Follow-Up Letter to Archbishop Demetrios

Moderator's Note: Mr. Colessides sent us this letter that he faxed and e-mailed yesterday. The original of this letter, along with the May 20, 2011 letter sent to the Archdiocese, may be viewed by clicking here. (The earlier letter is appended to the latest one.)

=======================================================================

NICK J. COLESSIDES
ATTORNEY AT LAW
466 SOUTH 400 EAST, SUITE 100
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84111-3325
USA
___

TELEPHONE: 801-521-4441
FAX: 801-521-4452
E-MAIL: nick@nickjcolessides.com

September 15, 2011

Via fax: 1.646.519.6514
Hard copy via US mail

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
Office of the Archbishop
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
8-1 0 East 79"' Street
New York, NY 10021

Dear Your Eminence Archbishop Demetrios,

We hope that the new Ecclesiastical Year brings you health and the Lord's Blessings as you shepherd and guide our Greek Orthodox Church through the reefs of life.

We are approaching 7 months since the issuance of the Synodal Letter dated March 24, 2011, addressed to Metropolitan Isaiah. On May 20, 2011, the enclosed letter was mailed to your office. There has been no movement in the intransigent attitude exhibited by the Denver Metropolitan and his assigned clergy.

The Denver Metropolitan has chosen to totally disregard the Synodal direction concerning our parish: The Prophet Elias corporation has not been withdrawn; as a matter of fact its corporate existence was renewed (in March 2011) by papers signed by the present appointed parish president with the Utah Division of Corporations. We have been refused the list of names and addresses of all current and last year's stewards. We have not had a general meeting of the membership of our parish. We have not had an accounting of how the collected stewardship and other parish funds are authorized to be spent, and/or how the funds are actually being expended. We have not had elections in approximately 2 years. Rumors abound about Fr. Michael Kouremetis' secret accounts. The most recent IRS regulations require that non profit corporations/organizations file annual reports for the last three years, or face the penalty of
losing their tax exempt status. Upon information and belief it is respectfully submitted that the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake is in danger of losing its tax exempt status, due to its failure to file.

No one cares; and no one is doing anything about it. For reasons unknown Metropolitan Isaiah intentionally disregards the Holy Eparchial Synod in implementing Its directives.

Metropolitan Isaiah and his assigned clergy have hijacked our community; there is total lack of accounting; and, there is no transparency whatsoever.  There does not exist a modicum of good will by the Clergy in terms of compliance with the Synodal Letter in our parish.  ALL METROPOLITAN ISAIAH AND HIS ASSIGNED CLERGY CARE ABOUT IS MONEY. Greek Orthodoxy in Salt Lake City Utah is in jeopardy; its survival is not aided by the Greek Orthodox Church Clergy. The Holy Eparchial Synod and/or His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew must take immediate steps to correct this abysmal situation.

Unless immediate remedial action is taken by the ecclesiastical  authorities as per the Synodal Letter, the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake will seek its legal remedies in the civil courts of our state.

Sincerely,

/s/

NICK J. COLESSIDES

enclosure:  Letter dated May 20, 2011 (3 pages)

cc: His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch via fax:
His Grace Bishop Isaiah, Metropolitan of Denver, via email
The Very Rev. Sebastian  Skordallos, Archimandrite
Chief Secretary of The Holy Eparchial Synod, via email
Fr. Matthew Gilbert, via email
Fr. Michael Kouremetis, via email
Mrs. Cathy B. Walsh, Esq., via email