Happy New Year!!

Wishing everyone a healthy and happy 2015!

Same Old Song, Brand New Verse?

What is a Mission Parish?

A Mission Parish is a stand-alone, independent parish entity operating with the consent and under the jurisdiction of the Metropolis (rather than the Archdiocese). Almost all new parishes start out and operate for a period of time as a Mission Parish in order to demonstrate their viability before obtaining a Charter from the Archdiocese.

How does requesting and obtaining Mission Parish status fit into the Article 20 process approved by the General Assembly in June 2014?

Metropolitan Isaiah will require us to operate as a Mission Parish for a period of time before he will approve our Article 20 application and recommend that the Archbishop grant us a charter. Requesting Mission Parish status is thus a necessary step in the Article 20 process, and is required to complete the Article 20 process of becoming a charted parish.

Becoming a Mission Parish does not stop or replace the Article 20 process; it only augments it as we prove to all, including ourselves, that we are truly a viable parish.

How would a Mission Parish differ from a fully-chartered parish?

A Mission Parish would not have a saint’s name, but would be called something like: “Greek Orthodox Mission Parish of Utah.”

A Mission Parish operates solely under the jurisdiction of the Metropolis of Denver; it would have little (if any) involvement with the Archdiocese.

A Mission Parish would not have a Charter from the Archdiocese, would not be represented at the clergy-laity congresses, and would not be required to pay an Archdiocesan commitment.

A Mission Parish will be assigned a visiting priest that will travel here on a regular basis to conduct services. We could request a full time priest assignment at a later time, and before becoming a fully- chartered parish, but would start with a visiting priest.

A Mission Parish would not have a physical office space or administrative staff. We could establish these in the future, even before becoming a fully-chartered parish, but would not start with these amenities.

How would a Mission Parish be similar to a fully-chartered parish?

A Mission Parish would otherwise operate the same as a fully-chartered parish:

It would hold regular Sunday services.

It would have a Sunday School and other youth programs, along with other ministries.

It would have a Philoptochos-type organization.

It would collect stewardship funds and start a capital campaign (under the Metropolis' tax-exempt status and supervision).

It would hold fellowship, community building and fundraising events.

Where would a Mission Parish congregate and worship?

A Mission Parish would most likely be required to congregate and worship at a location other than Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church. The OCP Steering Council is exploring a variety of options, including the rental of a local reception center that would allow a space for services, Sunday School and coffee hour.

Where would I worship if no visiting priest is available to serve our Mission Parish?

It is our hope and belief that the Metropolitan would work with our Mission Parish to provide us a priest as often as possible. In the event a priest is not available we may consider a non-Eucharistic service that we can celebrate together, or one could most certainly worship at Prophet Elias or any of the other Orthodox churches in the valley.

Does pursuing a Mission Parish mean that we are abandoning our stated goal of obtaining Prophet Elias as our ultimate place of worship?

No. The long-term goal remains the establishment of a fully-chartered parish at Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church. But this will take time, and will require affirmative action by the Archdiocese, or cooperation from the leadership of the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake (GOCGSL).

To date, the Archdiocese has shown no willingness to assist in the creation of a stand-alone, independent Parish at Prophet Elias. (emphasis added) And there is no indication that this is likely to change in the near term.

Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church is owned by the GOCGSL. Obtaining Prophet Elias would require: (i) the Parish Council of the GOCGSL to put the transfer of Prophet Elias Church to our new parish entity on the agenda for a Parish Assembly, (ii) an affirmative vote of at least 2/3 of the members at a Parish Assembly of the GOCGSL (and possibly 3/4 of the entire membership of the GOCGSL), and (iii) the approval of Metropolitan Isaiah. Various members of the Parish Council for the GOCGSL have made it clear to various members of the OCP Steering Council that they are not in support of and will not take steps to facilitate the creation of an independent Prophet Elias at this time, but may be open to the idea at a later, unspecified date.

The majority of the OCP Steering Council believes that obtaining mission parish status, and demonstrating our resolve and commitment to full independence, may be the only way to move the dialogue forward and achieve our ultimate goal of worshiping as an independent parish at Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church as our ultimate place of worship.

How do we obtain Mission Parish status?

All that is required is a letter to Metropolitan Isaiah requesting that we be immediately organized as a mission parish while we continue to do our due diligence with the Article 20 process. Metropolitan Isaiah assures the OCP Steering Council that he will grant us Mission Parish status upon request.

What are the reasons to proceed with a Mission Parish sooner rather than later?

A Mission Parish can feel its way through the process of becoming a fully-chartered parish at a comfortable pace and elect to request a charter at the most opportune time, all the while operating as a fully-functional church community.

Having a Mission Parish in place only helps us be perceived by the local community as well as ALL ORTHODOX JURISDICTIONS as a legitimate church community worthy of a charter. It would only enhance our position to gain a charter from any other Jurisdiction should the Archdiocese balk or block our entry into its fold.

Not proceeding to organize immediately as a Mission Parish with regular services and ministry makes us look hesitant to proceed as an independent church community not only to our brethren in New York but also at the Metropolis and, more importantly, here in Salt Lake. That perception cannot only harm the process of gaining a charter, it also robs us of our current opportunities for spiritual growth and fellowship as a community of Orthodox faithful. And it gives those who oppose OCP and our goals the impression that we are weak and not really interested in independent Orthodox worship like we claim to be. Finally, it weakens our potential to obtain Prophet Elias, with the cooperation of the Parish Council and Parish Assembly of the GOCGSL or otherwise. (emphasis added)

What should I do if I have questions or concerns about the Mission Parish concept?

The OCP Steering Council will hold an open forum at the Cottonwood Country Club on Monday, August 18, 2014, beginning at 7pm where people can come and ask questions about or express concerns regarding the Mission Parish concept. You should also feel free to contact any Steering Council member directly.

YES, YOU DID IT ...

You formed the Greek Orthodox Mission Parish of Utah.

Congratulations.

The question is, what took you so long?

This outcome was inevitable when this community decided to form the Hellenic Cultural Foundation (a construct similar to Leadership 100, and one effectively used by numerous other communities throughout the country) and you convinced the Metropolitan to scuttle that vote, as it would be detrimental to your plans to split the community.

This outcome was inevitable from the survey results in November 2007 (which many of you who were in charge at the time said you would honor, along with the Metropolis, but did not, have not, for all these subsequent years.)

This outcome was inevitable thereafter from the votes from numerous general assemblies following that survey, (despite your acquiescing to suspension of such, in collusion with the Metropolis, contrary to your oft-cited UPRs) including the notorious one in November 2011 where this community refused to succumb to threats from a variety of local and outside sources, and where you acquiesced to the barring of several respected elders from entering their own church.

This outcome was inevitable.

By ignoring that inevitability, the opportunity costs of this intractability - to say nothing of the emotional upheaval - have been staggering. So much did not get done!

So, congratulations for finally having the resolve to do what our parents and grandparents did with far fewer resources.

We will move forward and pray you do the same.

Και ο Θεος βοηθος!

From the Local News ...

Group forms new Greek Orthodox parish in Salt Lake area

By Whitney Evans (ksl.com)

August 23rd, 2014 @ 7:58pm

MURRAY — A group labeling itself "progressive" voted Saturday to create an additional parish in the Salt Lake Valley.

A little more than 100 people gathered at Hillcrest Junior High, 156 E. 5600 South, to create the Greek Orthodox Mission Parish Saturday. The majority voted in the affirmative.

"This is your chance to do it right, to do what you've learned over the years and to do it with a fresh start," Father Luke Uhl, chancellor for Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, told those gathered.

If contentions arise, "Resolve them in love," he advised, possibly alluding to the strife that has cropped up in the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake in recent years.

The parish will function under the Metropolis of Denver, distinct from the current Salt Lake parish meeting at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, 279 S. 300 West, and Prophet Elias Church, 5335 S. Highland Drive.

“People of goodwill have come together and expressed themselves as faithful Christians and expressed themselves as people united in love, in harmony, in oneness of mind and heart. That can’t help but inspire all us,” he later told KSL News.

Eleven members of the new parish were called to serve on a parish council, six until December 2015 and five until the end of 2014. An interim priest or priests will fill in until a full-time priest can be appointed by Metropolitan Isaiah.

“We want to focus on the Orthodox faith and growing in our faith together. That’s our sole purpose. We’re not complaining. We’re not griping about anybody or anything. Sometimes you know, you have to be forced out of your comfort zone to go do something that becomes a good thing later,” said Charles Beck, newly elected parish council president.

Parishioner Chuck Karpakis said in a June 8 devotional that the group sought a split because of what it saw as the secular focus of the current parish and of the ousting of priests over the decades.

Parishoner Bill Souvall said the Greek Orthodox Mission Parish has a "different vision of orthodoxy" than the other parish, but declined to explain further. Those interviewed were insistent on wanting to maintain a positive relationship with their sister parish.

“We want to be just another parish in town and that we all love each other and we work together. We want our kids to play together. We want our kids to dance together and to do things," Beck said. "There’s no separatist notion here at all. We just want to be independent and grow in a way that only an independent parish can grow.”

More than one year ago, financial struggles in the parish led to a 40 percent pay cut for three priests and a halt to services. In August, the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake voted in a 220-215 split to reinstate the pay and provide back pay to the three priests. They also asked that one priest be reassigned.

A fight broke out at the Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church in January after then Father Michael Kouremetis, a former priest at the church, said he would still work at the church even though he was let go in December. Parishioners began pushing and shoving and police were called, according to media reports at the time.

Father Michael Kouremetis was reassigned from the Prophet Elias Church to the St. George Church in Kingston, New York, in June.

The conflict reached Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in February, who reportedly told Archbishop Demetrios, primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, to fix what was going on in the Salt Lake parish.

Shortly afterward, Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America sent a letter to the parish and council, saying there were no plans for the two churches in the parish to separate. Instead he asked them to resolve their differences and "rebuild the unity which has been shaken, so that you may be perfectly joined together."

A steering committee of Greek Orthodox members in Salt Lake, led by Souvall, was formed in April to explore the option of creating a new parish. Since then, they established stewardship responsibilities, a budget, funds and received the blessing of Metropolitan.

The first Divine Liturgy for the Greek Orthodox Mission Parish will be held on Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. and Sunday School will be held Sept 14. Services will be held at The Woods on Ninth, 6775 S. 900 East, until the congregation can find a more permanent home.

"We believe that the rapidity of this movement means it's blessed," Beck said.

Father Uhl told those present Saturday that they were part of an enduring legacy that will last until the second coming of Jesus.

“It’s a wonderful thing for the community. Church growth is always good. It’s an establishment of a new family of faithful, a new family of believers and it’s always to the glory of God,” he told the Deseret News.

Greek Orthodox churches are part of the Eastern Orthodox churches. This religion was established by early Christians. Although the church puts Christ as its head, many hold a high regard for the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, headed by Patriarch Bartholomew. The Archdiocese of America is led by the Holy Eparchial Synod, with Archbishop Demetrios at its head.

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

Utah Greek congregation forms its own parish

Religion » Group departs greater Salt Lake parish after four years of internal schisms.

By Mike Gorrell

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Aug 23 2014 06:31 pm • Last Updated Aug 23 2014 10:32 pm

Murray • One way to stop being in a house divided is to leave, and that’s what nearly 200 Greek Orthodox residents did Saturday in creating their own parish.

Formal approval of their action in the Hillcrest Junior High School auditorium came from Rev. Luke Uhl, for the last 21 years the chancellor to Metropolitan Isaiah, the Denver-based prelate whose region includes fractious Utah.

"To be at the beginning of a parish, where heaven and earth come together," he said, "this is a cool thing. A parish is not established for a year or a lifetime, but until the Second Coming.

"This is the good stuff of being a Christian, an Orthodox Christian," Uhl added.

Uhl sanctioned a show-of-hands vote that unanimously established the Greek Orthodox Mission Parish of Utah. The 100 or so people attending the meeting then elected an 11-member interim board to guide the parish through its formative years.

The parish’s first service will be Aug. 31, probably at 10 a.m., at The Woods on Ninth, a reception center at 6775 S. 900 East in Midvale.

The two-story colonial building has space upstairs for a Sunday School while church services take place below in a room that will seat 150, said Chuck Karpakis, a member of a steering committee that has spent the past four months preparing for this day.

"It’s not as beautiful as Holy Trinity or Prophet Elias," Karpakis obliged, referring to the two churches that together form the Greater Salt Lake parish the group is departing. But it will be decorated "to appeal to that sense of spirituality."

Headed by Bill Souvall, the steering committee has met since the Greek Orthodox chancellor in New York put an end to a bitter four-year dispute between different factions of the Salt Lake Valley’s Greek Orthodox community.

The chancellor said Holy Trinity and Prophet Elias would not be split into separate parishes, ratified membership on the parish council and transferred Rev. Michael Kouremetis — a lightning rod in clashes between the two sides — elsewhere.

That outcome did not sit well with this group of Greek Orthodox, who explored what had to be done to create a separate parish. They set up a federal tax identification number for their nonprofit organization as well as bank accounts.

"We’re hitting the ground running big-time," Souvall said, adding the independence achieved Saturday comes with a price tag. He asked everyone who pledged money to the parish effort to follow through now. "It’s time to start paying our way."

Steering committee member Phil Floor said verbal pledges of $1,200 to $1,500 per family accounted for all but a sliver of the parish’s projected first-year revenues of $197,000. Little income is forecast from functions such as next week’s Greek Festival.

With expenses "conservatively" pegged at $133,000, Floor said the new parish would finish 2015 with a $64,000 surplus — except that Saturday’s starting date means those revenues have to cover an additional four months in 2014.

Souvall asked parishioners to donate one-third of their pledges by year’s end to cover 2014 costs.

A mission parish is not equal to a standard parish such as the one that Prophet Elias and Holy Trinity Cathedral belong to, he acknowledged. It is not fully chartered by the Greek Orthodox archbishop in New York City, the most important church figure in the country, even if it is an official parish under the regional Metropolitan.

"This will give us a chance to prove ourselves," said Souvall. "That’s not going to be difficult. We’ll do well."

Dimitrios Tsagaris, president of the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake parish council, said he bore no ill feelings to the mission parish founders.

"Very frankly, we wish them good luck," said Tsagaris after overseeing the erection of food tents in the parking lot adjacent to Holy Trinity Cathedral. "The Greek Orthodox community has been here for 100 years. It is flourishing and will do great. It will always prevail."

NEW ATTEMPTS UNDER WAY FOR SEPARATION IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

TRANSLATION
From The National Herald (note: see original in Greek below)
22 AUGUST 2014
By Theodore Kalmoukos

BOSTON. A new attempt has begun in Salt Lake City, Utah, currently under way with the pretext, this time, to create a new community under the name "Progressive Missionary Community of Salt Lake City, Utah."

The movement is comprised of about a hundred people who were unhappy with the solution given by Archbishop Demetrios, with the intervention of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, to not separate the historical community of the Holy Trinity of Salt Lake City (sic) [editor’s note: the correct name of the parish is the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake], as was attempted by the Denver Metropolitan, Isaiah, along with a group of parishioners – basically the same ones who now want to create the so-called Missionary Community, and who had afflicted for nearly four years the larger existing community. Metropolitan Isaiah had gone so far as to shut down clergy services for a month last August 2013 at the two churches, Holy Trinity and Prophet Elias, while events later progressed so far that the police intervened.

Of the dozens of documents received by "The National Herald" it was learned that on Saturday, August 23, at 1:00 there will be gathering at the Hillcrest Junior High Gymnasium, to finalize the establishment of the new community, where Metropolitan Isaiah is sending his chancellor, Fr. Luke Uhl, to coordinate and assist in selecting a community council. It must be emphasized that Metropolitan Isaiah appointed by letter dated June 12, 2014 an organizing committee, which consists of 20 people for the creation of new "Progressive Missionary Community." Further, Metropolitan Isaiah immediately replied to pioneers of the movement, who sent him a letter dated June 11 saying that they had gathered 100 Orthodox Christians who have signed the request for the establishment of 'Progressive Missionary Community " asking to appoint a committee, to which he immediately responded by letter the next day 12 June 2014, writing, among other things: "I received your letter of June 11 2014, seeking to appoint a committee (ad hoc committee) to investigate the possibility of creating a new community in Salt Lake City and thank you ... and behold to appoint the included members of the Greek Orthodox Faith ", mentioning their names and noting that "you are to please feel free to contact me for any questions you may have, and also for any needs in this God-blessed attempt you are making."

Among the names of the appointed committee are former presidents of the Parish Council of Holy Trinity (sic, GOCGSL), and the current president of the Philoptochos Society of Prophet Elias. While the community remains united in Holy Trinity (sic, ibid.), still having two Philoptochos societies, one at Holy Trinity and one at Prophet Elias. Certainly mentioned in the documents, there the ultimate aim of this movement for yet another de facto occupation of Prophet Elias and the development of an independent community. It is specifically stated that "Progressives Orthodox Christians [are] seeking to establish an independent Orthodox community preferably in the Greek Orthodox Community of Prophet Elias."

The "National Herald" is in a position to know that Archbishop Demetrios has full information on the new moves and attempts by Metropolitan Isaiah, but, so far at least, has not interfered to stop them before they become exacerbated situations, but follows once again the tactic of wait-and-see.

Insofar as the National Herald knows, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who is currently in the village of St. Theodore, in his home island, Imbros, where we celebrate today, Saturday, August 23, Performance of Assumption of the Virgin, has not been updated concerning the latest separatist movements in Utah, which artificially encourages Metropolitan Isaiah.

Telephone calls by NH to the Archdiocese and to Archbishop Demetrios, as well as to staff answering for the Denver Metropolitan, Isaiah, remained unanswered.

As is clear from the correspondence, things seem to be already finished. The president of Committee, Bill Souvall, in a letter dated August 20, 2014 for those who want the establishment of "Missionary Community," writes that "we have to go by the Assembly (Saturday, August 23) as the new "Missionary Community, directly under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Denver. Metropolitan Isaiah has confirmed that our first Divine Liturgy will be held on August 31, and Sunday School will begin on September 14."

As is clear from the correspondence, one of the reasons for this move is the exodus of Fr. Michael Kouremetis, while the other priest Fr. Matthew Gilbert continues to preside at Holy Trinity. After a failed attempt, twice in fact, to appoint Fr. Kouremetis Proistamenos of the Cathedral Church of Boston, where he introduced by Metropolitan Methodios, but the community rejected him soundly, he was then appointed to the community of St. George in Kingston, New York.

Δρομολογείται νέα απόπειρα διάσπασης στο Σολτ Λέικ Σίτι της Γιούτα

ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥH, 22 ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟY 2014 | ΤΟΥ ΘΕΌΔΩΡΟΥ ΚΑΛΜΟΎΚΟΥ

» Ειδήσεις

ΒΟΣΤΩΝΗ. Νέα απόπειρα διάσπασης έχει δρομολογηθεί στο Σολτ Λέικ Σίτι της Γιούτα και η οποία βρίσκεται σε εξέλιξη αυτή τη στιγμή, με το πρόσχημα τούτη τη φορά τη δημιουργία καινούργιας κοινότητας με την ονομασία «Ιεραποστολική Προοδευτική Κοινότητα του Σολτ Λέικ Σίτι Γιούτα». Στην κίνηση αυτή συμμετέχουν περί τα εκατό άτομα, τα οποία δυσαρεστήθηκαν με τη λύση που δόθηκε από τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Δημήτριο κατόπιν παρέμβασης του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχη Βαρθολομαίου να μην διασπαστεί στα δύο η ιστορική κοινότητα της Αγίας Τριάδος του Σολτ Λέικ Σίτι, όπως είχε επιχειρηθεί από τον Μητροπολίτη Ντένβερ Ησαΐα με μία ομάδα ενοριτών -βασικά είναι οι ίδιοι που επιζητούν σήμερα τη δημιουργία της λεγόμενης Ιεραποστολικής Κοινότητας- και που είχε ταλαιπωρήσει επί τέσσερα σχεδόν χρόνια την κοινότητα. Ο Μητροπολίτης Ησαϊας είχε φτάσει μάλιστα στο σημείο να κλείσει επί ένα μήνα τον περασμένο Αύγουστο του 2013 και τους δύο ναούς της κοινότητας ήτοι της Αγίας Τριάδος και του Προφήτη Ηλία, ενώ τα πράγματα είχαν ξεφύγει τόσο πολύ που να παρεμβαίνει η Αστυνομία.

Από τα δεκάδες έγγραφα που έχουν περιέλθει στη διάθεση του «Εθνικού Κήρυκα» προκύπτει ότι σήμερα, Σάββατο 23 Αυγούστου, στη 1 η ώρα θα γίνει συγκέντρωση στο κτίριο του Γυμνασίου Hillcrest Junior High, προκειμένου να οριστικοποιηθεί η ίδρυση της νέας κοινότητας, ενώ ο Μητροπολίτης Ησαΐας στέλνει τον πρωτοσύγκελό του, ιερέα Luke Uhl, για να συντονίσει τη συγκέντρωση και να βοηθήσει στην επιλογή κοινοτικού συμβουλίου. Υπογραμμίζεται ότι ο ίδιος ο Μητροπολίτης Ησαϊας διόρισε με επιστολή του με ημερομηνία 12 Ιουνίου 2014 διερευνητική- διοργανωτική επιτροπή, η οποία αποτελείται από 20 άτομα για τη δημιουργία της νέας «Ιεραποστολικής Προοδευτικής Κοινότητας».

Τονίζεται ότι ο κ. Ησαϊας απάντησε αμέσως στους πρωτεργάτες της κίνησης, οι οποίοι του έστειλαν επιστολή στις 11 Ιουνίου λέγοντάς του ότι έχουν συγκεντρωθεί 100 Ορθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί που έχουν υπογράψει το αίτημα για τη δημιουργία της «Ιεραποστολικής Προοδευτικής Κοινότητας» ζητώντας του να ορίσει επιτροπή, πράγμα το οποίο έκανε αμέσως με επιστολή του την επόμενη μέρα 12 Ιουνίου 2014, γράφοντας ανάμεσα στα άλλα και τα εξής: «Ελαβα την επιστολή σας της 11ης Ιουνίου 2014, ζητώντας να διορίσω επιτροπή (ad hoc committee) διερεύνησης της δυνατότητας δημιουργίας καινούργιας κοινότητας στην περιοχή του Σολτ Λέικ Σίτι και σας ευχαριστώ… και ιδού διορίζω τα εξής μέλη της Ελληνορθόδοξης Πίστης» και ανέγραψε τα ονόματα σημειώνοντας πως «σας παρακαλώ να αισθάνεστε ελεύθερα να επικοινωνείτε μαζί μου για όποιες ερωτήσεις έχετε, καθώς επίσης για οποιεσδήποτε ανάγκες σ’ αυτή την Θεοβλόγητη προσπάθειά σας». Ανάμεσα στα ονόματα της επιτροπής που διόρισε είναι και ονόματα πρώην προέδρων του κοινοτικού συμβουλίου της Αγίας Τριάδος, αλλά και της σημερινής προέδρου της Φιλοπτώχου Αδελφότητας του Προφήτη Ηλία. Ενώ η κοινότητα της Αγίας Τριάδος παραμένει ενωμένη, εξακολουθεί η ύπαρξη δύο φιλοπτώχων, μία της Αγίας Τριάδος και μία του Προφήτη Ηλία. Οπως μάλιστα αναφέρεται σ’ ένα από τα έγγραφα, απώτερος σκοπός της κίνησης αυτής είναι η δι’ άλλης οδού κατάληψη του Προφήτη Ηλία και η εξέλιξή του σε ανεξάρτητη κοινότητα. Συγκεκριμένα, αναφέρεται ότι «οι Ορθόδοξοι Προοδευτικοί Χριστιανοί επιζητούν τη δημιουργία μιας ανεξάρτητης Ορθόδοξης κοινότητας κατά προτίμηση στην Ελληνορθόδοξη Κοινότητα του Προφήτη Ηλία».

Ο «Εθνικός Κήρυξ» είναι σε θέση να γνωρίζει ότι ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος έχει πλήρη ενημέρωση για τις καινούργιες κινήσεις και απόπειρες του Μητροπολίτη Ησαϊα, πλην όμως μέχρι στιγμής τουλάχιστον δεν έχει παρέμβει να τις σταματήσει πριν εξελιχθούν σε ρηγματώδεις καταστάσεις, αλλά ακολουθεί για άλλη μία φορά την παρελκυστική τακτική του είδους περιμένετε να δούμε.

Από όσο μπορεί να γνωρίζει ο «Ε.Κ.», ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος, ο οποίος αυτές στις μέρες βρίσκεται στη γενέτειρά του, την Ιμβρο, όπου θα γιορτάσει σήμερα, Σάββατο 23 Αυγούστου, την Απόδοση της Κοίμησης της Θεοτόκου στο χωριό του Αγιοι Θεόδωροι δεν έχει ενημερωθεί για τις καινούργιες διασπαστικές κινήσεις στη Γιούτα, τις οποίες τεχνηέντως υποθάλπει και ενθαρρύνει ο Μητροπολίτης Ησαϊας.

Τηλεφωνικά μηνύματα του «Ε.Κ.» στην Αρχιεπισκοπή για τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Δημήτριο και στον προσωπικό τηλεφωνητή του Μητροπολίτη Ντένβερ Ησαϊα παρέμειναν αναπάντητα.

Οπως προκύπτει από την αλληλογραφία, τα πράγματα φαίνεται πως είναι ήδη τελειωμένα. Ο πρόεδρος της επιτροπής Bill Souvall σε επιστολή του με ημερομηνία 20 Αυγούστου 2014 προς εκείνους που θέλουν την ίδρυση της «Ιεραποστολικής Κοινότητας» γράφει πως «πρέπει να φύγουμε από τη Συνέλευση (Σάββατο 23 Αυγ.) ως η νέα «Ιεραποστολική Κοινότητα, απευθείας υπό την δικαιοδοσία της Μητρόπολης Ντένβερ. Ο Μητροπολίτης Ησαΐας έχει επιβεβαιώσει ότι η πρώτη μας Θεία Λειτουργία θα γίνει στις 31 Αυγούστου, και το Κατηχητικό Σχολείο θα ξεκινήσει στις 14 Σεπτεμβρίου».

Οπως προκύπτει από την αλληλογραφία, ένας από τους λόγους της κίνησης αυτής είναι και η φυγή του π. Μιχαήλ Κουρεμέτη, ενώ ο άλλος ιερέας π. Ματθαίος Γκίλμπερτ εξακολουθεί να ιερατεύει στην Αγία Τριάδα. Επειτα από αποτυχημένη απόπειρα, και μάλιστα δύο φορές, να διοριστεί ο π. Κουρεμέτης στην προϊσταμενία του Καθεδρικού Ναού Βοστώνης όπου τον σύστησε ο Μητροπολίτης Μεθόδιος, αλλά η κοινότητα τον απέρριψε άρδην, διορίστηκε στην κοινότητα του Αγίου Γεωργίου στην πόλη Κίνγκστον, Νέας Υόρκης.

Progressives? NOT!

We have taken what we feel to be a well-earned hiatus; a break also well-earned by the community at large. A fellow parishioner recently asked us about the "silence". Our reply was, "we were brought up not to kick someone when they were down."

In truth, we welcomed the initial e-mails circulated, indicating that those who disagreed with the majority in this community would seek to build their own church. We applauded such efforts. Such actions have been taken before in other communities throughout this country, and the results have been positive. The courage of these groups is admirable, and their determination, remarkable.

We are, however, dismayed to discover that the Orthodox Christian "Progressives" in this valley have now faltered on their original intent to build their own separate community. Once again, they seek, in spite of the decision of the hierarchy they claim to revere, to take over Prophet Elias GREEK Orthodox Church. (We emphasize "Greek" because there was never any doubt as to which Orthodox jurisdiction this particular church belongs.)

A final note… It is highly hypocritical and arrogant of these people to assume that they are the only "Christ-centered" among us. Further, these people, who would have us live under a medieval-style theocracy, are NOT progressives! Our church needs input from all: its hierarchy, its clergy, its laity. It's what our truly PROGRESSIVE, insightful and visionary forebears bequeathed to us! Anything less is NOT progressive; it's REGRESSIVE!

GO KYLE! GO U.S.A.!

We should all be extraordinarily PROUD that our fellow parishioner, Kyle Beckerman, is doing an outstanding job of representing our country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil!

Our best to Kyle, and to the Beckerman and Pappas families there and here!

We stand with you!

Σηκωσε το, το τιμημενο, δεν μπορω, δεν μπορω να περιμενω!

«Σώσον Κύριε τον λαόν σου…»

"Εάλω η Πόλις" – Ο Ελληνισμός και η Χριστιανοσύνη ζουν

29 Μαΐου 

Πεντακόσια εξήντα χρόνια από την αποφράδα ημέρα

"Σώσον Κύριε τὸν λαόν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοῖς ευσεβέσι κατὰ βαρβάρων δωρούμενος καὶ τὸ σόν φυλάττων διὰ τού Σταυρού σου πολίτευμα."

Letter from the Parish Council and the Archdiocese

Moderators' Note: below is the letter sent by the Parish Council, along with a letter from the Archdiocese. The original may be viewed here.

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March 25, 2014

Dear Parishioners,

Yesterday afternoon we received the March 19, 2014 letter below from the Archdiocese. Archbishop Demetrios through his chancellor Bishop Antonios has given us specific direction for moving forward as a united community in Salt Lake City.

Last night, at the conclusion of vespers and before our regularly scheduled parish council meeting, the newly elected parish council members along with the incumbant parish council members took the affirmation of office administered by Fr. Mathew.

Incumbents

Dimitrios Tsagaris
Philip Kithas
Tykie Skedros
Gus Colessides
Chris Sakellariou
Tom Peters
Pete Saltas

Newly Elected

Alicia Mares
Maria Oneida-Hardwick
Cindy Skedros
Greg Skedros
Yiannis Armaou
Nick Bapis
Ted Sargetakis
Steve Gamvroulas

Your parish leadership is in the process of providing input to the Archdiocese for the additional parish council members as mentioned in the letter.

We would like to add our hopes and prayers in addition to those of Archbishop Dimitrios, Metropolitan Isaiah, and Bishop Andonios. We ask all of you to carefully read the letter below and commit yourself to actions that move this community forward in peace and harmony.

And let us remember to love and forgive as our Lord Jesus teaches us during this Lenten season.

In His Name and Service.

Your Parish Council

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Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10

March 19, 2014

Reverend Clergy, Parish Council Members and
Faithful Members of the Greek Orthodox Community of Salt Lake City
Holy Trinity Cathedral
279 South 300 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Dearly Beloved,

As many of you may know, a meeting took place on Wednesday, March 12th at the Metropolis of Denver which included His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah, Mr. Dimitrios Tsagaris, Dr. Demetrios Skedros and myself. The purpose of this meeting was to find a resolution to the serious issues which have especially troubled the Salt Lake community these past few years. In the words of the Archbishop, the meeting was a heartfelt effort to help the parish overcome its current situation and truly become that what it should be, a dynamic Christ-centered parish proclaiming the message of the Gospel and edifying its members and the greater community. In a sincere desire to calm the waters and to bring healing to the parish so that it could move forward, certain actions were agreed upon by those in attendance.

As a sign of good will and tangible expression of his desire to bring healing to the community and to move forward, Metropolitan Isaiah offered to immediately ratify the parish council elections which took place in November 2013. Therefore, with the blessings of the Metropolitan this letter hereby ratifies those elections, and the parish clergy will administer the affirmation of office (Article 27, Section 4:A of the regulations) to the new council as soon as possible.

It was also agreed that there will be no discussion or steps taken at this time regarding any separation of the two churches of Holy Trinity and Prophet Elias. This is something which had been agreed upon by both the Metropolitan and Mr. Tsagaris last year and all were in full agreement that this position was needed at the present time to restore peace and harmony. At some time in the future, if there is a desire to move forward with such a separation, a committee can be selected from within the community to explore that option and work towards that end.

Since the present parish council does not include an adequate representation of those attending Prophet Elias, it was furthermore agreed by all that as soon as possible the Metropolitan will appoint to the parish council 5 or 6 appropriate individuals who primarily church themselves at Prophet Elias. They will participate as full members of the council until the next parish council election this Fall at which time, they and those current members whose term expires this year, will have the opportunity to include their names on the election ballot for parish council. This process of appointment will be coordinated by.the Metropolis and by my office, with input from the current church leadership. It must be stressed that this "new" parish council must function as ONE body, with each individual, regardless of which church they attend, accorded the appropriate deference - their opinion, concerns and what they view as the needs, heard - and everyone focused on what is best for the entire community, especially the youth who have been unfortunately impacted by all the controversy and negativity.

We are all especially pained by, and are very concerned by the way divisions have been created and ask that for the "good of the all", everyone focus their attention and their energies on working together to rebuild the unity which has been shaken, so that you may be perfectly joined together. Especially the members of the parish council are reminded of the words of St. Paul, who in his epistle to the Ephesians (4:1-3), exhorts the faithful, I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. This should be especially true during this sacred period of Great Lent when our attention should not be on fostering turmoil and discord but rather on our reconciliation with our Creator and those around us.

It is indeed regrettable that some have chosen to propagate irrational fears either because they are ill informed or because they wish to use such inflammatory tactics to stir up emotions within the community as part of some agenda. For this reason, I take this opportunity to emphasize to all that at no time in the 92 year history of the Archdiocese, has the Archdiocese or any Metropolis taken the property of any community. Such inferences are irresponsible and pure fabrication and should be totally disregarded.

During the meeting, His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah shared with the group that Fr. Michael had expressed in the past a desire to be reassigned. The Metropolitan is now ready to respond to that request and will work with the Archdiocese to find, as quickly as possible, a new assignment for Fr. Michael. Until that time, the Metropolis will continue to see that Father receives his compensation.

It is the fervent hope and prayer of the Archbishop and of the Metropolitan, and we believe of the parish leadership, that peace and harmony once again prevail in the community of Salt Lake and trust that the actions agreed upon at the meeting of March 12th will work towards accomplishing that goal. For this to be achieved though will require the full cooperation of all within the community. No doubt, there may be some in the parish who feel a different approach should have been decided but it was the intent of those who met in Denver to consider, at this time, the greater good and the best way to move forward to accomplish what is best for the community.

May the balance of this Lenten Season be a blessed and spiritually uplifting one for all...a time of reconciliation and of healing.  Above all, May the Lord bless and keep you: The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be merciful to you: The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6: 24-26).

Faithfully in the Service of our Lord,

/s/

+Bishop Andonios of Phasiane
Chancellor

History Without Context Is Not Valid

It would appear that the latest contention by those who seek to split this community is that there was a letter, written in 1965, wherein there was a stated desire to build a second independent parish in this valley. Said letter does, in fact, exist.

It is, however, pretty clear if one reads this letter, and then examines the follow-up decisions taken and VOTED upon by our parents and grandparents (all of which, including the initial letter, have been well-documented by this community's renowned historian and scholar, the late Con Skedros,) that this community, by 1969, when Prophet Elias was dedicated, overwhelmingly decided to remain UNITED as one community.

So committed were our forefathers to this notion that a General Assembly passed the manner by which, IF the majority wanted to split they could do so - by VOTE, and only with a compelling majority. That, too, was meticulously documented by Mr. Skedros.

"History" absent time, context, or sequence of events is nothing more than a snapshot in time. What is clear is that the majority of these men, along with the rest of the community, decided that a unified community made more sense.

It made sense then, and makes sense now.

We have said it before, and we say it again.

Those who wish to split, contrary to the wishes of the great majority of parishioners in this community, should show the same fortitude as our parents and grandparents and build their OWN church!

Καλη Σαρακοστη!

OUR COMMUNITY'S ONGOING LACK OF REPRESENTATION AT THE METROPOLIS COUNCIL

Moderators' Note: please refer to the attached minutes of the Metropolis Council Meeting held January 25, 2014. The original can be viewed here. 

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The recent Metropolis Council Meeting (held January 25, 2014) indicated why we are, and have recently been, despite our Metropolitan's grudging and presumed "acceptance", in dire straits.

In the midst of this chaos, it is interesting to note that we have NO REPRESENTATION from any of this community's properly acknowledged, elected leaders with the Metropolitan.

The Meeting Agenda SPECIFICALLY describes "Parish Pastors and PRESIDENTS".

Our current, and properly ELECTED, President's name is conspicuously absent! (We don't think this is an innocent oversight!)

Further, the supposed community representative, the ONLY representative currently listed as being from this community, is one who was a past elected president, but who resigned, under rather odd circumstances, in the spring of 2010! Nearly FOUR YEARS AGO!!!

It is further interesting to note that at the Metropolis Clergy-Laity Conference held in Dallas in 2009, this former elected President (along with the Proistamenos-of-Prophet-Elias-only) was listed as the representative from Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church, Holladay, Utah.

This same person, who now holds no properly authorized elective or appointive office (since the spring of 2010), is currently listed as a representative from Holy Trinity Cathedral!

SINCE WHEN???

In the meantime, our Metropolitan will not even take calls from our PROPERLY ELECTED Parish Council President of the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake - the ELECTED LEADER of the actual LEGAL entity (like it or not!) encompassing BOTH churches - Holy Trinity AND Prophet Elias - in this community!

OUR FOREFATHERS KNEW WHAT THEY INTENDED!

They also KNEW from what - and FROM WHOM - they were protecting us!

WHY THIS COMMUNITY IS PREVENTED FROM HEALING AND PROGRESSING ...

Moderators' Note: please refer to the attached minutes of the Metropolis Council Meeting held January 25, 2014. The original can be viewed here. The excerpt cited below (with emphases) is on page 10.

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… and who is the source of these problems? The excerpt from the recent Metropolis Council Meeting says it all!

Having FAILED, again and again, to effect that the parishioners of the Greek Orthodox Community of Greater Salt Lake MUST split their community (although EVERY VOTE AND SURVEY REGARDING SUCH HAS RESULTED IN A RESOUNDING NO!), our Metropolitan continues to work the back-door channels with a minority of parishioners to effect a FORCIBLE split.

Now, apparently, and with no discouragement from their spiritual leaders, this minority has been encouraged to resort to the behaviors of BULLIES to see this done.

WHO sent the request to separate the parishes, when, and UNDER WHAT AUTHORITY???

Meanwhile, our Metropolitan continues to sabotage our properly elected leadership, and we wonder why we cannot progress as a community?

"Saving souls..."

Fr. Kouremetis,

Will you please tell us if you condone or condemn
last Sunday's unfortunate events ? 

The Parish will be waiting.

Yannis Armaou

Parish Council Letter to the Community - January 22, 2014

The Parish Council has responded to the events that took place last Sunday. Their original correspondence may be viewed here.

January 22, 2014

Dear Parishioners,

Your parish council is very concerned with the events at Prophet Elias last Sunday, January 19th.  For those of you who may not be aware, one of the parish council was assaulted in the narthex by one of our fellow  parishioners.   This  altercation  was  physical and resulted in the authorities being called to the scene. No one was injured.

We have filed a formal report with the  local authorities and  our  Hierarchs.  We  are  taking  this event very seriously and will be taking necessary precautions to prevent further violence.

At this time we ask everyone to refrain from altercations in our houses of worship.

In His Name and Service

Your Parish Council

THREATS AGAIN? IT WOULD BE FUNNY IF IT WERE NOT SO PATHETIC!

We are not looking for the PC to fund our Priest, we are doing that OURSELVES thank you very much! As I've said before, stay in your playground and we'll stay in ours. What took place after church today will continue to happen until you and yours get the message that we REFUSE the PC's authority. The PC are NOTHING but simple-minded parishioners hungry for properties, power and control. Don't come to PE looking to cause problems or you will surely find them.

- from the former first "lady" of our community

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It should come as no surprise whatsoever that these holier-than-thou "orthodox" "Christians" are not ASHAMED of their disgraceful and cowardly actions, incited by the priest to whom they have a cult-like devotion.

This promised threat is directed toward properly elected officials of OUR community, and presumably, toward anyone they deem as "not belonging" to their cult.

They claim our church now as their turf. Further, as with all BULLIES their "enforcers" chose to pick on the most elderly of the Parish Council members who served that day.

Now they claim that if we don't stay in our "playground" (really?) this will happen again.

Our church, the church where we were married, where we christened our children, where we buried loved ones, where our forebears are memorialized, is called a "playground"?

Again, we call on the hierarchy to put a stop to this lunacy - to these bullying THREATS - before someone gets seriously hurt!

The Time for Laughter Has Passed; It's Time for Tears!

What can one say about a group of people, who, while clearly in the minority (a fact proved over and over again) have simply decided to behave like vicious squatters who claim what belongs to ALL of US solely for themselves?

The facts are still coming in regarding yesterday's debacle at Prophet Elias. We have refrained from commentary thus far in order to give those involved time to give statements to the authorities and to the Archdiocese.

What is clear is that Father Michael, in refusing for far too many months now to deal with, a) the properly elected lay authorities of this community, and b) in using the Nave as his forum, is continually creating what is evolving into an incendiary and now dangerous situation.

We have asked several people if any can ever recall a priest using the Divine Liturgy and the Antidoron to express his contempt for a community's lay leadership. Despite several historical instances of tensions, no one ever remembers such.

For several weeks now, the minority and former anointed appointed have made it their business to harass any Parish Council member, or anyone who has been vocally against the split, who dares show his or her face AT THEIR OWN CHURCH!

Father Michael's comments to the assembled congregation during the Antidoron have, in effect, incited some of his more ardent supporters, first to ugly and unseemly outbursts during services, and afterward, to violence.

Of course, in the manner of all bullies, the most "ardent" of what is becoming the cult of Fr. Michael, chose to threaten, then assault - physically - a gentleman in his late 80s.

This gentleman has served this community long before most of us were born. He was part of that great generation of immigrants who clung to the church and community as a harbor. He is part of what should be our collective memory as he has, for several decades, chanted during liturgies, holidays, memorial services. Agree with him, or not, NO ONE has the right to tell him not to come to his own church, let alone to threaten or to assault him, or other members of the Parish Council, or anyone else for that matter.

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To the Metropolitan, to the Archbishop, and to the Patriarch: 

If you cannot understand that your one-sided, top-heavy Uniform Parish Regulations have led to this sorry pass, then woe unto you all!

We have BEGGED you to understand that the clergy you now have here do not lead with a shepherd's love. Instead, they now sow bitterness, hatred, divisiveness. They are directly responsible for pitting us against each other, for dividing families and friends, and for leading with examples of pettiness, greed and arrogance. 

Are you all willing to continue with the ugly construct you have created and condoned until your dithering leads to someone being seriously injured or worse? 

MEA MINIMA CULPA …

Moderator's Note: (from a previous comment - refer to 2nd comment, previous blog)

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We are sorry we had a respondent who had some difficulties posting a comment.

[Strange are the ways of Google, indeed? (NOTE: few others have had problems?)]

That said: please be aware that, a) the hierarchy, the clergy, and the former anointed appointed IGNORED several requirements of the highly flawed UPRs as have suited their purposes, and, b) in this community, it is NOT the job of the Parish Council to FUND a PRIEST - ANY PRIEST - for Prophet Elias ONLY!

That is a MINDSET that exists in a brainwashed small minority of this community, and in the notion that THAT minority can take HALF this community's assets for themselves, and do with such as they wish.

We don't have a "priest at Prophet Elias". We don't have a "priest at Holy Trinity".

We insist on priests who will serve a unified Greek Orthodox Community of Greater Salt Lake. If this Archdiocese and Metropolis won't provide such, they have only to say so.

If the current "standards" in the benighted UPRs, passed through several "kangaroo" Clergy-Laity Congresses insist on something else, so much the worse for them! (Who can take such nonsense seriously, when the hierarchy themselves won't abide by them?)

WE ARE ONE COMMUNITY.

We insist on priests who will serve a unified Greek Orthodox Community of Greater Salt Lake.

We know what our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents had in mind! These exist in writing - in resolutions that have been passed.

If you want to change them, bring them to a vote. If you lose the (SEVERAL) votes, be GRACIOUS enough to accept that - and MOVE ON!