Theater of the Absurd? The Met’s Mixed Messages to this Community

In a letter dated November 15, 2005, our Metropolitan in meeting with Messrs. Gamvroulas, Katsohirakis, and Metos, along with Father Kouremetis, discussed a plan to follow upon the success of the Hellenic Heritage Campaign by creating the Hellenic Heritage Committee. In this letter, it is quite clear that the Metropolitan encouraged development of proposals surrounding this plan. He clearly understood such an entity’s purpose.

That entity, ratified by 72% of a well-attended general assembly meeting the following November (2006), was established. Having lost this vote in the general assembly, for the next three years, opponents of this plan prevailed upon the Metropolitan to set up obstacles to its inception. Its work was finally permitted to begin last year in 2009. Yet, in his letter dated April 16, 2010, one would think Metropolitan Isaiah had never heard of any such plan as was described to him five years earlier!

With the establishment of the Hellenic Community Foundation, the Gregory Skedros Family, as described in Mr. Skedros’ letter to the Metropolitan realized that they had an excellent opportunity to put their monies (temporarily left in an account controlled by the parish council since the HCC campaign had ended), into an account under the aegis of the Hellenic Community Foundation. The foundation’s stated purposes ideally suited the family's wishes for the use of these funds toward the building of The Anthony G. Skedros Memorial Gymnasium adjacent to the Holy Trinity Cathedral. The transfer of funds was duly approved by the legally designated trustees of the account: Mr. Nick Varanakis (the now-resigned president of the community), Mr. George Metos, and Mr. Manoli Sargetakis. Mr. Nick Bapis, as the investment manager of the church accounts, first through Morgan Stanley, then through Hightower Investments/The Bapis Group, duly and legally transferred the monies. Four months later, the parish council noticed the transfer and objected.

Having discovered the transfer, the parish council demanded that Mr. Bapis return the Skedros monies to their original account. Yet, the monies were transferred according to correct procedures, and Mr. Bapis informed the council that he lacked any legal authority to comply with their request. While sending Mr. Bapis a letter chastising him and threatening legal action, the parish council also demanded that Mr. Skedros ask for the return these monies. After consulting with legal and financial counsel, the Skedros family informed the parish council that returning the monies would cause Gregory Skedros, and the fund, to lose about 20 per cent of the fund’s value in tax liabilities, which would impact Mr. Skedros personally as well.

Our Metropolitan seems to forget that in 2005 he approved and applauded the establishment of such an entity, namely the HCF. Further, he seemingly ignores the fact that the Skedros Family have been long-time, ardent supporters of our church, having served as parish council officers, choir members, athletes, and faithful stewards. He has allowed his proistamenoi and their handpicked parish council to defame and chastise Mr. Nick Bapis, an archon, a member of Leadership 100, as well as a long-time, generous supporter of this community himself in a variety of leadership roles.

The Metropolitan has allowed the parish council to accept the resignation of Mr. Nick Varanakis, an ELECTED president of this parish council. This, because Mr. Varanakis, along with the other two trustees, Mr. Metos and Mr. Sargetakis, simply followed a perfectly reasonable request to properly transfer the Skedros monies, as the trustees had a couple of times before with other smaller accounts, with no resulting outcry from the Proistamenoi and the parish council whatsoever.

Yet, surprisingly, the Metropolitan saves his greatest wrath for the board members of the newly (finally!) created Hellenic Community Foundation – the same entity he discussed in glowing terms in 2005! However, in 2010, the Metropolitan claims “they (sic) who are responsible for this sinful act (the transfer of the Skedros monies) have … excommunicated themselves from the Church…and he threatens their formal excommunication!

Those who are responsible for the transfer of these monies are not the members of the HCF. The Skedros Family reasonably and properly made this request. The trustees reasonably and properly honored this request. Mr. Bapis, as the investing manager, reasonably and properly followed this LEGAL request (and he may not LEGALLY reverse it as the parish council has demanded of him).

Yet it is the board of directors of the Hellenic Community Foundation – among whose members are yet another member of Leadership 100, Mr. Douglas Anderson, along with several former Parish Council members, the current president of the Orthodox Christian Laity, Bill Souvall, and other prominent Greek Orthodox professionals in our community – on whom our hierarch has inexplicably turned the full measure of his wrath. Yet again (since he saw how well this action turned out the FIRST time?) our Metropolitan has promised to wield, cruelly and arbitrarily, the most extreme punishment to be given to an Orthodox Christian.

In terms of Ancient Greek theater it is as if Metropolitan Isaiah has chosen the chorus of this odd play as the villain. (In ancient Greek plays, the chorus is simply there to provide continuity, remarks, and background information. They are not the active participants of the story.) The newly formed board of the HCF was just beginning its work. Its members played no role in these events; yet it is highly obvious that there are persons in this community that want this group disbanded. Why else would these people be pointed out – SINGLED OUT – as the sole “villains” in this situation?

It is a shame that ancient Greek playwrights are not alive. They would have turned this bizarre set of circumstances into either a fine tragedy or a first-class farce.

- Barbara Billinis Colessides

Letter from Metropolitan Isaiah - November 15, 2005

(To see original document, click here)

GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF DENVER

November 15, 2005

Reverend Michael Kouremetis, Proistamenos
The Esteemed Parish Council
Holy Trinity Cathedral and Prophet Elias Church
5335 Highland Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84117

Beloved in the Lord,

I am in receipt of your letter from Father Michael Kouremetis dated November 4, 2005.

The content of the letter has to do with the meeting I had on Saturday, October 29, 2005 with Father Kouremetis, Mr. Chris Gamvroulas, Mr. Kosta Katsohirakis, and Mr. George Metos. At that meeting I was presented with a tentative plan regarding the proper use of the properties owned by the members of the community around the Holy Trinity Cathedral and across the street on 300 West.

My understanding of the plan was to utilize those adjacent properties in ways that would create a restricted fund strictly for the purpose of building new facilities for the benefit of the Cathedral for appropriate classrooms, banquet facilities, a gymnasium, and also for a Hellenic Cultural Museum. The basic purpose of their plan is, as the committee mentioned, to bring new life into the ministries of the Cathedral.

Because of the fact that our parishes should not operate apartment buildings, parking lots, and other operations that belong strictly to the secular world, I do believe that the committee has been thinking clearly in this matter.

First and foremost it must be stressed that every Greek Orthodox parish is owned by the general membership. All real estate and all revenues belong to the membership. Neither the Archdiocese, nor the Metropolis, nor any other entity can claim title to the revenues and the property of a canonical parish, since each parish is separately incorporated in the city and state in which it exists. This means that in the matter of revenues and property, the general membership makes all the decisions.

What you must be very careful of is to follow the proper procedures. First, was the Hellenic Heritage Campaign Committee established by the General Assembly? What kind of responsibilities was the committee given? This must be very clear. Second, if a separate corporation is being considered, it must be such as to be under the legal authority of the general membership so that the members of the Cathedral do not forfeit their control of any real estate or revenues of any kind. This is in accordance with the Uniform Parish Regulations of the Archdiocese.

On the basis of what I was told at the meeting on Saturday, October 29, 2005, I encourage you to allow the Hellenic Heritage Committee to continue to develop its proposals so that the Holy Trinity Cathedral may become as active as it was when, with God's blessings, I served there in my first assignment and I will always see the Cathedral as my first spiritual home.
Finally, I urge the committee to fine tune its plan and proposal, so that the general membership will realize that it must not depend on the finances of a new entity to cover all the costs of operating the Cathedral, but each and every member must be a faithful steward of the parish and give to the Church and to the Lord not less than ten percent of his or her net income on an annual basis. Only in this way will our holy Apostolic faith shine among the citizens of Salt Lake City and of the entire State of Utah.

I commend the gentlemen with whom I met on October 29,2005, and am most appreciative to them for sacrificing much of their time and using their God-given talents to help breathe new life into the Cathedral.

May our Lord Jesus Christ, the Establisher of the Church and our holy Faith, bless every member of the Salt Lake City community to the glory of God and for their inheritance of eternal life in His coming Kingdom.

With paternal blessings,

/s/

+ Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver

Mitch Manousakis Speaks from the Heart

Xristos Anesti to all. May the light of our Lord God & Savior Jesus Christ intercede and bring peace, love, and the true faith taught us by our beloved Orthodox faith back to us.

My family emigrated to this country in 1947 which was the era of the civil uprising in Greece. One reason we emigrated was to get away from the dictators and the "Prodotes" that were trying to take over our country and our lives. My father, while very poor, brought one thing to Price, Utah with him. It was a beautiful Icon of our Lord with the Panagia which he was able to hide from the Germans. He, upon arrival, gave this icon to the church in Price and is still displayed in the altar. I believe that most of our ancestors had this kind of love for our faith, the Orthodox Church. Indeed, they would not be very happy or proud of what is going on here today.

Suddenly I feel the same frustration and fear here in our community as I did during the 1940's in Greece.

Reading the Metropolitan's letter, I just cannot believe that such hateful, vengeance, and threatening words can come from the people that are supposedly teaching us forgiveness, love of our fellow man, repentance etc. To attack the character of the people the Metropolitan is threatening with excommunication is just beyond my ability to even remotely understand. These people for the most part are and have always been pillars of our parish. They have given so much in both service and financial support that makes it unthinkable to slander them in such a fashion. How dare anyone accuse them of taking anything from our church and of all things, calling them robbers of the parish. These accusers should hang their head in shame.

I have held the fast during this past preparation for the resurrection of our lord. When it came time to take Holy Communion, I could not bring myself to approach and receive the healing of the body and blood of our Lord because I was so troubled with the people administering it and the terrible things they are perpetuating in our community. I know that I am wrong in doing this but being the weak sinner that I am, I felt I was approaching fire instead of salvation. I pray for forgiveness because I blame my spiritual leaders partially for this feeling.

In closing, I believe that if people like the Skedros Family, the Bapis Family and the HCF Board of Directors who are being considered for excommunication, then even though I may be of a much lesser value to this parish and may have done far less, I would like and consider it an honor to be added to this list for excommunication. At any rate the environment that has been created in our parish here has no resemblance to the church that my parents brought me up in and that I have belonged to for over seventy years.

- Mitch Manousakis

Joseph M. Kalodimos Responds to Metropolitan Isaiah

April 25, 2010

His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver
4550 East Alameda Avenue
Denver, CO 80246-1208

Indeed He is Risen!

Your Eminence Isaiah:

Customarily, I'd ask for your blessing but I'm not sure that is appropriate from the tenor with which I write regarding the matter in our Greek Orthodox Community in Salt Lake City, Utah. I must voice my disdain for your unorthodox-ed, distorted, and thoughtless admonition which you have so blatantly and distastefully penned to specific members of the community at large. It is offensive as are these other letters which have been drafted and signed from our Clergy and Board Members that propagate this smear campaign on specific parishioners. This must stop now! These people have spent much of their lives' serving to the best of their abilities, through their own personal faith and knowledge in Christ Jesus our Lord and you as well as others, have managed to tarnish the reputations of these fine Christians in an indelible manner. This is a travesty and the fallout will be immeasurable for many years. The question I must ask you is this: Who will be held accountable for this?

Additionally, I am not certain of who is informing you of the "facts" in this situation (of which I'm not totally privy to either). My guess is your “informants” are limited to a few “hand-picked” souls probably on the Finance Committee of the Church and of course, the Proistamenos of Prophet Elias. It certainly wouldn’t be prudent for you to rely on sources like these fine Christians who have served the community in some cases, for decades like those whom you are assaulting. It seems better from your perspective to rely on these other “infallible” sources. What I can say, based on my experience within the Orthodox Faith, is the situation is being handled rashly. Now I know I’m not as reliable as your preferred sources but I’m certain that there are guidelines in the Holy Scriptures, examples from the Church Fathers and from the Saints on handling problems with brothers in Christ concerning "matters" of Faith. Sadly, instead of using these resources which I hope you have been trained in from all of your extensive Theological training, you’ve decided to employ coercive, strong-arm scare tactics to extort and bully these Christians into performing your dictates. Apparently, your use of the word "excommunication" is the only recourse you have chosen to intimidate and to resolve your "disciplinary" situations. I believe that your repeated use of the "E" word (excommunication) is being abused and I would like to add that this remedy is rarely applied within the Holy Church. In my 13 years of being an Orthodox Christian, it is only here in Utah that have I witnessed your repeated abuse of this form of discipline. By the way, I don't recall our Lord ever abusing his power nor intimidating others as you do by swinging the "E” word as if it were a baseball bat at a North Side rumble from my old neighborhood. This is truly alarming! Surely, there must be another way to handle issues. One only need to look at the example of Jesus to see how he would handle these types of situations: with meekness tempered with love.

Also, you speak of Our Holy Faith and use phrases recognized as "Orthodox". My question to you and these other authors is: Why is it that the only quotes in these letters refer to the Uniform Parish Regulations (UPR's) and not the Holy Canons (i.e. Pedalion), Scriptures (i.e. Book of Job, Matthew 28), and as equally important, the voices of Our Church Fathers (i.e. Evergetinos, Philokalia)? Are the UPR's the "new" directive in today's Orthodoxy? Is the use of the UPR's yet another "innovation" brought into the Faith here in America? Or are these "older and outdated" sources no longer relevant in this day and age and take second place to the UPR's? Something is wrong with this picture that you are painting!

Lastly, although I am perplexed at your method for handling this situation, I am concerned with the effect in the long-run. Haven't you ever heard "weigh it before you say it" or in this case, pen it? These letters may have caused irreparable damage to reputations without any forethought. Rumors are abounding now of embezzlement, stealing, even "robbery" within the community and, individuals outside of the community are questioning the events within our community because care has NOT been exercised in the handling of this matter! Even your bold indictment of what has been done is nothing short of "robbery"! In the future prior to writing another letter, you also might consult these very fine Christians for their side of the story to prior to threats of “self-excommunication”. As a side note, just how in the world did you come up with this term? I did not know it was possible to “self-excommunicate”. I apologize since I have never read about this so it is a first for me to see this term so please forgive my ignorance. I know I have never received “proper” training from seminary (this could be said of others too) and by some standards (i.e. Father Michael) in the community I am not “theologically” qualified since I am suggesting crazy ideas such as referring to the Holy Scriptures, Church Fathers, Canons, and don’t forget the Saints. In fact, I must be from outer space-just another uniformed, religious zealot- who will more than likely be mentioned as an example from the Ambon as some “unlearned hick” in this next Sunday’s sermon.

In closing, I hope that this situation can be resolved by including these fine people who have been “alleged” not indicted into the solution. It might also make sense to come here and manage the situation first-hand because I believe you are receiving one distorted side of the “facts”. Also, please employ consistency in your methods for handling error (if this is truly the case). I cannot understand why you appear to conveniently quote a Canon or these “secular” UPR’s when it seems to suit your agenda rather than using what the God has given to us through the Church: the Scriptures, the Church Fathers, and the Saints. You may find that it may lend some credibility to your agenda-even to an ignorant, uniformed, untrained, zealot like me.

May God have mercy on us!

Sincerely,

Joseph M Kalodimos

Mr Joseph M Kalodimos
8047 Willow Stream Drive
Sandy, UT 84093

cc: His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
His Grace Bishop Adonios

Matthew Hedberg Responds to Metropolitan Isaiah

Dear members of the Greek Orthodox Community,

It has been sometime since I last wrote. It was my hope that the Hierarchical Clergy would work with the elder members of the community toward the restoration of the strained bond between our Parish and the Archdiocese. I feared that my voice, being admittedly young and naïve by comparison, could have been detrimental to the healing process; so I bit my tongue. After reading the latest words of Metropolitan Isaiah however, I cannot in good conscience, remain silent.

I find the latest correspondence from Denver to be the most revolting piece of literature I have ever seen directed towards this community. Never before have I been so disappointed by the actions of our current Metropolitan. I literally trembled with rage as I read what I perceived to be acidic, personal attacks, perpetrated against the characters of my fellow parishioners, my spiritual family members. As such, I struggle to compose a tempered response, and will ask forgiveness for the abrasiveness of my wording in this letter.

Interpreting the actions of the Skedros family, and donors who have contributed to the development of the gift they bestowed upon this community as robbery, is beyond any trace of reason or logic; as is the erroneous labeling of the Hellenic Community Foundation as “anti-Archdiocese.” Many of the men and women maligned in the Bishop’s letter are individuals with whom I have very close relationships. They have been friends and mentors throughout my life. They have been nurturing guides to me as I grew up in this community alongside many of their children. They are Sunday school teachers, choir members, Parish Council representatives, festival volunteers, respected stewards, and preeminently; GOOD PEOPLE. To terrorize these individuals and our community by holding above our collective head a theological guillotine comprised of rhetoric regarding The Day and Hour Unknown, and threats of excommunication, is, in my lay opinion, unequivocally ill-conceived and inappropriate. I believe this type of behavior can serve only a detrimental role in the ever evolving relationship between the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Greek Orthodox Community of Salt Lake City.

I hope and pray that in the future all will renounce such aggressive and non-Christian tactics, look past the politics and balance sheets, and come together under the banner of forgiveness and love our Church was founded upon. So that open, honest dialogue can lay the foundation for reconciliation, and a renewal of the Church’s true purpose in serving the spiritual needs of the Parish.

Sincerely,

Matthew Hedberg

Concern Grows Within the Community

Moderator's Note: We have received permission from Mr. Deneris to publish his letter of concern for our community; it was originally e-mailed to Nick J. Colessides.

Dear Nick,

I’m not sure you know who I am, but I am a member of the community, and a lifelong friend of Chris Gamvroulas’ (and Pete’s family in general). Chris sent me this email chain and the attached letters. I don’t profess to know the details of this situation, nor the motivations of all the players that seem to be involved. I do know a pile of half-truths and lies when I see one though, and to question the integrity of Chris and the others named in this letter is precisely that. It seems clear to me that this is the latest tactic in the power struggle with the Archdiocese over the HCF, and one more attempt to eliminate it. Unfortunately, the Metropolitan has resorted to extreme language and tactics, and seemingly based on inaccurate assumptions and partial facts. Whatever the reasons and motivations, accusing the people named in the letter of “robbery” is over the top. We have truly gone astray when we attack our own this way, especially when everyone knows where the money is, it’s all accounted for, and legally, it’s where the trustees wanted it to be!

I don’t’ know what I can do to help, but I wanted to send you a note letting you know I am disgusted by the excommunication language, the accusations of theft, and the outright attack on the characters of some of the most dedicated and service oriented people in our community. If you see a way for me to help clear their names, let me know.

Sincerely,

Charles Deneris

E-Mail Letter from John Saltas to Metropolitan Isaiah

From: John Saltas
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2010 2:53 PM
To: metropolis@denver.goarch.org
Subject: Your letter to the HCF

April 24, 2010

Dear Metropolitan Isaiah:

I have just finished reading your letter to the Salt Lake City Greek Orthodox Community regarding certain actions and accusations against the Hellenic Community Foundation of Salt Lake City.

In a few brief words, I will only state the obvious: The letter is extremely inflammatory, may not be based entirely on relevant facts, does not consider any input from the HCF, and seriously damages the good names and good reputations of a number of my friends. They have not committed "robbery" as the letter claims; rather, they each have a legacy of being tremendous stewards, reliable donors and deeply faithful members of our local parish. I cannot believe that such a stigma has been cast on them.

I must also question, given numerous examples over the past several years, exactly who are the "lovers of self, lovers of money ... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-4)" as the letter implies these persons are. The HCF funds in question have not disappeared, nor were they "stolen."

Conversely, not only are those funds safe and fully intended to be used for the exact same purpose as set forth by the original wishes of the Skedros family, they have grown in value. Ironically, then, the risk to our community is not the loss of those funds, but the potential for monetary damages rewarded to every person named in this letter, and to Mr. Nick Bapis due to the damaging nature of the words contained in this and other recent letters from our Ecumenical leaders and endorsed or signed by our parish council.

Should such damages occur, will it be the diocese, our local priests or our parish members who pay that sum?

I am not advising you nor those persons named. However, I may be the only person in this parish, who, due to the nature of my livelihood as a newspaper publisher, carries a libel insurance policy. As one who understands the nature of libel law, I hope all involved fully understand that the path they have chosen and the consequences thereof.

One can interpret this as a sign of the end times. I prefer to see it as an opportunity to get our community back on track spiritually, financially and emotionally. Our spiritual leaders always talk about healing. It's time to lay down the rhetoric and turn those words to positive actions. These letters only make it worse.

Respectfully,

John Saltas

Letter from The Gregory Skedros Family to Metropolitan Isaiah

(see original document, with enclosures, here)

The Gregory Skedros Family
104 East 470 North
Bountiful, Utah 84010
April 21, 2010

Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver
c/o Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver
4550 East Alameda Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80246

Your Eminence,

Greetings from the Salt Lake City Skedros Family. We would like to take this opportunity to explain to you the Skedros side of the current difficulties involving the transfer of church funds to the Hellenic Community Foundation.

As you may recall our beloved son and brother Anthony passed from this existence on March 23rd, 1997. In lieu of flowers a Memorial Foundation was established by the Skedros family to honor his memory. Countless donations were received at the time and continue to be received in the honor of Anthony's Memory. Contributions have mainly come from individuals and Skedros family supporters. In the months following Anthony's death the Skedros family endeavored to create a lasting legacy for Anthony.

As more money was collected the scope of the project was expanded. The Skedros family began investigating worthy projects to memorialize Anthony's memory. Considerations were given to community shelters, Children's programs, Institutional endowments and Memorial buildings.

Anthony's brothers, John and Taki approached the University of Utah to potentially endow a chair for Hellenic studies 'in Anthony's memory. Several meetings were convened and the proposal was given to the entire family. Gregory however felt very strongly that the money should go towards a new gymnasium/multipurpose building on the Holy Trinity campus so that his son could be best remembered by the community he loved and grew up in.

In October, 2007, Jenny Skedros the family spokesperson and matriarch died from infectious complications. It was her final wish that contributions be made to her son's Memorial Foundation. With Jenny's passing the Skedros family agreed that all donated monies should go towards a Memorial Gymnasium on the Holy Trinity campus.

During this period the Memorial funds had been deposited in the Salt Lake Foundation and then the Utah Foundation until an appropriate project was decided upon. With the closing of the Utah foundation in 2007, all existing funds ($131,404.35) were transferred to the Greek Orthodox Church of Salt Lake City. These funds were placed in the Hellenic Heritage Campaign (HHC) subaccount and specifically designated for the Anthony G. Skedros Memorial Gymnasium.

From December 21st, 2007 to January 21st, 2010; Greg Skedros transferred all of his Individual retirement account savings to this fund. His total contribution equaled $481,120.54. Another $100,000 of Greg's savings was also donated in 2008. All $40,000 of Jenny's memorial contributions were also contributed in 2008.

With the support of countless contributors to the Foundation and the investment
of personal savings by the Skedros', the Memorial fund had reached just over $800,000.

In 2009, the General Assembly of the Greek Orthodox Church of Salt Lake City created the Hellenic Community Foundation (HCF). This non-profit entity comprised of the entire Greek Orthodox parish was created to fund raise and facilitate development of projects of community interest. This was the answer to Greg's prayers. Now all of Anthony's funds could go into an active fund raising organization headed by his closest friends and advisors. The HCF board was already a seasoned fund raising and development team that had renovated Holy Trinity Cathedral and raised additional funds that were still available for the completion of the Holy Trinity Campus. It was the Skedros family wish that Anthony's monies provide momentum to a new fund raising effort and create the Anthony G. Skedros Memorial Building.

In October of 2009, Greg Skedros requested that the Anthony G. Skedros Memorial fund monies in the HHC account at the Greek Orthodox Church be transferred to the Hellenic Community Foundation so that the fund raising campaign could begin. The transfer was executed by the appropriate signatories on the account (Parish council president and the 2 trustees of the HHC subaccount) prior to moving the funds to the HCF.

The Skedros family has been actively involved with the HCF in creating fund raising packets and identifying potential donors for the campaign that was to begin after Easter. Since the funds were moved in October 2009, additional contributions have brought the total to $962,751.70.

It is with great dismay that we have witnessed the deterioration of our well intentioned charitable donation. We cannot comment on the legality of the transfer of our funds from the church to the HCF as it seemed aboveboard and understood by all parties involved. This same sort of transfer had previously occurred on several occasions with no voiced concerns by the Parish Councilor clergy. We are very confused by the Parish Council’s ultimatums and threats to our fellow parishioners as they have undermined our efforts to proceed with this
project.

We were recently approached by the Parish Council to consider redirecting our money back to the church which would then return the money to us as a donation that was deemed unattainable for the intended purpose. In our interest to preserve community harmony, we investigated this possibility. Unfortunately, the tax consequences to Greg would be catastrophic (In excess of $200,000), making this option impossible.

The Skedros family takes responsibility and will honor its obligation to the hundreds of contributors of this fund to ensure that a lasting memorial to Anthony be created. If the Memorial Gymnasium is not a reality in a reasonable time frame, we will be forced to consider other options. It is our hope that all parties involved will recognize the spirit and purpose of this donation and will join us in moving forward with the goal of completing the Anthony G. Skedros Memorial Gymnasium.

We implore your Eminence as our spiritual leader to help us resolve this problem
before further damage is done to our community and the church we hold dear.

Χριστός Ανεστη,

/s/ Gregory Skedros

/s/ Constantine Skedros

The Skedros Family

Enclosures:
Anthony and Jenny Skedros Obituaries
University of Utah, Anthony Skedros Hellenic Studies Endowment proposal
Hellenic Community Foundation Information

cc:
Father Michael Kouremetis
Father Matthew Gilbert
Parish Council President, Jim Mylonakis
Nick Bapis
Doug Anderson

Our Religious Leaders have let us down again. Nero burned Rome; did he want to save it???

(see original scanned document here)

GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF DENVER
April 16, 2010

Reverend Michael Kouremetis, Proistamenos
Reverend Matthew Gilbert, Proistamenos
The Esteemed Parish Council
Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church, and
The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
c/o 5335 S. Highland Drive
Holladay, UT 84117

Beloved in the Lord,

CHRIST IS RISEN!

Never in my forty-eight years in the holy priesthood have I seen such blatant disregard for the teachings and traditions of the Church, which our Lord established almost two thousand years ago, and specifically against the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

I am speaking of the removal of funds from the treasury of the parish several months ago. These were funds which were the property of the Church, and which were transferred very quietly to a secular corporation which has no connection to the Church. This action has stolen the responsibilities from your Parish Council, which represents the total membership of the community which voted for it as their official representatives, and which Parish Council is the canonical custodian of all parish funds and property, as noted in the Uniform Parish Regulations, Article 34, Section 1.

From the standpoint of the Church, this is outright robbery.

They who are responsible for this sinful act have in essence excommunicated themselves from the Church, according to the holy canons. They are therefore free to join any other religious body they so choose, but not any other canonical Orthodox Church. If there is repentance on their part, they may return as obedient members of the Church. If they do not, I can formally declare them excommunicated from the Church.

However, in the spirit of Christ our Savior, I will exercise patience. I will attempt to understand why Doug Anderson, Vasilios Priskos, Thomas W. Peters, Basil S. Chelemes, Stella Daskalakis, Chris Gamvrouls, Andy Giannis, Kosta Katsohirakis, Damon Kirchmeir, Mike Makris, Maxine Margaritis, John Pappas, William P. Souvall, Tykie Skedros, and Dimitrios Tsagaris refuse to recognize the canonical representatives of the community who are the current members of the Parish Council, by creating a rival anti-Archdiocese entity.

What is the purpose of such a secular organization in Salt Lake City? Is its purpose to collect monies which would otherwise go to the Church? Is it to take gifts intended for God and to use them in other ways? We know that whatever blessings we have in this life come from God, and it is only proper for a portion of those blessings to be given to Christ our Lord and to His Church.

The actions of this group of people against the community attest to the fact that we are in the last days. Saint Paul brings this out very clearly to his disciple Timothy. He writes, "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money ... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-4)." Again I ask, "What is the purpose of the Hellenic Community Foundation?" It is obvious that the word Hellenic in this title does not mean Orthodox Christian, since the Church of Christ is not limited to only one ethnicity, but embraces all ethnicities. This is why on Holy Saturday morning we chant "Arise, 0 God, and judge the earth; for You shall take an inheritance from every nation." This is also why, at the Agape Vespers of Pascha, the Gospel reading of our Lord's Resurrection is read in many languages.

Finally, if this secular organization continues to act contrary to the teachings of the Church and the Uniform Parish Regulations of our Archdiocese. I will be given no other choice but to formally recognize their self-excommunication by letter to each and every member. with copies to all canonical Orthodox jurisdictions. I pray that I do not have to do this; for I believe that among them there are those who love God and who wish to live according to His teachings for their eternal salvation.

With Paternal Blessings
in our Risen Lord,

/s/

+ Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver

April 22, 2010

Via fax: 303/333-7796

His Excellency Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver

A follow up on Jim Kastanis’ most recent letter (4/22/10):

Dear Jim,

Thank for your very thoughtful letter and your courageous call to action. Your example must be emulated by many of us who think like you.

Both Proistamenoi have lost their ability to lead the Community. They worked very hard to earn the right to become irrelevant to our spiritual lives; and all in such a short time.

They teach hate, not love. They involve themselves in Byzantine machinations. This community is tired of persons with Napoleonic complexes. There is only one way to put an end to this conundrum. Both Proistamenoi must be relocated; they need to go where they can atone for their sins.

During the 60's our collective motto then is just as appropriate now: We shall overcome.

The Clergy cannot force us back to 15th century style of Roman Catholicism. Orthodoxy is The Faith of Love and Forgiveness. The Spanish Inquisition does not need to be resurrected in our community. Threats of ecclesiastical sanctions do not work against those who have Faith. There is no room here for the methods used by the Holy Inquisition.

We should stay united in purpose; no amount of threats concerning “ecclesiastical sanctions” must dissuade us from reaching our goal.

Everyone should write a letter to the Metropolitan in Denver, with a copy to the Archdiocese in New York, and a copy to the Patriarch in Constantinople; we need to let His Holiness know that his flock in Utah is suffering its own Golgotha under the Metropolitan He appointed.

T P M G.

Christos Anesti

/s/

Nick J. Colessides

P.S. Borrowing a page from John Saltas’ book, please distribute this message as you deem fit; we have to make sure that the “work of devil” is not perpetuated.

A Question for the Community

How long are we, as a community, going to allow the Dignity and the Moral Character of our members to be attacked by this Parish Council and the Proistamenoi? Metropolitans come and go, as do Priests. Parish Councils change yearly, but we the members of the community remain year after year to perpetuate our Greek Orthodox Faith, Cultural and Heritage.

For far too many years now, members are attacked as to their character for parish council membership, dismissed from the parish council and denied their Sacraments just because they ask questions. Stewards of the community, with unquestionable devotion, have had their character attacked. We have hit ROCK BOTTOM.

It is time for a town meeting where we tell the Proistamenoi to stick to their Ecclesiastical duties and leave all the secular duties to the parish council - a fairly and properly elected parish council, not one where candidates are cherry-picked on the whims of the clergy. The parish council from here forward is to represent the members of the community that elected them and not the clergy who come and go.

- Jim Kastanis

Letter from Mr. Nick Bapis in Response to April 15, 2010 Parish Council Letter to the Greek Orthodox Community of Salt Lake City

April 18, 2010

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

Xristos Anesti.

In a letter dated April 15, 2010, the Parish Council informed the Greek Orthodox Community of Greater Salt Lake of financial transactions occurring at HighTower Advisors in church accounts. This letter is deliberately misleading and compels my response.

The following explanation points out several fallacies stated in the letter summarizing the Bapis Group involvement in the funds in question. Please keep in mind as you are reading through the following that funds custodied at financial institutions require authorized signatures before they can be transferred from one portfolio to another.

Note: All quoted excerpts refer to the Parish Council’s words in the April letter.

“Monies for the Holy Trinity Renovation Project have been donated to the Parish over a number of years, by various donors.”

Monies for the Holy Trinity Restoration (not Renovation) Project were donated by various donors to the Holy Trinity Restoration Project not DIRECTLY to the Parish General Account. These funds were designated for specific projects by the donors.

“Funds for the Holy Trinity Restoration Project were deposited in accounts at Morgan Stanley owned by the Parish and managed by the Bapis Group.”

Funds were deposited in the Holy Trinity Restoration Project in ONE portfolio (Holy Trinity Restoration Portfolio). These funds have been managed by the Bapis Group at NO cost to the Holy Trinity Restoration Portfolio. This portfolio was monitored by the Budget/Economic Sub-committee (see Appendix B). The Holy Trinity Restoration Committee was also referred to as the Hellenic Heritage Committee. This committee met every Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m. from June 1999 until the Holy Trinity restoration was completed.

”The Morgan Stanley accounts were apparently set up with three signatories, only one of which, Nick Varanakis, was a member of the Parish Council.”

The Morgan Stanley Portfolios WERE established (NOT APPARENTLY) by direction of the Holy Trinity Restoration Committee, with three signatories authorized by the Holy Trinity Restoration Committee (see Appendix C).

“On December 11, 2008 the monies in the Morgan Stanley Accounts were transferred to the new parish accounts at High Tower and opened under the Parish ID Number. The new High Tower accounts are managed by The Bapis Group and were apparently set up with the same three signatories.”

On or about December 11, 2008, the assets in the Morgan Stanley Portfolio were transferred to a new Holy Trinity Restoration portfolio at High Tower and opened under the Parish Tax I.D. number. The new High Tower portfolio is still managed by the Bapis Group and WAS set up (NOT APPARENTLY) with the three signatories authorized by the Holy Trinity Restoration Committee.

“The transfer of the monies from Morgan Stanley to High Tower was approved by the same three signatories and occurred without the knowledge or consent of the Parish Council. The transfer from Morgan Stanley to the High Tower was ratified in February 2009 by the then active Parish Council.”

The transfer of the monies from Morgan Stanley to Hightower was approved by the same three signatories who are authorized by the Holy Trinity Restoration Committee (including the Parish Council President at that time).

“In July of 2009, the signers on the High Tower account signed a form at the request of the Bapis Group purporting to authorize the transfer of $807,249 in funds designated for the construction of a new gymnasium at Holy Trinity (Gymnasium Funds) from the Parish account to a High Tower account owned by the HCF.”

On or about July of 2009 a new portfolio was established at High Tower known as the Holy Trinity Anthony Skedros Memorial Multi-purpose Center Portfolio at the request of Gregory Skedros in memory of his son and wife. This separate portfolio was funded by the Gregory Skedros Family and their acquaintances for temporary custodialship. These funds were part of endowments that were being dissolved. They were also funded by Gregory Skedros and were rolled over from his 401K retirement portfolio which were done in a timely matter to meet the distributions allowed by the Federal Government.

The Anthony Skedros Portfolio was then transferred to the Hellenic Community Foundation, authorized by the signatories of the Holy Trinity Restoration Fund for the purpose of beginning the fundraiser to raise the money for the Holy Trinity Anthony Skedros Multi-purpose Center. This transfer was at the request of the three authorized signatories (including the Parish Council President at that time) NOT the Bapis Group. High Tower executed the transfer based on the instructions from the three authorized signatories (including the Parish Council President).

This transfer was authorized by the same three signatories who authorized payment of ALL invoices for the Holy Trinity Restoration Project during construction. In addition, three different donors on three different occasions transferred funds with EXACTY the same protocol as the above transfer. One donor transferred money from the Restoration Fund to another non-profit. Another donor transferred money from the Restoration Fund to an Air Conditioning company to pay for an air conditioner at the Memorial Building. And the third funds were transferred from the Holy Trinity Restoration Fund to the Church’s general account to pay for stewardship obligations. All three transfers were upon the request of the pertinent parishioner and authorized by the same three signatories on the Holy Trinity Restoration Portfolio (including the Parish Council President at the time).

“The Gymnasium Funds were transferred to the HCF account on October 8, 2009.”

The Parish Council letter of April 15, 2010 referred to the HCF without explaining what this group is. The Hellenic Community Foundation (HCF) was formed after five years of planning which included various members of the Parish Council, specifically the Parish Council Executive Committee and more precisely the Parish Council treasurer. The Hellenic Community Foundation Board Members were elected by the parishioners of our community during the latter part of 2009 (Appendix D).

The Holy Trinity Restoration Anthony Skedros Multi-Purpose Center Funds were transferred to the Hellenic Community Foundation Fund on or about October of 2009. The transfer was requested by the authorized signatories on the High Tower Portfolio (including the Parish Council President) NOT under the instructions of the Bapis Group.

“Members of the Parish Council discovered the transfer on February 8, 2010 at which time an investigation into the transfer commenced.”

It is unknown to the Bapis Group or High Tower when the Parish Council discovered the October 2009 transfer. It is clear that the transfer was authorized by the three signatories on the portfolio (including the Parish Council President). The Church offices receive monthly statements and annual reports on the Portfolio in question. The Parish Council Executive Committee has the fiduciary responsibility to read those statements in a timely manner. Please note the Parish Council took action on the transfer in question FOUR months after the transfer occurred and statements were sent.

“The Parish Council received no request for a transfer of the Gymnasium Funds to the HCF, did not see the form purporting to authorize the transfer, and did not authorize, approve or ratify the transfer to the HCF.”

The Bapis Group at High Tower followed instructions given to them by the three authorized signatories (including the Parish Council President). High Tower also sent a separate statement to the church office outlining the process for the transfer of funds from the Holy Trinity Restoration Anthony Skedros Multi-Purpose Center to the Hellenic Community Foundation Portfolio.

“The Parish Council has made both informal and formal requests verbally and in writing for the HCF to return the Gymnasium Funds to the Parish. To date the funds have not been returned.”

No one from High Tower or the Bapis Group at High Tower is a member of the Hellenic Community Foundation Board of Directors and therefore cannot act upon the above request because they are not authorized signatories.

“On March 29, 2010, the Parish Council directed that the signers on all Parish accounts at High Tower be changed to the officers of the Parish Council, so as to conform with the UPRs. This directive has been rejected by the Bapis Group.”

The Bapis Group has no authority to change signatories on the Holy Trinity Restoration Portfolio, the Hellenic Community Foundation Portfolio, nor other church organizations’ portfolios without the official consent of the authorized signatories. Those authorized signatories did not direct the Bapis Group nor High Tower to conduct that transfer and therefore the above quote misrepresents the transaction.

The Holy Trinity Foundation’s protocol and procedure for protecting the donated funds of both the Restoration and the Foundation have been in full compliance with the Resolutions of the General Assembly.

During the past month, Doug Anderson, Greg Skedros and his legal representative, Manoli Sargetakis and I have met with Parish Council members to resolve the current quagmire. We have met with Phil Floor, George Cayias, Joe Sasich, Jim Mellos, and Chuck Karpakis in attempts to resolve the “Funds” issues amicably. It is surprising then that these Parish Council representatives endorsed the April letter alleging that the Bapis Group and High Tower transferred funds using unauthorized signatories.

Fellow Parishioners, anyone who has enjoyed the use of the Prophet Elias Multipurpose Center and the Restored Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral since 1999 has been the recipient of the thousands of hours of volunteer service and personal money donated from parishioners’ committee work and noble service. Sadly, the Hellenic Community Foundation committee was near completing the plans for the new Holy Trinity Campus to be enjoyed and ready to begin fundraising campaign under the Foundation when members of the Parish Council and the two Proistamenoi obstructed forward-moving efforts to do so and have chosen instead to argue over use of the allocated and designated funds.

I was raised by a hardworking immigrant father and dedicated mother who always taught honesty and filotimo. I have worked since I was 11 years old to assist our family in a way to honor those ideals.

I served as an altar boy at the age of eleven for approximately seven years under the then newly ordained Father Isaiah. Since 1967 when I returned from the military, I have been very active in our community. My family and I worked diligently with other parishioners in this community to help build the Multi-Purpose Center at Prophet Elias. Under my service as Parish Council President, the members of the General Assembly on June 27^th, 1999, instructed our progressive parishioners to raise funds to restore the Holy Trinity Cathedral. From that point to the present I have safeguarded the remaining funds from the Restoration Portfolio successfully and completely unscathed in the biggest economic crisis of our lifetime AND at no cost to the donors or the Parishioners.

My family and I have donated a great amount of time and over one million dollars for the Prophet Elias improvements, for the Holy Trinity Restoration, for the Hellenic Community Foundation, for Saint Sophia School, and for many other parish organizations.

Having assisted in all these ways and having accommodated hierarchy since I was an altar boy, I am frankly baffled at the actions of the two Proistamenoi and Parish Council. The Bapis Group at High Tower has diligently followed instructions for fund transfers authorized by proper signatories and will continue to implement the legal transfer of funds as instructed by proper paperwork with authorized signatories.

In my forty-two years of hard work in the financial industry I have never been maliciously attacked and defamed in the manner of the Parish Council’s April 15, 2010 letter to the entire community. The only missing part to their attack was that the letter should have been written on March 15 instead of April 15.

I once heard his Eminence Archbishop Demitrios speak about recognizing the nefarious in life. I wrote that word down then, not knowing that it would have so much meaning to me today.

Sincerely,

/s/

Nick M. Bapis

Appendix A

Hellenic Heritage Campaign/Holy Trinity Restoration Board

Nick Angelides Dave Katsanevas Con Skedros Nick Bapis

Bill Chaus Victoria Kidman Margo Sotiriou Sam Chelemes

Steven Kogianes Jeanine P. Timothy Nick Colessides Mike Korologos

Dimitri Tsagaris Bill Drossos George Metos Nick Varankis

Perry Drossos George Miller Fr. Michael Kouemetis Julie Fotes

Vasilios Priskos Chris Gamvroulas Manoli Sargetakis

Appendix B

Budget/Economic Sub-Committee

Dimitrios Tsagaris Bill Chaus Nick Varanakis Kosta Katsohirakis Basil Chelemes

Appendix C

Authorized Signatories:

1. Holy Trinity Restoration Funds/Hellenic Heritage Campaign

2. Holy Trinity/Anthony Skedros Multi-purpose Funds

*Nick Varanakis (then President of the Parish) *George Metos *Manoli Sargetakis*(elected by the original Holy Trinity Restoration Committee, authorized at the 1999 General Assembly)

Appendix D

Hellenic Community Foundation Board

Doug Anderson, President

Vasilios Priskos, Vice President

Thomas W. Peters, Secretary

Basil S. Chelemes, Treasurer

Stella Daskalakis

Chris Gamvroulas

Andy Giannis

Kosta Katsohirakis

Damon Kirchmeir

Mike Makris

Maxine Margaritis

John Pappas

William P. Souvall

Tykie Skedros

Dimitrios Tsagaris

VIA Electronic Mail

Scapegoating 101

Our esteemed treasurer in the last special general assembly gave us all a rather condescending lecture about budgets and accounting, and the implications of shortfalls - in short, a synopsis of Accounting 101. Yet we question whether he himself GETS it.

May we suggest the following:

ACCOUNTING 101- continued. Accounting 102? Whatever... let the appropriate lessons be found, for heaven's sake!

Further, and to avoid the ongoing ineptitude, the treasurer might wish to (please!) reconcile the balance statements from the bank on a monthly basis; otherwise he could be missing real money!

This is just BASIC bookkeeping - not higher-level accounting. Is there really a surprise here?

In the meantime, we all wonder who the next "whipping boy" will be. Is it to be the bookkeeping staff? Or will it once again be current or former Parish Council members? Or is it the ELECTED Audit Committee?

A final thought ... in view of recent events, is it NOT a GIGANTIC stretch of the imagination to consider the following scenario?

One fine morning last fall, Messrs. Varanakis, Sargetakis, and Metos contacted Mr. Bapis, and SUDDENLY all took it into their heads to transfer the Anthony G. Skedros Memorial Gymnasium Funds from a church account controlled solely by the parish council into the HCF account.

Can we please get serious?

"Sorry" Is Meaningless If Nothing Changes

Απο τότε που βγήκε το «συγγνώμη» χάθηκε το φιλότιμο. (From the time that “sorry” became a stock phrase, the sense of honor, and love of honor, was lost.)

We made reference in our Easter wishes to the community that the recent visit by Metropolitan Isaiah gave us cause for hope. He expressed regret, both to individuals and to the congregation, that errors had been made. We were heartened and felt that this was a good beginning.

The incidents of the past few days, during, of all times, Holy Week, have dashed hopes that healing might begin and that a move toward harmony and unity would begin.

We have witnessed a negative and threatening letter signed by our proistamenoi, along with the members of the parish council. The letter criticizes an honorable member of our community – a man who has given much not only to this community, but to Orthodoxy and Hellenic culture throughout this country and the world. Nick Bapis deserves THANKS, not criticism.

Additionally, the letter is critical of Nick Varanakis, Manoli Sargetakis and George Metos. While many who write on this blog have had differences with Mr. Varanakis, the fact is that in this circumstance none of these gentlemen did anything wrong. Despite this fact, Mr. Varanakis was “thrown under the bus” and forced to resign.

In another recent example of inappropriate interference, the parish council demanded that the audit committee sign a confidentiality agreement. This demand is in DIRECT opposition to the Uniform Parish Regulations (as seen in Chapter Three, Article 30, Section 3.)

No one who understands the function of an audit seriously expects the Audit Committee to divulge or discuss individual stewardship contributions or salaries, etc. The people elected to this committee are highly respected professionals who take their task seriously. For four months since time of their appointment, the parish council has refused to allow the elected board of auditors to proceed unless each member signed a confidentiality agreement. Audit committee members rightly refused, citing the UPRs. They also cited the Metropolitan's own Administrative Guidelines for Parish Council Elections that were in effect at that time.

Interestingly, Metropolitan Isaiah revised his own guidelines this past month and eliminated the Board of Auditors from the passage on page 25 as to who may examine stewardship records. (It is further interesting that the Metropolitan's revision violates those often-cited UPRs.) In the face of this eleventh-hour revision, the Audit Committee signed, with reservations, the confidentiality agreement in order that their work could proceed.

In addition to these recent events, our proistamenoi and the parish council now insist that ALL formerly separate accounts must be transferred to the sole control of the parish council. These would include those of the Philoptochos (which has historically had separate accounts), the Hellenic Heritage Fundraising Campaign (which was authorized by the General Assembly as an entity with its own accounts), and the Anthony Skedros Memorial Gymnasium Fund Foundation, along with others.

These recent occurrences provide further disappointment to an already disheartened community that has been praying for a climate of healing after so many years of discord. The Metropolitan expressed regret – a highly positive step. Yet there is nothing that indicates that our clergy and our leaders will follow-up in seeking unity and harmony. Instead, the behaviors that have caused discord are continuing. Sadly, "sorry" is not enough.

Character Assassination by Innuendo

It has been appalling to witness the character assassination of Nick Bapis by innuendo.

The Good Friday letter, having first and foremost the signatures of the clergy, is truly an un-Christian act. The content and the mailing timing choice is beyond comprehension. This travesty portends worse things to come.

How can the Clergy have so little respect for the character and the feelings of a person like Nick Bapis ??

Nick Bapis, throughout his entire life, has faithfully and selflessly served the Greek Orthodox Faith, and particularly our Salt Lake Greek Orthodox Community! One cannot count the ways that the Bapis family has contributed to our community. Nick has advanced the well-being of our community; he has advanced our faith; and, he has made extraordinary contributions to our ethnic heritage.

The Bapis family's contributions are immense and immeasurable. Nobody should assail the family's name in such a hateful and shameful way. The signatory [to the letter] priests should not be so blinded as to think themselves as αναμάρτητοι (sinless) so that they can “be the first to cast the stone!” Our Lord was clear on this message.

Answers for such actions are indeed found in the Bible. Part of one of the Holy Week’s passages is instructive in this instance. "Ουαί, ουαί Γραμματείς και Φαρισαίοι υποκριταί." (“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!). The Clergy should have been the first ones to seek out Nick Bapis, to ask to be fully informed, and to discuss with him the issue that disturbed them. There is no need to create this new turmoil. The priests should have attempted to find a solution first, before precipitating this latest in a series of conflicts. Is it inappropriate to wonder, "Tι ψυχή θα παραδόσουν ?" (What soul or spirit will they offer to their Maker?)

Our Greek Orthodox Community does not need clergymen who support and condone hate; we do not need priests who sow dissension; we need priests who exemplify the ministry of our Lord - a ministry of LOVE - the one thing they have yet to try to do.

The Metropolitan's recent visit, and his words to us, gave us hope to believe that during Easter we were expecting messages of love, of forgiveness, of new beginnings. Instead we were given Judas' kiss of betrayal.

Let us one and all support the Bapis family during their Golgotha as perpetrated by our priests. The Bapis family deserves everyone’s support.

- Nick J. Colessides

Wishes for a Blessed Holy Week

As our community prepares for the continuing Holy Week Services, and waits in anticipation of our Lord's glorious Resurrection, we reflect and ponder recent events.

One that left us highly hopeful was Metropolitan Isaiah's visit a few Sundays ago. He acknowledged that mistakes had been made and that he too yearned for the unity and harmony we all surely want. This visit and His Eminence's expressed sentiments provides a very good beginning - one that we hope and pray will introduce a period of more harmony, more transparency, more unity for this community in particular and for our Church in general.

Kali Anastasi s'olous!

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