Accidentally, on Purpose

From his bully pulpit Father Kouremetis once again holds forth. He castigates those who are irritated by the recent listing of youth basketball teams from this community as “throwing Prophet Elias ‘under the bus’ “ for what is claimed to be an honest error.

The “accidental” listing of our community’s teams as being SOLELY “Prophet Elias, HOLLADAY, Utah”, rather than as Holy Trinity / Prophet Elias, or Prophet Elias / Holy Trinity (depending on whether or not one lists alphabetically), at the recent Metropolis GOYA Basketball tournament is but one in a series of “accidents”. (Note: It is interesting that in recent memory this recurring “mistake”, “oversight,” “honest omission” has NEVER occurred where Holy Trinity, Salt Lake City, Utah is listed and Prophet Elias is not.)

• First, this “accident” did not occur at last year’s tournament where the community’s teams were listed and/or announced as Holy Trinity / Prophet Elias. Was it so difficult to copy over that name to this year’s application and acknowledge youth who attend at one church, the other or both?

• Second, the recent honor accorded to Dr. Charles Beck , who has been invested as an archon, lists his home parish as Prophet Elias, Holladay, Utah.

• Third, when Nick Varanakis and Fr. Kouremetis attended the Metropolis Clergy Laity Congress in Dallas, May 2009, they were listed on the agenda as representatives from Prophet Elias, Holladay, Utah.

The Proistomenos-of-PE-only doth protest too much! He is fully aware of what he and/or his minions are doing, as are we – he and they fool no one. He has instructed administrators of these programs HOW to register. At best, he has failed to instruct them in how NOT to do so.

This is DELIBERATE. Just as it was DELIBERATE to deride Holy Trinity to the Holy Eparchial Synod as being near a “needle park”. Just as it has been DELIBERATE to defer and delay needed repairs at Holy Trinity. Just as it has been DELIBERATE to suspend fundraising efforts through the HCF in order to fulfill the Skedros’ family dream of building the Anthony G. Skedros Memorial Gymnasium, along with needed upgrades to Sunday School facilities, at Holy Trinity. Just as it has been DELIBERATE to build pavilions and gardens, or upgrade office facilities, at Prophet Elias that were NOT approved by any General Assembly. There is NO “accident” here. This is ALL deliberate so that the Proistamenos-of-Prophet-Elias-only and his lackeys can claim that Holy Trinity is little-used, outdated, dilapidated and moribund.

These statements and actions are continually taken to escalate frayed tempers and to further the dissension he has sown since his arrival. If we protest, the claim goes forth that the atmosphere has become aggravated and that Prophet Elias is being "dissed". If we don’t, Fr. Kouremetis has pulled off a fait accompli – the done deal. Heads he wins; tails our community LOSES!

Oversight? Omission? Accident? Please.

A follow-up postscript: TOCB has been informed that our youth, when registering for this year's tournament, were asked by the registrars in Oklahoma City to indicate whether they were with HT or PE.  WHO told the OKC registrars to ask THIS question? We're fairly confident they would NOT have asked this on their own.  Yet another "accident"? Or just another divisive ploy using our youth as pawns! Appalling is the ONLY word that comes to mind.