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.

Metropolis Basketball: Only "Holladay" Is Represented! Holladay?

Why the deception? Who is responsible for submitting the information? Do we have only one church in SLC ?   What about all the kids who attend church at Holy Trinity?  Is the proistameno from Prophet Elias only, trying to paint a picture that does not exist?  Did the proistameno of Prophet Elias only, purposely submit inaccurate information ? - An expert on the fifth amendment! Participating Teams
	Junior Girls
Annunciation W—Houston	Holy Trinity‐Dallas
Annunciation B—Houston	St. George‐Albuquerque
Annunciation‐Kansas City	St. John the Baptist –Euless / St. Demetrios‐Fort
Assumption Gray‐Denver	Worth
Assumption Silver‐Denver
	Junior Boys
Annunciation W—Houston	Prophet Elias—Salt Lake City
Annunciation B—Houston	St. Basil—Houston
Assumption W—Denver	St. Catherine—Greenwood Village
Assumption B—Denver	St. George—Albuquerque
Holy Trinity W—Dallas	St. George—Oklahoma City / Holy Trinity—Tulsa
Holy Trinity B—Dallas	Annunciation—Kansas City
	Senior Girls
Annunciation W—Houston	Holy Trinity B—Dallas
Annunciation B—Houston	St. Basil—Houston
Annunciation Blue—Kansas City	Prophet Elias—Salt Lake City / St. George‐
Annunciation White—Kansas City	Albuquerque
Annunciation—Little Rock	St. Catherine—Greenwood Village
Assumption W—Denver	St. Sophia—San Antonio / Holy Trinity—Tulsa
Assumption B—Denver	Transfiguration—Austin
Holy Trinity W—Dallas	St. Sophia—San Antonio
	Senior Boys
Annunciation W—Houston	Prophet Elias—Salt Lake City
Annunciation B—Houston	St. Basil—Houston
Annunciation —Kansas City	St. Catherine—Greenwood Village
Annunciation—Little Rock	St. George‐Albuquerque
Assumption Blue—Denver	St. George—Oklahoma City / Holy Trinity—Tulsa
Assumption White—Denver	St. John the Baptist—Euless
Holy Trinity W—Dallas	Transfiguration—Austin

Yannis Armaou

A Tale of Two Meetings

On October 24, 2010 nearly 350 parishioners gathered at the Sheraton Hotel to have their voices heard regarding the proposed forced split of our community.  The organizers of this gathering mailed some 1200 letters inviting anyone interested to attend.  Those in attendance discussed issues related to the WHOLE community.  Everyone was encouraged to voice their opinion and many opinions were heard.  The proistameno of Prophet Elias was quick to denounce the gathering as "non church sanctioned."

On January 9, 2011 at the Cottonwood Country Club, another gathering was held.  It has been referred to as a "private party" consisting of "like minded" concerned members of Prophet Elias who wish to see Prophet Elias succeed.  Allegedly, no church business was discussed, no votes were taken and no clergy attended.  An effort was made though to gather supporters to assist with the financial solvency of Prophet Elias only. 

Unlike the first gathering, there has been deafening silence from proistameno of Prophet Elias only.  We would be happy to contact the newspapers for him (just in case he didn't know about the "private party") and give him the opportunity to show his love and concern for ALL members of our community. 

The alleged purpose of the "private party" was to find ways to raise funds for Prophet Elias ONLY.  The exclusivity and secrecy of this event is in stark contrast to the first gathering.  It is ironic though that in addition to being allergic to the truth, exclusivity and secrecy have been trademarks of the proistameno of Prophet Elias only since his arrival.  

The Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod in his letter of October 28, 2010 writes:  "All involved in this matter are advised to refrain from any further action whatsoever related to issues raised, pending review and resolution of the matter by the Holy Eparchial Synod."  Both priests of our community received this letter.  The "private party"  is yet another instance where the directive of the Holy Eparchial Synod has been ignored.  If we recall, color coded stewardship materials were mailed to the community after the above directive.  It seems that the proistameno of Prophet Elias only adheres to the directives when they suit his needs.  He and his hand picked board have told us many times they are following the directives of the Metropolitan.  Apparently, when the Holy Eparchial Synod issues a directive the proistameno of Prophet Elias only and his board can ignore it. Sad indeed.

Πατερ Μιχαηλ:  Καθε θαυμα τρεις μερες,το μεγαλο τεσσερεις.
                          Η αληθεια ειναι μια και τα ψεματα πολλα.

Impulsive (adj) : Acting or done without forethought

"All involved in this matter are advised to refrain from any further action whatsoever rela1ed to the issues raised, pending review and resolution of the matter by the Holy Eparchial Synod."

This was the directive from the Holy Synod to our community on October 28 2010.
For the umpteenth time the proistameno of Prophet Elias only managed to prove us (unfortunately) right.
Complete disregard of his superiors, The Holy Synod.
His agenda is above and beyond anything and anyone.
Fr Michael, you sent out a divided stewardship packet, why and with whose permission?
Who are you to decide about this community?

You are just a passer-by.
The tables below are also included in the 2011 stewardship power point.  You and the parish council should read them carefully. http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/stewardship

- Yannis Armaou

Greek Americans Should Take Back Their Churches - The National Herald

November 28, 2010

by Steve Frangos It is time for the local efforts of the historical preservation movement underway among Greek communities around the country to first receive the recognition they deserve and the direct aid they have been denied for so long. It is also time to realize that the churches cannot be a setting simply for the clergy to manage financially or in anyway outside of their religious duties. Churches are the cultural centers of Greek America. Whatever was changed at the bureaucratic level giving the clergy economic and legal status over the physical and financial core of the Greek Orthodox Church in North America needs to be reversed. The congregation needs to be in control of its own destiny and purpose with the clergy only serving in a spiritual capacity. This topic relates to the maintenance and when not already present establishment of the historical and cultural records of all local Greek collectivities in the nation. If this means that the Metropolitans cannot build or sell property as they elect, they should not have ever been given the legal authority to begin with. It is neither a part of our faith nor our long historic tradition that mandates or elevates the clergy over the laity. Please I don’t want anyone to write me about the Turkokratia or the Byzantine Age because we no longer live under those historical, cultural or legal conditions. The clergy are the honored guests in the houses that the congregation has labored to build. There is no problem with this issue in the nation state of Greece. NO one is called a janissaros in a neighborhood church in Athens re if they do not want to do what the priest wishes. NO one there is told they cannot attend the church their family helped to establish or they will be arrested because the new priest says so. NO one is thrown off the board because the bishop says so. We have a documented historical existence here in North America. With the Greeks in North America the original state issued documents documenting who established and paid for these structures and land that are readily available and often hang framed in the church office, as does a long line of other personal and public historical records. If the priest and bishops cannot serve us on an equal footing then they cannot. If they need then to return to Greece, let them leave, in peace. But if they remain then they must do so as our brothers, colleagues and fellow-Christians not as our unquestioned masters. (emphasis added) NO PROFESSORS PLEASE With the churches once again a part of direct community life and control then a second step of offering assistance to the individual communities who wish to maintain their historical and cultural records can begin. In an advisory capacity any number of Greek Americans can be contacted to serve as advisors to the local communities. This advisory group can well serve to inform the local community on which historic, archival and other existing public facilities can help guide and even serve this Hellenic group. This advisory group can easily be drawn from an existing cadre of state historical commissioners, former state folklorists, school superintendents, archivists, librarians, lawyers, genealogists, museum personal, computer specialists as well as those who served as readers for grant applications on the city, state and federal levels. Greek Americans have and continue to occupy all those positions in the daily life of America. Historical records and documents never have to leave the local community. This advisory group can meet with the local collective and through open discussion determine the wants, needs and capacity of each locale. Simply sharing information on legal forms and formalities that every new American cultural/historical organization must adhere to would be a great service. Educating and alerting the local organizations concerning the public responsibilities of local libraries, historical societies and other existing services would be of great and lasting benefit. Academics need not be involved in this process. Like the priests the tendency to yield to their supposed knowledge or authority causes many on the local level to remain quiet when they know the basic history and cultural conditions far better than anyone from the outside can ever learn. The process of saving historical and cultural documents is more a technical and mechanical issue. Certainly many academics will disagree citing one theoretical study after another. But theory or the notion that thoughts can have a real impact on the world is a fine parlor game for aficionados. But social science theories are not the stuff of science they are just generally agreed upon beliefs. Do not take my word for it. Go to any local historical society or genealogical organization. How many individuals are archivists or record keepers of one sort or another and how many professors in history? This is not a question of exclusion as much as one of basic utility, the primary goal is record keeping. Now once again my brothers, sisters and distant Greek-born cousins at the university will say, no, these documents must be collected in such a way so that future historians can make sense of them. I am not advising that we preserve Greek America to give future teachers jobs. I am advocating that we systematically preserve Greek-American history for Greeks living in North America. So that someone with a question about their ancestors can go to the local church library and look it up just as one would do at a neighborhood public library. In the assessment process each community will have to undergo it may prove to be the case that funds and other resources do not exist within the community itself to preserve or house these material. Other possibilities exist. Examples of alternate possibilities exist all cross Greek America. In Pueblo, Colorado the genealogy collection of a local library now houses more than 200 photographs and other historical materials. In Dayton, Ohio through the offices and skills of a local Greek librarian the community’s records and photographs were placed in the main public library. The Greeks of Lowell Massachusetts have an Internet website with their history and images displayed. Any Greek American community can do the very same. We have to pull together. We have to preserve our own history. We have to stop fighting over who has their name on the top of official stationery. We have run out of time for such petty vulgarities. Originally published on November 19, 2010

REFRAIN: verb - to abstain from an impulse to say or do something

All involved in this matter are advised to refrain from any further action whatsoever related to the issues raised, pending review and resolution of the matter by the Holy Eparchial Synod.

 - from the October 28, 2010 letter to N. Colessides by Archimandrite Skordallos, Chief Secretary for the Holy Eparchial Synod  

What part of this instruction is unclear? We are about to receive a highly hedged letter asking for stewardship pledges while we still do not know the decision of the Holy Synod. 


For a group of people who represent those highly anxious to eliminate Greek from services, one would think instructions in English would be comprehended. And, for a group that professes such deep adherence to the wishes of the clergy, one would imagine that the precise instructions given by the Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod would be followed TO THE LETTER!


- The Moderators

The National Herald

Δευτέρα, Νοέμβριος 29, 2010 Τελευταία Ενημέρωση: 2:30 μμ

Αντίθετοι στην ελληνικότητα οι υποστηρικτές της διάσπασης στη Γιούτα

Του Θεόδωρου Καλμούκου

ΒΟΣΤΩΝΗ. Ο κ. Γιάννης Αρμάου, μέλος επί μακρά σειρά ετών της κοινότητας του Καθεδρικού Ναού της Αγίας Τριάδας στην πόλη Σολτ Λέικ Σίτι της Γιούτα, μιλά για τα αίτια της κρίσης που έχει ξεσπάσει στην κοινότητα. Οπως έγραψε ο «Ε.Κ.» στις 11 Νοεμβρίου, ο Μητροπολίτης Ντένβερ Ησαϊας προέβη σε απόπειρα διάσπασης της κοινότητας στα δύο, προκειμένου να δημιουργήσει δύο κοινότητες, αγνοώντας την επιθυμία της συντριπτικής πλειοψηφίας των ενοριτών-μελών της, οι οποίοι επιθυμούν να παραμείνει η κοινότητα ενωμένη. Η κοινότητα ιδρύθηκε από Ελληνες πρωτοπόρους μετανάστες το έτος 1905. Σήμερα αποτελείται από 1.300 οικογένειες. Για την καλύτερη εξυπηρέτηση των ενοριτών, η κοινότητα έχτισε το 1969 κι ένα δεύτερο ναό επ’ ονόματι του Προφήτη Ηλία στην περιοχή Holladay.
Μιλώντας στον «Ε.Κ.» ο κ. Αρμάου είπε ότι «υπάρχει μία μικρή ομάδα που θέλουν να διασπαστούν διότι βασικά δεν θέλουν την ελληνικότητα στην εκκλησία. Αυτή τη στιγμή στον Προφήτη Ηλία είναι τουλάχιστον 90 αν όχι 95% στα αγγλικά. Εν τω μεταξύ, το 80 με 85% των μελών του Προφήτη Ηλία δεν θέλουν τη διάσπαση».
Κατά τον κ. Αρμάου «οι δύο ναοί απέχουν δέκα πέντε λεπτά ο ένας από τον άλλον», ενώ ο ίδιος εκκλησιάζεται και στους δύο ναούς, «αλλά περισσότερο στην Αγία Τριάδα επειδή είναι πιο κοντά στο σπίτι μου», είπε.
Οπως ανέφερε, «χτίσαμε το 1969 τον δεύτερο ναό του Προφήτη Ηλία για να εξυπηρετούμαστε καλύτερα και δεν είχαμε κανένα πρόβλημα. Πριν δύο χρόνια μας έστειλε ο Μητροπολίτης Ησαϊας γράμμα λέγοντας να κάνετε δημοσκόπηση πόσοι θέλουν και πόσοι όχι το διαχωρισμό και θα σεβαστώ το αποτέλεσμα. Η δημοσκόπηση έδειξε ότι το 87% των ενοριτών δεν ήθελε το διαχωρισμό και 13% τον ήθελε».
Το έτος 2002 που ο κ. Αρμάου ήταν μέλος του κοινοτικού συμβουλίου, ο Μητροπολίτης Ησαϊας μαζί με άλλα επτά μέλη τους απέπεμψε από το κοινοτικό συμβούλιο, διότι θέλησαν να θέσουν θέμα οικονομικής φύσεως αναφορικά με κάποιο μέλος του κλήρου που υπηρετούσε τότε στην κοινότητά τους. «Αν και αργότερα ο Ησαϊας είπε ότι ήταν λάθος αυτό που έκανε, εν τούτοις μέχρι σήμερα μας φέρνουν εμπόδια οι παπάδες και δεν μας αφήνουν να θέσουμε υποψηφιότητα για το κοινοτικό συμβούλιο με διάφορες δικαιολογίες, λέγοντας είτε ότι δεν εκκλησιαζόμαστε τακτικά, είτε ότι δεν είμαστε σεβαστικοί προς αυτούς, δηλαδή στον Κουρεμέτη και στον Γκίλμπερτ και μάλιστα έχουμε και τα γράμματά τους», πρόσθεσε.
Επεσήμανε ακόμα, πως «από τα 15 μέλη που υπάρχουν σήμερα στο κοινοτικό συμβούλιο τα 5 είναι εκλεγμένα και τα 10 διορισμένα από τον π. Κουρεμέτη διότι δεν επιτρέπει σε κανένα να θέσει υποψηφιότητα».
Ο κ. Αρμάου γεννήθηκε στο Αργος και μεγάλωσε στην Κόρινθο. Στην πόλη Σολτ Λέικ της Γιούτα διαμένει επί τριάντα πέντε έτη και είναι επιχειρηματίας ιδιοκτήτης εστιατορίου. Στην αρχή που ήλθε από την Ελλάδα πήγε στο πανεπιστήμιο «Μπρίγχαμ Γιανγκ» για λίγο καιρό και κατόπιν στο πανεπιστήμιο της Γιούτα όπου ήθελε να σπουδάσει οικονομικά, αλλά έμεινε από χρήματα και δεν μπόρεσε να πραγματοποιήσει το όραμά του.
Ο κ. Αρμάου ανέφερε ότι «πήγαν τρία άτομα και έκαναν ξεχωριστό θρησκευτικό οργανισμό corporation το ναό του Προφήτη Ηλία χωρίς να υπάρχει έγκριση από τη γενική συνέλευση και χωρίς να ξέρει κανείς τίποτε και πριν ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος τους δώσει το Καταστατικό για την να χωρίσουν την κοινότητα, εγώ το βρήκα πριν τρεις εβδομάδες».
Σημειώνεται ότι το Μάρτιο του 2010 ο Μητροπολίτης Ησαϊας ζήτησε από την Αρχιεπισκοπή να αναγνωριστεί ο ναός του Προφήτου Ηλία ως ξεχωριστή κοινότητα και να της χορηγηθεί το επίσημο καταστατικό της Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής.
Στις 12 Απριλίου 2010, ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος έστειλε γράμμα στον Μητροπολίτη Ησαϊα στο οποίο ανάμεσα στα άλλα του έγραψε ότι «λάβαμε το γράμμα σας με το οποίο ζητάτε τη χορήγηση του επίσημου καταστατικού της Αρχιεπισκοπής για την Ελληνική Ορθόδοξη εκκλησία του Προφήτη Ηλία στο Holladay της Γιούτα, η οποία τυγχάνει κοινότητα της Αρχιεπισκοπής και συγκεκριμένα της Μητρόπολης Ντένβερ. Με μεγάλη χαρά σας παραχωρούμε το Επίσημο Καταστατικό στην Ελληνική Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία του Προφήτη Ηλία, το οποίο ισχύει αμέσως». Εν τω μεταξύ, υπήρξε έφεση προς την Αρχιεπισκοπή.
Ο κ. Αρμάου πιστεύει ότι «ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος δεν γνώριζε τι γινόταν εδώ γι’ αυτό και έδωσε την άδεια».
Στην ερώτηση για το συμβάν της εκροής λαδιού από την εικόνα του Χριστού στο ναό του Προφήτη Ηλία, για το οποίο ο Μητροπολίτης Ησαϊας αποφάνθηκε ότι πρόκειται για «θαύμα», ο κ. Αρμάου είπε «θα σας πω κάποια στιγμή στο μέλλον λεπτομέρειες γι’ αυτό το θαύμα».

The PC's Delusions of Victimhood

A while back, John Saltas wrote an article in his City Weekly newspaper on the subject of the “miracle” at Prophet Elias. The commentaries that the article engendered caused quite a stir. One in particular caught my interest. Presumably written by an elected, though anonymous parish council member (when we actually were allowed to have REAL elections) he or she contends that the Parish Council has been “forced” to divide our community. Further there is the contention that this person just happened to be in office at a time when “the entire community put ourselves in a position to allow this to happen to us.” (When speaking of “us”, is the presumed parish council member speaking of the community, thus blaming the true victim? Or is “us” the parish council, the supposed “victim”?)

The presumed council member says there is a “vocal minority” decrying their efforts. Contrary to his or her assertions, the notion of what is within the Metropolitan’s power is subject to debate, regardless of ongoing theocracy ruses. We, this community as a whole, own our community’s assets. The assertion that, after having snuck around like thieves in the night and appointing three unauthorized persons to effect in secret a coup d’etat (or rather a coup d’eglise) to acquire, illegally, half this community’s assets on behalf of a demonstrably TINY minority, and then claiming to be equitable and humble when dividing OUR PROPERTY without OUR CONSENT is simply nauseating. To utter that this outrage was “forced” upon the Parish Council is ludicrous at best, utterly cowardly and hypocritical at worst.

If in fact the Parish Council harbors such delusions of “victimhood” and of being “forced and coerced” by the Metropolitan, there is and has always been a simple, honorable solution. Acquire some self-respect and intestinal fortitude and do what your forefathers would have done: resign.

Resign, then resist.

Μολὼν λαβέ!

- Barbara Billinis Colessides

The National Herald

Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver Divides Holy Trinity Cathedral

Theodore Kalmoukos

TNH File Photo
Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver’s division of the Greek Orthodox parish of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Salt Lake City in Utah into two separate parishes, disregarding the wish of the majority of the membership of the parish who oppose the move, is being contested. Among the opponents are great benefactors of the parish, Archons, as well as members of the Leadership 100.

BOSTON - Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver’s division of the Greek Orthodox parish of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Salt Lake City in Utah into two separate parishes, disregarding the wish of the majority of the membership of the parish who oppose the move, is being contested. Among the opponents are great benefactors of the parish, Archons, as well as members of the Leadership 100. The National Herald has learned that the issue might end up in court if Archbishop Demetrios of America doesn’t intervene and the issue has reached the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople. It was also discussed at the recent meeting of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese after attorney Nicholas Colessides, a member of the parish and former president of its parish council sent an appeal to Archbishop Demetrios.
The Holy Trinity Parish was established by Greek pioneer immigrants in 1905 and now has 1,300 families. To better serve its members, the parish in 1969 built a nave (church) in the name of Prophet Elias in the area of Holladay, the same instance as with Cathedral parish of St. Demetrios in Astoria, N.Y., which has two naves, St. Demetrios and St. Catherine. The parish has two priests, the initial chief priest Rev. Michael Kouremetis, and Fr. Matthew Gilbert. Now with the split of the parish Metropolitan Isaiah has already assigned Fr. Gilbert as chief priest at the Holy Trinity Cathedral and Fr. Kouremetis to Prophet Elias. Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver did not return phone calls left in his personal voice box at the Denver Metropolis. In a telephone conversation with Fr. Kouremetis on to the question of why Metropolitan Isaiah wants to split the parish, he said: “Forty years have passed this way and basically we are two parishes, two ministries.” He added, “When they built Prophet Elias in 1964 they wanted two parishes.” As to why most parishioners oppose the division and noting that the St. Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria has also two naves, he said: “I do not feel good at this moment, I am ill for three and one half weeks now, talk to Metropolitan Isaiah.” Two telephone messages to Parish Council President Nicholas Milonakis went unanswered.
Of the 15 members of the parish council only five were elected by the parish members and the rest were appointed by the priest. Fr. Gilbert did not return telephone calls either. In March, Prophet Elias was organized as a separate religious corporation and registered in Utah without informing the membership of the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Also in March, Metropolitan Isaiah requested the Archdiocese recognize Prophet Elias as a separate parish and to be granted the official Charter of the Archdiocese. Archbishop Demetrios in a letter to Metropolitan Isaiah dated April 12, wrote that, “We have received your letter requesting the granting of the Official Charter of the Archdiocese to the Greek Orthodox Church of Prophet Elias in Holladay, Utah, a community of the Archdiocese and specifically of the Holy Metropolis of Denver. It gives me great joy to grant the Official Charter to Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church, effective immediately.”
The Archbishop also wrote that, “The Charter certificate itself will be forthcoming as final preparations are being completed for its production. This letter is a certification with the official Seal of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America attests to the granting of official status of the community.” In a letter to the Holy trinity Cathedral dated Oct. 6, Metropolitan Isaiah announced the split of the parish into two parishes. He wrote that, “I confess to you that I have held back the contents of this letter (the Archbishop’s letter) all this time, because in making my evaluation I wanted I wanted to be absolutely convinced that the church-going members indeed wanted to see two separate parishes, each with its own parish council, its own income and its own property.” Isaiah, in his six-page letter, gave directives on how to finalize the split organizing two separate parish councils, two philoptochos societies, schools, youths, etc.
On Oct. 24 a special meeting took place attended by 450 people, 97% of who voted against the split and decided on a Call to Action. On Oct. 30, the Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod Archimandrite Sevastianos Skordallos sent a letter to Collasides stating: “I am writing to you on behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Your appeal dated September 13, 2010 was received and discussed by the Holy Eparchial Synod on October 27, 2010. At the request of His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver and in accordance with the Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, a Synodal Committee has been formed to review the issues you have raised. The Committee, which includes His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios, of Boston, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, and Legal Counsel, will contact you, in the very near future, to schedule a meeting to discuss your case …
All involved in this matter are advised to refrain from any further action whatsoever rela1ed to the issues raised, pending review and resolution of the matter by the Holy Eparchial Synod. On behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod, I kindly ask for your patience as we diligently work to resolve the concerns you have raised in a manner that will establish peace and promote spiritual growth among the faithful people of Salt Lake City.”
The Synodal Committee was scheduled to be in Utah on Nov. 12 and 13 but TNH has learned that the visit was postponed and that on Nov. 16 Metropolitan Isaiah and Fathers Kouremetis and Gilbert reportedly will be traveling to New York to meet with Archbishop Demetrios, who as the only ruling hierarch of the Archdiocese has the final on issues such as the division. The current hierarchs in the Metropolises is a combination of Auxiliary Bishops and Titular Metropolitans, and only Archbishop Demetrios is the Archpastor or ruling hierarch per se.
An icon of Christ said to exude oil on Oct. 17, 2010 during the Divine Liturgy, which Metropolitan Isaiah declared a miracle. In a letter to Fr. Kouremetis dated Oct. 20, he wrote the following: “The Lord has answered our prayers asking Him to resolve confusing situation in the Salt Lake City area regarding the two parishes.
When icons exude tears, like many of the Ever-Virgin Mary have, it is a sign of caution and problems. But, when an icon exudes oil, this is a sign of healing and blessings. When I was informed that the icon of Christ the Archpriest was exuding oil during the Divine liturgy on Sunday, October 17, 2010, when we celebrated the Holy Fathers of the Seventh and final Ecumenical Council in Nicea, I realized that a miracle had occurred. It is not usual for an icon of Christ the Lord to exude oil or even tears. I truly believe that our Lord heard our prayers to make His presence known and to resolve the situation of the two parishes. Now there can be no question in the minds of any of His people. Our Lord recognizes His parishes as monogamous and independent, each with a Proistamenos representing Him through the local bishop. Both parishes can now proceed to grow and to develop for His greater glory and the salvation of His people. The Lord Jesus Christ has spoken with this miracle, and His people will be faithful to His divine will.”

November 12, 2010

 

A Follow-Up from Michali Zervos

Moderator's Note: this article is printed with the author's permission.

I appreciate your questions. As I have put my reputation on the line, it would be helpful to address this response to a person. However, if you wish to continue to hide behind a mask and fear that your reputation might be in danger. That is okay with me. Here is my response.

Yes, His Grace, Metropolitan Isaiah may sound harsh but he is a good man. Let me explain:

1. A group of our parishioners were called “robbers” and threatened to be excommunicated by His Grace. Let us dig a little deeper to understand “maybe” why these harsh words and threats were used. The church board requests advise from His Grace when an alarming large sum of money is transferred out of a church account into a non-church account. The church board requires that when you desire to transfer a large sum of money (over $800K, or small amount of money) that this action should require approval from the current church body of parish members at a general assembly. Actually it is against church policy to transfer money outside of a church account. In other words, a process should be followed with the proper groups – church board, Prostamino (President if you will) and church members in good standing. A parish council member can not, on his own decide to spend church money. Yes, the correct signatures on the signing cards allowed the money to flow from the church account to a non-church account but the process was not followed. On the table, the president of the parish resigned, “may” or “may not” by his own will. This is a debate among parishioners, but it was an outcome of only two people – former president and His Grace. For what ever reason, the parish president did it for the betterment of himself and us (my opinion). Small note: I was a church treasurer before. This is a touchy way to do business, when you deal with money and the “my way” mentality. HCF own up to your part in this matter. This is a two way street.

Note that while a general assemble can vote to apply church monies to specific projects, it can not vote to transfer church monies to another, secular non-profit entity. Give away church money?

The current problems occurred when the request by the church board to change the signers on the church owned account holding the rest of the funds donated to the church through the HHCC ($1.2MM) was not accepted by the High Tower Corporate Compliance department. There was confusion with the High Tower staff and their expectations and the expectations of the Metropolis of Denver, so the remaining funds in the church owned account (over $1.2MM) is frozen. This means that the church board does not have access to the money (nor does the Hellenic Community Foundation – HCF board have access to the money). Like it or not this is a tough situation for any executive.

Note here that the “robber” name calling letter was distributed only to the HCF board before High Tower Corporate compliance had refused the signature change. This comment by His Grace was in response to the transfer of funds and HCF decision to not give the money back to the church.

After His Grace reviewed the detail documented sequence of events provided by the church board, I can understand that His Grace was “ticked off” and very upset. I am sure that in the business world these prominent business men have been called worse names than “robber” when a “deal” or “major project” or “a new business transaction” goes sour.

Also, have these humiliating names been used by the HCF board in their business experience? Let these men (maybe with women’s help) take a big deep breath and answer the question: Am I a robber? If the answer is “NO” and I (or we the community) do not believe that you are robbers then “MOVE ON”. I agree that I am not in your shoes and this is very difficult. On the table, His Grace (Chief Executive Officer if you will) called you a name. Yes, he rattled your chain. Oh, but a hierarch should be infallible. He should be the example. Yes, His Grace is a real man just like you and I. I can not explain why he did not give you the political correct red carpet service. In my opinion, The HCF board should be thanking His Grace for persecution. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:10). Accept this as a great opportunity to exercise humility. Maybe this chance is given to you to see how you will react. The bright side is that your example will be rewarded with justice after your death. No one escapes death.

Let us be careful when using the words:

1. “honest difference of opinion” or “go back on their word”. Does this imply that the Metropolitan or priest is not honest? Maybe both sides are so busy looking through their perspective that they can’t see the other viewpoint. Maybe you all just do not like each other. Try using empathy and humility. It works. Hierarchs and lay people change their minds at times. All of us will stand before +Christ before the Judgment. The people that bad mouth +His Grace have not seen the many great things that he does. He does not brag and boast about his accomplishments. Examine his entire life. It sounds like you do not know him as you know your personal family. You may not like his style but he may not like yours. I personally think that His Grace is tired of the “dependant” church situation over several years. With all the current disunity, it is time to cut the cords. Research what other priests think. You have misused John Kaloudis’ opinion.

2. “most all of us” or “TINY minority” or “NEVER have a significant number of true believers”. These commenta used throughout emails and the website. This does NOT imply a majority. To me it sounds like that you are speaking about your own business or your personal family. How can one of you speak for the entire church parish? The 87% (or some say more like 95%) people that feel dependant churches is the preferred way. This statistic does not take into account the growth of the parishes over 4 years. The stat does not reflect the spirit of the community – only the disenfranchised spokesman. Over 500 people signed on the website. This is under 250 families if you take into account only church stewards. Many signatures from one family. Signatures of names under 18 years old. Please do not assume that everyone else is on the “dependant” church side. Rather speak for yourself. Again the silent majority are not as vocal as you.

3. “condone conspiracy”. The independent church situation has been in the oven for many years and previously discussed with the Synod of Bishops in previous years. It has been talked about for a long time. The closed door non-sense theory is NOT valid. Two parishes, one community is a night mare for any priest. Go on a personal mission and ask the previous priest and other priests. I asked several my self. Get them to sign your document. At some point it will help us all to forgive His Grace and Father Michael. You can still find ways for checks and balance.

4. “actions on part of a few”. Voting is not the answer in this matter – independent churches. The fact is that ORTHODOXY is not DEMOCRACY. A tough concept to swallow. Like it or not. The community is finally figuring that out after 100 years of existence. If you believe that majority rules then a protestant church may be a better fit for your spiritual life. Many saints were very un-popular and their spiritual guidance was NOT voted on. However, their blood or holy lives reveals the truth. Saint Nektarios was exiled and mocked for his spiritual guidance. Not the most popular person. But his relics exude a sweet smelling fragrance. Many books are written about the many miracles attributed to his life. Please review what issues that he was faced during his time.

5. “an administrative action”. Look at it this way, if you all attend Holy Trinity per your comment then that is a blessing. The Holy Trinity church body will make progress. The Prophet Elias church body will make progress. This will be good for all of us. The brilliant doctors, lawyers, teachers, professors, builders, business owners and accountants at Holy Trinity will figure out ways to build schools, build hospitals, social halls and gyms under the new administrative structure (two independent churches). The good news is that it will be easier for Holy Trinity to succeed without having to focus on Prophet Elias as a money pit. Centralized systems sound easy. They are very expensive, require highly skilled PAID professionals (include paying health care benefits) to make them work and require sophisticated computer systems (infrastructure, infrastructure and infrastructure costs). If you argue that this is not true, then why has a centralized system never worked over the past several years? Excuses are nice but the jobs are not getting done. You get what you pay for. We can not even agree on which account to put our money in.

In the past, this community proves that it can not work together to form STANDARD PROCEDURES. Our churches are NOT profit sharing BURGER KINGS. They are more complicated. Can be simple but somehow we complicate them. Our churches are non-profit entities whose ultimate goal is to help us attain salvation. The people running multiple businesses are making lots of money and that is why they bust their chops. If spending your time managing multiple businesses works then just flat out cut a check to the church without telling everyone. This gift will be well received by all parishioners. Be sure to glorify +Christ. He is the one who will give you credit. Currently, I feel no benefit from the wealth of Holy Trinity. I am not sure that the earth quake proof structure will survive an earth quake without +God’s help. I look up at Prophet Elias and I see an empty dome with no icon of +Christ.

Let us set the record straight for the miraculous icon. Bobby Markolous made a mistake when he mentioned that he might have spilled oil on the icon. I heard the comment first hand. I am not sure why he mentioned this. The icon was NOT by an “oil filled Kandili” at the time of exuding oil. Bobby was no where near the icon. Father George Polities is a very humble witness who you are all laughing at. Look Saints Raphael (priest - executed), Nicholas (deacon executed) and Irene (young teenage mayor’s daughter – boiled in front of her parents) were saints in the 15th century. However, their existing relics and volumes of miracles documented that are attributed to these saints discovered in the early 1900’s. You may choose to believe in their relics or NOT believe in their relics. You may choose to believe in the saints or not believe in the saints. Many false stories and rumors take place. As many false stories and accusations were against Saint Nektarios. Quit slandering the icon of +Christ. It is exuding oil again and more witnesses come forward. If you feel the clergy are liars then go join a NON-ORTHODOX church. Then your mind will be at ease and you will be able to stand in church comfortably. Some people are so focused on discrediting Father Michael that it is now an obsession that these people can not see straight. Go watch a football game, you will be better off.

Mr. Unknown Christian, I am not laughing at you, I am not calling you a looser, I am not calling you the evil one and I am not calling you a robber and no current excommunications are scheduled. I am crying that we seem to be acting like the rest of the world. When I use the word evil one, it is because you may or may not believe in a spiritual world. But if you do, the evil one wants to keep us from communion with +God. This is a theme in Orthodoxy. Go read the life of Saint John the Baptist. His message was all about repentance. Let us examine ourselves and find ways to improve one another and quit the mud flinging. There has to be a better way. I am not interested in excuses like the priest or the bishop need to set a better example. Set your own example for your family and myself. Clergy are men like us. Keep the focus on yourself. +God will reward you in the next life - assuming that you believe what the Orthodox Church teaches. Find a way to get the JOB done.

Mr. Unknown Christian, the Synod of Bishops will address your appeal to reverse the current situation. I can live with that reversal, I can move on and I can accept that. My question to you, can you bury the hatchets, move on, and accept the outcome if the appeal fails?

PS If you feel that there has been no justice during these last few months then maybe you are right. If you feel that you have been treated unfairly then maybe you are right. Trust in our + Lord and the truth will reveal itself at some point. Unfortunately, you will get your just reward after your death. That may be a long time.

Sincerely, Mihali Zervos

What’s the “Big Deal”?

We thank Mr. Zervos for his thoughts. Yet there are still some interesting questions that come to mind.

We are informed that our hierarch, while he may be “harsh”, is a good man and this is just "an administrative action". Question: do good men, good leaders, especially good spiritual leaders, lead by imposing excommunication, or threatening it, when their flock has an honest difference of opinion? Do these leaders accuse without proof? Do good leaders go back on their word? Do good spiritual leaders condone slander? Do good spiritual leaders encourage actions on the part of the few to besmirch a faithful steward’s reputation in both church and business, and threaten his family’s livelihood? Do good spiritual leaders engage in, and condone conspiracy, lasting MONTHS, designed to deprive the vast majority of this community’s members of one of their church properties? This, on behalf of the very few who have an insular vision for Prophet Elias, against the expressed wishes of that same overwhelming majority?

Mr. Zervos speaks of “love”. Is it love to designate those who have serious doubts about a purported miracle (when eye witnesses gave out the actual course of events) as being in league with the evil one? When someone does not agree with us is he or she automatically in league with the adversary? As for the miracle, if those who doubt it are wrong, they will be held to account for their incredulity. If, however, those who have reported and embraced this “miracle” are wrong, then the hypocrisy and fraud of those who reported such an action is indeed grievous and best left to the judgment of a higher power. In either case, it is NOT a sign of the Lord’s favor for separation. (He may well be WEEPING over the abominable nature and deception involved in the attempted split of His Church and His Community!)

In a final stretch of the imagination, Mr. Zervos contends that the Audit Report and the sloppy accounting is directly resultant from having a unified community! Huh? It is a dictum in discourse that he who asserts must PROVE. Nowhere has Mr. Zervos explained how or why this is so; he just says it is. By this same logic, no business entity could have more than one headquarters, several branches, etc. This is nonsense. Many of the parish council members run multiple businesses. One has a hard time understanding how they seem to function outside of the church realm, yet have somehow checked their intelligence, and their moral and ethical compass, at the door when engaging in the governance of the community.

It is a big deal, Mr. Zervos! Imagine if you will the following scenario:

Nearly all who have signed the "Call to Action" have said that if the split, as it has been conceived and demanded of us, does indeed stand, they will all attend Holy Trinity. It will be a truly absurd day when Holy Trinity needs to build another church – oh wait, we have one! The one our forefathers gave to us. The one where if there is to be a split, there is a specific protocol to be followed. Why should the MAJORITY have to give up their church because of the real or perceived needs of a very few who cannot even muster any SIGNIFICANT minority? And especially when that TINY minority has engaged in deceitful behavior because they knew they would NEVER have a significant number of “true believers”.

We’ve said it before; we’ll say it again. Go with the blessings of our Lord and build your own church!

A Spiritual Call for Support

Moderator's Note: printed with the author's permission.

To the Church Militant and my response to +His Grace Metropolitan Isaiah,

It is difficult to accept what a hierarch has stated. It is always difficult to listen to any spiritual father in confession because he may instruct us about something we just do not want to do. Our personal will appear to take over our +Lord’s will. And our +Lord will still love us, as I hope the disenfranchised parishioners will love people like myself who firmly stand behind independent churches. Apparently the parish council and others have witnessed the oil streams from the icon. Also, after the service yesterday more streams of holy oil came from the Icon of +Christ with more witnesses. A couple of comments to fellow Orthodox Christians:

1. Weeping icons of myrrh, oil, tears, blood and water are for the faithful – meaning the people who believe in the resurrected +Jesus Christ. These miracles are NOT for non-believers. Our very own parishioners who mock this icon are currently carrying out acts from the evil one. These acts are similar to the evil acts by people who spit on +Christ during +His march to the cross. The Holy Icon with oil is proof that our +Lord is present among us. It is not by coincidence that this happened on October 17^th 2010. It happened when our +Lord decided to anoint the faithful with +His very own oil. It is simple. You believe in the icon with holy oil or you don’t. There is no lab test, no scientific explanation, no reason for the Metropolitan to fly in town for confirmation, just pure faith.

2. You can argue what the Metropolitan interpreted about the icon, but who in this community is better qualified or experienced or has greater authority than the Metropolitan. He appears harsh in his letters but he is a good man. Let lawyers be lawyers and spiritual leaders be spiritual leaders. The sadness is that mud flinging (like “Talaban” or “he is your Metropolitan, not mine” or “Just let me know, my gun is ready” or “The Metropolitan is a tyrant” or “Liar”) is fueling vengeance among parishioners (current lawsuits and more lawsuits to come). We are all unified in the church Militant. There is no need to be dependant churches for unity.

Let’s get real. What is the big deal about two independent churches? The argument that our forefathers created it this way, and we need to stick together as one. This does not work for me. We are not American history. We are not just Greek. We are not living under a tyrant who prevents us going to church. We are Orthodox Christians. Many years have past, our church size is growing, and we can not successfully manage ourselves as we did in the past. A church body has two arms, two legs but NOT TWO heads. The current mess in our community is a direct result of two churches. Face it. We the people of this community do not accept responsibility for our own problems, but blame ONE priest and ONE hierarch.

From my experience these last few months here in Salt Lake City, there are more bitter feelings, bad mouth talk, than examples of genuine Christian love. Many years have past and the needs between two churches are very different. No “Pantocrataro” at Prophet Elias for 6 years. This is a good example that we just can’t get the job done. It is either because we need to spend a huge amount of money to show off, or we can be practical and provide a simple inexpensive solution that glorifies +Christ. This is shameful for all of us.

In my personal opinion, John Saltas in his magazine article has a lot of balls to write:

“Besides the fact that the icon resides beneath an oil lamp; and besides that, at least one observer of the wet icon considered it an oil spill (exuding?); and besides that, others were told it was a spillage—the official message to the local parish is clear: The “miracle” is an answer to prayers that the local parish should become independent. You lose! God’s on our side! On the count of three: Laugh at the Greeks.”

I did not see Mr. Saltas at the church yesterday evening as a witness for himself. Either because of his lack of faith or that he was embarrassed to stand in church with the silent majority who he is slandering. Maybe it is because he is too impatient to discover the truth. I expect that type of reporting from the “Xenee”, but not a parishioner.

The bottom line is that Metropolitan Isaiah is in a position to decide that two independent parishes are for the betterment of our church in the long run. Ultimately the final decision is his and he made it clear. I respect that and I stand in support of his decision. It does not change any of my personal relationships with people from Holy Trinity or Prophet Elias. With or without the split, all of us can be unified through partakers of the divine sacraments (includes confession). The Metropolitan’s decision is purely an ADMINSTRATIVE DECISION. If we all ACT like Christians then we will get along just fine. We will be able to work out any difference. It will all be okay. STOP THE LAW SUITS.

PS The audit report is very clear about the community problems. This is proof that one community can NOT manage two churches. The contested 87% statistic of dependant church supporters is almost 4 years ago. The entire WORLD has changed in 4 years (including President Bush). Let us move on. The good news is that the Metropolitan and Synod of bishops will not reverse the decision for independent churches.

My love is the same for the supporters of the Metropolitan as well as the ones who call him a liar. +Lord Have Mercy on all of us, 

- Mihali Zervos

Answers Typical of a Dictatorial Mindset: Disingenuous Demagoguery

From the recent Parish Council FAQs:


Q4. What about the survey conducted in 2007?
A. The 2007 survey was conducted informally and was non-binding. The purpose was to take the pulse of the community, and determine whether the community desired to initiate a change at that time. It is important to note that while 1,325 surveys were sent out, only 427 were returned. The vast majority of those in our community (68%) expressed no opinion.


Q5. What about the meeting held on October 24, 2010, at which 97% of those voting desired to remain one parish?
A. The meeting that was conducted at the Sheraton hotel on October 24, 2010 was not a Church sanctioned meeting. The meeting was not called by the Parish Council of the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake, was not attended by either of the Proistameni, and was not held on Church property. It should also be noted that while there are more than 1200 families in the combined parish, only 347 individuals registered to participate in the meeting. The majority of the Parish members chose not to participate. It is also unclear what percentage of those in attendance are members in good standing of the combined Parish.


"People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing." - Walter H. Judd, physician, missionary, daily radio commentator, lecturer on international relations and government


This parish council has become utterly tone-deaf; maybe that's what happens when you turn your back on your community, its glorious forebears and its honored traditions. Between them these people surely have several years of higher education, yet simple mathematics and statistics, to say nothing of honor and ethics, still seem to elude them.


We've discussed this at length before. Once again, folks, a 20% sampling will provide you with a 95-99% confidence level of accuracy with between a 3-5% margin for error. (Don't you watch elections?) At that rate even if the 68% who did not answer the survey had responded, they would have, with 95-99% accuracy, voted along the same lines. The results might have differed between 3-5% either way - not enough to tip the survey the other way.


As for non-binding, let's consider shall we, how "non-binding" that survey would have been had the results been reversed! The difference is, we who embrace unity would have accepted the outcome as the will of the people, and it would have met the provisions of the 1968 resolution! Have we stopped at all to consider that this "non-binding" survey showed that those who wanted this separation could only muster 57 votes!


As for the October meeting: why was it was held? The voice of the majority in this community has been ruthlessly squelched for YEARS due to parliamentary fiat at several general assemblies, clerical interference in parish council nominations and elections for several election cycles, along with a variety of other low tactics, culminating in outright treachery, reminiscent of the political arena and not the ecclesiastical. And, of course, our parish council and the clergy simply presented it as a fait accompli, a done deal, τετελεσμενο γεγονος, with no fall general assembly to mess things up! Yup, that's theocracy for you!


The ultimate outrage was that this parish council, representing only a TINY MINORITY, knew it did not and would never have the votes to effect the split they demanded. So they betrayed this community, betrayed the memory of our forefathers, living and dead, and kept silent for months in order to claim a further share of the festival income, conspiring to effect a land grab, under circumstances that can only be described as despicable. Are we really expected to believe that the PC knew nothing all these months? Please.


Finally, an issue is made as to what percentage of those attending the October 24th meeting where "only 347" attended are stewards in good standing. We presume this will also be said of the 500+ members who have signed the "Call to Action" petition. We would remind the Parish Council that they sent out surveys to 1,325 persons. Are we to believe that all who received surveys were stewards in good standing? We know better. The ultimate irony, of course, is that one of the "incorporators" is not on the stewards list as of October 25, 2010. Apparently, this standard is allowed to shift and slip when it serves the needs of our unelected, fiscally and morally challenged parish council.

On Declaring a Theocracy in America, Particularly in Utah?

Lord Acton said it best, “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Theocracies, absolute monarchies, dictatorships are not necessarily in and of themselves, evil; there are numerous examples where a good king, a good bishop, a good tyrant have been just and fair rulers who took the obligations and responsibilities of absolute rule seriously.

The inherent problem with this form of governance is that predecessors or successors were not always wise or just. In such a system, there is no real remedy to the misrule of tyrants, short of patience (hoping they will pass on) or revolt.

While democracies can, due to the power of propaganda and popular angst, elect poor leaders, the remedy always is that democracies have the ability to change leadership. Thus, a poor leader can eventually be replaced via the ballot box.

Theocracies, as they are essentially dictatorships, have no such ability. The ONLY good and just theocracy will ultimately be the one Christ establishes at his SECOND coming. Anything else will fall well short, even by His ordained leaders, who after all, are only mere mortals who have the attendant flaws of mere mortals. One needs only witness the recent pedophile scandals to understand this concept, or the Vatopaidi scandal in Greece, or the unfolding Paisios scandal, on the heels of the Katinas debacle, to understand this.

This is precisely WHY the statement by the unelected, and hand-picked parish council in their recent FAQs that “It is a hierarchical religion and a theocracy.”, is utterly DANGEROUS!!!

We here, more than any other religious minority in this country, should understand this concept only too well, considering that we LIVE in what is a de facto theocracy. Yet we have an engineered Parish Council that blithely tells us we are a theocracy! Do we REALLY want to emulate the larger Utah population, or follow the example of a papal governance?

Andrea Kastanis Orton Responds to Elleney Soter

Moderator's Note: Andrea Kastanis Orton submitted this letter in response to Elleney Soter's recent letter to Carol Mikita. Ms. Soter's letter has been circulating throughout the e-mail chain in the community, but we cannot find it on the ksl.com Web site, and therefore cannot link to it. We do not have Ms. Soter's permission to reprint her thoughts expressed through e-mails. For those who have read Ms. Soter's e-mail, Mrs. Orton provides this response.


Ms. Elleney S. Soter

Dear Ms. Soter,

I, too, am a member of the Greek Orthodox Church in Salt Lake City. I’ve been attending Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox church for the past 40 years and have been a faithful member of Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Choir for the past 36 years, of which I recently received a distinguished years of service award. I personally take GREAT offense of the comments you sent Ms. Mikita.

I am a member of regular attendance at Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church and was in attendance at the “unsanctioned” meeting on Sunday, October 24th. No, my face was not included in Ms. Mikita’s camera footage, nor were several others who are regular attendees at Prophet Elias. However, several others who do attend Prophet Elias regularly were. Obviously your facts and response to Ms. Mikita were not properly researched. How did you vet your sources before addressing Ms. Mikita’s report? As a result, your response to her story is greatly distorted and has no basis or fact. This was an open meeting and everyone was invited and had a choice to attend and vote or not. Did you choose to stay away just because it was an “unsanctioned” meeting?

I’d like to know how certain individuals took it upon themselves to make this a done deal when the proper channels to do so were not followed as stated in the historical documents of the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake’s minutes of their meeting in April, 1968. A meeting was held in April 1968 authorizing the building of Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church and minutes to that meeting outline what procedures must be followed in the event the churches of the Greater Salt Lake Community decide to become separate parishes. (For your information, a vote for unity was taken back then too, and the result was for unity!) Isn’t it amazing how the former Parish Council President and a former Parish Council Member of that historical decision regarding Prophet Elias back in 1968 where there in attendance at the “unsanctioned” meeting on Sunday October 24th and verified that proper actions were not taken regarding the “split” of the parishes. How can you deny this fact from living eyewitnesses who are dedicated servants of this community?

If a decision had “already been made,” why was this such a surprise when it was announced to the community a few weeks ago? Furthermore, why were the articles of incorporation for Prophet Elias Church of Holladay, UT filed “in secrecy” back in March, 2010 and not disclosed to the general membership of the Greater Salt Lake Community until October 2010? Why were the incorporation papers filed by unauthorized individuals who are not even members of our “appointed” Parish Council? As you know several of our Parish Council members were not elected through General Assembly as indicated in your letter. Clearly this deceitful and underhanded. If this was the desire of the majority, why was this not public knowledge back in March? Since when are secrecy and lies better than total transparency, including media coverage?

The meeting of Sunday, October 24th was not an attempt to bait the media into attending a Mini Greek Festival. It was a way for concerned members of our church to meet and express their true thoughts and concerns without being constantly squashed and shut down at previous General Assemblies. Had you been in attendance, you’d know this. It’s about time we had a chance to be heard! Where were you when back in 2007 a vote was taken and the decision was for unity, just as it was on Sunday, October 24th? So, NO, the decision has not been made!

If we are not a “GREEK” Orthodox church, why does our building state, Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church. Why did you state this in your response to Ms. Mikita? You’re correct; Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church is comprised of Greek, Russian, Serbian, Antiochian, Albania, and Coptic Orthodox as well as many other converts who have joined the orthodox faith. Had you attended the meeting Sunday you’d know two converts spoke in favor of unity.

As a steward of this community, I’m sure both churches could function as independent and thriving communities. The fact is, our desire is to remain AS ONE!! If this can’t be sanctioned by the Archdiocese today, how did they allow us to build Prophet Elias back in 1969 as part of a united Greek Orthodox Community of the Greater Salt Lake area? Unfortunately, there are a few “rogue” stewards who cannot accept this fact and refuse to work together for the betterment of our community. Instead, they continue to undermine and pit brother against brother, sister against sister. Is this an example of Christian love? If things are that unbearable at Prophet Elias, leave and start your own Orthodox Church, but don’t steal Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church from the Greek Orthodox Community of the Greater Salt Lake area. We worked too hard and sacrificed too much for Prophet Elias. What is so unbearable at Prophet Elias? Why is there a need to split the churches? Are there valid reasons for this split? Do we or will we worship any differently or is this just a matter of money, power, and the ability to do whatever without any checks and balances? Elleney, as a Greek Orthodox member, don’t you feel the importance for your family to know their Greek language, heritage, and history?

By the way, how do you know who was and wasn’t in church on Sunday, October 24th? I was, as were a majority of the members who attended this “grand banquet for the media.” Ms. Soter, I do remember what I learned in Sunday School….faith, love, and humility. Where were you??

Regards,

Andrea Kastanis-Orton
Member of the Greek Orthdodox Community of Greater Salt Lake City

Bill Paulos Responds to Elleney Soter

Moderator's Note: Mr Paulos submitted this letter in response to Elleney Soter's recent letter to Carol Mikita. Ms. Soter's letter has been circulating throughout the e-mail chain in the community, but we cannot find it on the ksl.com Web site, and therefore cannot link to it. For those who have read Ms. Soter's e-mail, Mr. Paulos provides this response.

Elleney,

I would first like to say welcome back to our Church; I haven’t seen you at the services for a while. I received a copy of the letter that you sent to Carol Mikita and was compelled to write you. In your letter you describe misinformation presented by KSL in their story on the Salt Lake City Greek Orthodox Community split and the meeting among parishioners to discuss the issue, but the truly important misinformation did not come from the KSL story but from you in your letter.

It is clear that the meeting was not sanctioned by the Church for fear that if they sponsored a vote of the people it would truly show how disproportionately the community is in favor of NOT splitting up our community.

Your statement that this meeting was set up as some sort of “mini Greek Festival” just makes me laugh. If that is how you envision a Greek Festival, you should really question referring to yourself as Greek. There was no Greek food, Greek dancing or Greek music at this meeting. The meeting was conducted in a very organized and professional manner and everyone had the opportunity to speak their mind. You had that opportunity, but unfortunately you chose not to attend.

The next item that I take issue with is your statement “It is not a Greek church.” Elleney, two sentences later you state the name of our Church: Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church. If I’m not mistaken the word Greek is in the title for a reason. We know and understand that there are many other individuals that come to our Church. Russians, Serbians, Antiochians, Albanians and converts to Orthodoxy are all welcome, but they are coming to a Greek Orthodox Church so they should expect Greek to be spoken in the service and respect this tradition. We welcome all to our Church but that doesn’t give them the right to change it.

Your comment that you could only see one person in the TV footage that was from Prophet Elias is again another misstatement on your part and is obviously intended to give the impression that everyone at Prophet Elias is in favor of the split. I was there and we had an equal showing from both Church’s at the meeting. I can assure you that there are many individuals who attend Prophet Elias regularly that are opposed to the split. Unfortunately our clergy and Metropolitan won’t allow us to take an “official” vote to see how everyone really feels about the split. I think that they are afraid to allow it because they know that it will result in an overwhelming majority opposed to the split, as was the case in 2007 when we were allowed an “official” vote on the subject.

In closing, I believe the person who should have done more research on the subject and vetted their sources was you. With that I will leave you with a sentence straight out of your letter. “As a result, your story is greatly distorted and has no basis in fact.”

Sincerely,

/s/

Bill Paulos, Member of the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake.

BREAKING NEWS!!: A Chance for the Majority to Be HEARD!

Moderator's Note: This document (text below) was received early this afternoon via fax. Click here to read the scanned original.

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
THE HOLY EPARCHIAL SYNOD

October 28, 2010

Mr. Nick Colessides
466 South 400 East, Suite 100,
Salt Lake city, Utah 84111-3325

Dear Mr. Colessides:

May the Lord be with you.

I am writing to you on behalf of the Holy Eparchlal Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Your appeal dated September 13, 2010 was received and discussed by the Holy Eparchial Synod on October 27, 2010.  At the request of His Eminence Metropolitan lsaiah of Denver and in accordance with the Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, a Synodal Committee has been formed to review the issues you have raised. The Committee, which includes His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios, of Boston. His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, and Legal Counsel, will contact you, in the very near future, to schedule a meeting to discuss your case. In the meanwhile, should you have any questions or further information you wish to provide, please do not hesitate to contact me at 212-774-0542.

All involved in this matter are advised to refrain from any further action whatsoever related to the issues raised, pending review and resolution of the matter by the Holy Eparchial Synod.

On behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod, I kindly ask for your patience as we diligently work to resolve the concerns you have raised in a manner that will establish peace and promote spiritual growth among the faithful people of Salt Lake City.

Conveying to you, on behalf of the Holy Synod. the blessings from God. I remain,

/s/

+Archimandrite Sebastian Skordallos
        Chief Secretary

cc. His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver
His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston
His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit
Rev. Fr. Matthew Gilbert
Rev. Fr. Michael Kouremetis
Cathy Walsh