Lucille Kastanis Responds to Fr. Michael Regarding the P.E. Committee

Moderator's Note: Posted with the Kastanis Family's Permission

July 24, 2007

Dear Father Michael:

On behalf of myself and my family I felt it important to write this letter. I am extremely disappointed in your choices for the fact finding committee from Prophet Elias. These people are all related, with the exception of Dr. Beck. They are also the same people (or their families ) who have stirred all the trouble at Prophet Elias for years.

I have been attending Prophet Elias since its beginning. I’m a good church attendee, I’ve been an active choir member for 55 years, helped in youth programs, member of Philoptochos and a festival volunteer. My husband, Jim, is a past president of the community and has served on the church board many times and was festival chairman it’s 3rd & 4th year. My grandchildren attend Sunday school and are active in some youth programs. My daughters also sing in the choir and help with the dance programs. Good credentials for the fact finding committee even though we’re not attorneys or doctors.

Your committee has no representation from the older group at Prophet Elias. I include myself in this group! You have no representation from the people who do not want this division. (What a set up.) I’m tired of these people always complaining. I go to church to worship. I can do it in both Greek and English. ( 50 x 50 is good ) so can they. I love the togetherness of Holy Trinity and Prophet Elias. It has worked for 40 years and I resent this little group of people stirring all this trouble for years. It is my church too. You and the Metropolitan keep listening to these people but never care to hear what we, who don’t agree, have to say. It’s time for you to listen. My husband met with the Metropolitan many times and has been ignored.

I love my church but I don’t like what you, the Metropolitan and the church board have allowed to happen in our community. Things were working, maybe not perfect, for 40 years, but not bad enough to stir the trouble that’s happening today. You were sent to divide the church and please don’t deny that. I’m disappointed in your stand and how you and the Metropolitan are handling this.

I tried to say this in a good Christian way so please give other people a chance to speak and be heard without calling us TROUBLE MAKERS. We care too! We will not go down without a fight.

A Prophet Elias church attendee,

Lucille C. Kastanis

PS - I also resent this group telling me to go to Holy Trinity if I don’t like what they want. NO!! Tell them to build another church and go there.