sheppard says

                      If that’s what it takes. But the weapons would be different. Think about it. The monasteries are part of the GOA but continue to remain unscathed! Good ‘ole boys like Dimitriou went after them with both guns blazing and nothing came of it. How are they able to do this? Maybe we’re fighting this war the wrong way.

  14. The bishop who calls himself Sunflower (wow, can’t make this stuff up) is urged to remember a sunflower is an annual that goes to seed almost at once.  How appropriate.  He has just about used up his stupid remarks for that year, what will he do next?  We know he wants tens of millions to magically appear and be thrown at the dumbest building project since….Well, since Hellenic college, certainly.  There is an item that could be jettisoned with no loss to anyone.  But the same brains that got us here will cling to that anvil for all they’re worth, which isn’t much.  It’s hilarious to think of Greece throwing money at the probation academy.  If this wasn’t clear before it is now.  they see it as a way to prop up Greekiness where they can retreat to.  It means they care exactly zero for the gospel, only for someplace to hang their hat if they emigrate.  They want the US to be like Greece??  Please, keep your money and stay home.  The overseas concerned citizens want indecipherable Greek to continue to be taught, unsingable music to be sung to seminarians to go forth and be irrelevant to American Christians.  Go away.  This school (still the fantasy that it’s two) will stand or fall as it should.  With archbishop Sunflower in charge it will wind up like the last school he was connected to:  Halki. With zero students.  And not a dime, not a nickel sent to the Phanar.  Change the phone numbers, block the emails.  There is no reason to pay any attention to them.  That institution is a sunflower too.   

    • Greatly Saddened says

      Once again I repeat, it is amazing how the OCA can operate three (3) theological seminaries and the GOAA cannot even seem to operate just one. How sad and what an embarrassment!

      The truth of the matter is the OCA theologiccal seminaries are run as Orthodox Christian as opposed to Greek! That alone is a huge difference!

      I wonder if the “Greeks” will ever get out of this mindset and for the GOAA to give up its total control and allow non clerics to run it.

      Sooner or later, this “Greek” elitist attitude must go! We are “first and foremost” Orthodox Christians and living in America and not Greece!

      • Don’t you understand?
        GOAA, HC, seminaries, St.Nicholas shrine, all these, have overall organizational or collateral costs.

    • Bob as a greek I agree with most of what u say except again to ask,  apart from certain parishes, who thinks this trite organ playing,19c BANAL music singing etc etc etc is anything really Greek?  
      This is the most pathetic thing in that it’s their 19c americanised version of being  greek.  Like the terrible ‘ greek meal ‘ I had in NY greek taverna, complete with greek coffee with milk and cream  and warm baklava with ice cream I sent back!! 
      Byzantine music actually goes well in english. Just check out recording of Liturgy in english by Capella romana amongst much else,  but i take point may not be full taste of westerners. But there is a wide spectrum of harmonised  Orthodox music,including in Greek that is beautiful and speaks to an american. And of course the Russian tradition is well known. Listen to St Tikhon seminary or St Vladimir’s or any number of antiochan parishes.  Here in Bulgaria we have Rachmaninov and byzantine.  And we could use medeval polyphony or even traditional american a Capella singing. 
      But what we do not want is the kitsch organ accompanied 19c banality known as average greek american Parish so called singing with choirs in the loft dressed in mock clerical drag.. In which the congregation is reduced to dumbed silence sitting in their theatrical chairs. And even modern theatre now involves often the audience

      • George Michalopulos says

        I recommend First Fruits btw.

        • Yes. Excellent.  They doing good work. As antiochan parishes as the young couple from Oklohoma told us. USA had much good to go into building Orthodox church 

  15. Christopher McAvoy says

    May God grant our faithful people to be free from the temptations of materialism and to return to the genuine fruits of Christian faith. May they have the courage to make the sacrifices of praying for God to give them many children and the knowledge, family and resources to support them. May the laity again return to dedicate much of their time to prayer and seek for their children to be soldiers of Christ, as Holy clergy, holy monastics, holy lay people, holy work, holy schools, holy society of all walks. May we all strive to imitate Him who grants us light through the darkness of this world. Him who is true peace, charity and love, who humbled himself before all creation, rich and poor  and yet judges with a sword of justice as our final Judge 🙂  Christ is born! Glorify him!

  16. I don’t see a specific place to cross-post this, OTHER SHOE THAT HAS DROPPED TODAY so I’ll just share it here and hope it gets attention:
    Initiative of Ecumenical Patriarch to resolve the issue of the Church of Skopje

    Jan 13, 2020 | 16:18

     
    https://orthodoxtimes.com/initiative-of-ecumenical-patriarch-to-resolve-the-issue-of-the-church-of-skopje/
    All I can say is — God forbid!

  17. Is the synod in Jordan actually going to happen? I have not heard much else about organization of it, etc. 
     
     
    As far as I am aware the only Churches that have signed on are Jerusalem, Czech & Slovak, Russia, Antioch (officially?), Serbia (?). Would be nice to get more Churches on board as I am sure that the CoG, Alexandria and obviously the EP will not attend. Would also really like to see that bishops/clergy from those individual Churches who do not agree with the decisions of the EP to attend the council. Would also really like to see an invitation extended to the OCA, which was not done at Crete 

  18. Looks like Bartholomew is about to get another fat paycheck from the State Department 
     
    https://orthochristian.com/127059.html

    • Re so called macedonian church.  What ever the rights and wrong one thing is clear is that these are duly ordained Orthodox clergy unlike in Ukraine.
      Second, is not the greek church hoisted on it’s own petard when it seemingly agreed to EP granting , in ever more dubious circumstances,  autocephaly in Ukraine?
      Re northern macedonia, may be autonomous status without Serbian church?  But truth is these Slavs are basically bulgarian with no love for Serbia or Serbs. Christ comes into this NOT AL ALL. 

  19. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today in The National Herald. Unfortunately, the article is locked and doesn’t appear in its entirety. I will continue to be on the lookout for the article in its entirely, and if found, I will post.
     
    Agreement Reached Between Holy Cross and Maliotis Center
    By Theodore Kalmoukos 
    January 15, 2020
     
    https://www.thenationalherald.com/279746/agreement-reached-between-holy-cross-and-maliotis-center/

  20. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from yesterday in The National Herald. Unfortunately, the article is locked and doesn’t appear in its entirety. I will continue to be on the lookout for the article in its entirely, and if found, I will post.
     
    Also, please take note of the comment section below the article.
     
    HCHC Gets Two-Year Probation from New England Commission of Higher Education
    By Theodore Kalmoukos 
    January 16, 2020
     
    https://www.thenationalherald.com/280173/hchc-gets-two-year-probation-from-new-england-commission-of-higher-education/

  21. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today in The National Herald.
     
    New HCHC President Announces Changes
    By TNH Staff 
    January 23, 2020
     
    https://www.thenationalherald.com/281740/new-hchc-president-announces-changes/

  22. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Times website.
     
    Home > Orthodoxy > Ecumenical Patriarchate
    Ecumenical Patriarch at the USA in May
    Jan 24, 2020 | 11:53
     
    https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-at-the-usa-in-may/

  23. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from yesterday in The National Herald. Unfortunately, the article is locked and doesn’t appear in its entirety. I will continue to be on the lookout for the article in its entirely, and if found, I will post.
     
    Analysis: Something Must Be Done
    By Theodore Kalmoukos 
    January 29, 2020
     
    https://www.thenationalherald.com/282862/analysis-something-must-be-done-2/

  24. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today in The National Herald.
     
    HCHC President Cantonis Visits Metropolis of Detroit
    By TNH Staff 
    January 30, 2020
     
    https://www.thenationalherald.com/283077/hchc-president-cantonis-visits-metropolis-of-detroit/

  25. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Times website.
     
    Home > Archdiocese of America
    Archbishop Elpidophoros: I feel incredibly confident for the future of Hellenism in America
    Feb 05, 2020 | 15:59
     
    https://orthodoxtimes.com/archbishop-elpidophoros-i-feel-incredibly-confident-for-the-future-of-hellenism-in-america/

  26. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an announcement from yesterday on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website.
     
    NEWS >> OFFICIAL NEWS >> 2020
    Archbishop Elpidophoros Creates Five Archdiocesan Regions and Appoints Vicars
    February 6, 2020
     
    https://www.goarch.org/-/archbishop-elpidophoros-creates-five-archdiocesan-regions-and-appoints-vicars

  27. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from Wednesday in The National Herald.
     
    Ioannis Biros on Preserving Hellenic Cultural Heritage and History in Constantinople
    By Eleni Sakellis 
    February 5, 2020
     
    https://www.thenationalherald.com/284088/ioannis-biros-on-preserving-hellenic-cultural-heritage-and-history-in-constantinople/

  28. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from yesterday on the Orthodox Times website.
     
    Home > Orthodoxy > Ecumenical Patriarchate
    Ecumenical Patriarch: The day will come for the bell of the Halki Seminary to sound again
    Feb 07, 2020 | 10:27
     
    https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-the-day-will-come-for-the-bell-of-the-halki-seminary-to-sound-again/

  29. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from Friday, January 31st, on the Orthodox Times website.
     
    Home > Orthodoxy > Ecumenical Patriarchate
    Delegation of US Museum of the Bible at Ecumenical Patriarchate
    Jan 31, 2020 | 17:21
     
    https://orthodoxtimes.com/delegation-of-us-museum-of-the-bible-at-ecumenical-patriarchate/

  30. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from Friday, February 7th, on the Orthodox Times website.
     
    Home > Politics
    Greek Foreign Minister: Moscow Patriarchate’s idea regarding the Third Rome is well known
    Feb 07, 2020 | 18:21
     
    https://orthodoxtimes.com/greek-foreign-minister-moscow-patriarchates-idea-regarding-the-third-rome-is-well-known/

  31. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today in The National Herald.
     
    The Day Will Come for the Bell Halki Seminary to Ring Again
    By TNH Staff 
    February 11, 2020
     
    https://www.thenationalherald.com/285436/the-day-will-come-for-the-bell-halki-seminary-to-ring-again/

  32. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today in The National Herald. Unfortunately, the article is locked and doesn’t appear in its entirety. I will continue to be on the lookout for the article in its entirety, and if found, I will post.
     
    New President of HCHC George Cantonis Speaks Exclusively to TNH
    By Theodore Kalmoukos 
    February 12, 2020
     
    https://www.thenationalherald.com/285504/new-president-of-hchc-george-cantonis-speaks-exclusively-to-tnh/

  33. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today in The National Herald.
     
    Archbishop Elpidophoros and Metropolitan Tikhon to Feed Those in Need
    By TNH Staff
    February 12, 2020
     
    https://www.thenationalherald.com/285685/archbishop-elpidophoros-and-metropolitan-tikhon-to-feed-those-in-need/

    • George Michalopulos says

      Don’t tell the phanariotes or their propagandists among the Archons!  They might pull the rug out from such examples of Christian philanthropy!  (One.of them actually called St John Maximovitch a schematic!)

      • It was Metr. Emmanuel of Gaul who misrepresented St. John as having been ‘born in schism’ etc. ad nauseum, to make some kind of point that the schismatics Fener is foisting on us are somehow no more controversial. Total crap of course typical of the pretzel logic of phanariots.
        Kind of like the way Abp. Elpidophoros intimated someplace and then broadcast publicly that he was taking over the OCA. They poison the air and waters with so many lies the people don’t know which way to turn. Typical ploy of criminals and perverts who have to resort to subterfuge, playing their weak hand with devious aplomb.

        • George Michalopulos says

          Nothing good will ever come from Bulgarian stallions.

          • George. Behave yrself. . I’m putting in a good word for Bulgaria stallions. Horse wise of course! ?
            You will have to ask Manuella for any other.

  34. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from yesterday in The National Herald.
     
    Bishop Metodije of Diokleia Visits Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
    By TNH Staff 
    February 13, 2020
     
    https://www.thenationalherald.com/285872/bishop-metodije-of-diokleia-visits-archbishop-elpidophoros-of-america/

  35. Yes, Met. Emmanuel of “Gaul” is a piece of work, isn’t he. I always thought they called the country France in English anyway, though in Greek it is “Γαλλία.” “Gaul” always makes me think if those fantastically funny “Astérix le Gaulois” comics.

    I was very happy to read this wonderful rebuttal of Met. Emmanuel’s patently stupid comments about St John of San Francisco:

    https://orthochristian.com/127695.html

    Vladika John, pray for us!

  36. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today in The National Herald. 
     
    Archbishop Elpidophoros at the 44th Annual Folk Dance and Choral Festival in California
    By TNH Staff 
    February 18, 2020
     
    https://www.thenationalherald.com/286633/archbishop-elpidophoros-at-the-44th-annual-folk-dance-and-choral-festival-in-california/