A Question for Fr. Kouremetis

Dear Father Michael,

I have witnessed now, since moving back to the place where I was born, your presiding over numerous services.  I have witnessed the trite and "standard" where it was clear you just pulled out the "standard form" service and you just supplied a name in the "fill in the blank" section.

Yet, being honest, I have seen you pull off some highly eloquent, moving eulogies and other ceremonies where, you, again honestly, "NAILED IT"!

Yesterday, you "nailed it", yet again. I look at you and think - a TRAGEDY, what a waste of ability, brains and talent! I think of what you TRULY could have accomplished here if you had just bothered to understand the community, and I am DEEPLY saddened.

You rightfully named my late godfather, Pete Vrontikis, as a pillar of this community. He, like so many others we've lost recently, was a visionary. He among others, like my grandfather, my father, my uncles, and so many real leaders (unlike our recently appointed ones) most of whom are now, sadly, no longer with us, worked tirelessly for the betterment of this community and for maintaining its strength and independence.

Our late, REAL leaders were adamant about this community's ability to CO-EXIST with the hierarchy. That is, that this community would adhere to the tenets of the faith, but would also MAINTAIN an independence that would protect the community's ability to sustain itself in highly unique circumstances, despite the winds of change in the structure of the Greek Orthodox hierarchy. This was a sine qua non among our forefathers.

So I ask you, Father Michael, when you extoll our "lost pillars" like my nouno, Pete Vrontikis, at their funerals, WHY do you seek to undo their handiwork?

- Barbara Billinis Colessides