Metropolitan's Letter to the Community - November 2012

Moderators' Note: the original document sent by the Metropolitan may be viewed here.

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November 26, 2012

Rev. Michael Kouremetis, Proistamenos
Rev. Matthew Gilbert, Proistamenos
Mr. Dimitrios Tsagaris, Council President
The Esteemed Parish Council
The Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Prophet Elias Church
279 South 300 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84101


Beloved in the Lord,

I was waiting until this month of November to make a final decision regarding the ratification of the parish council candidate; Mr. Yannis Armaou, to. the Pairsh Council, on the basis that the final payment to the attorney who handled the recent law suit against the previous parish council would be paid.

Unfortunately, however, the recent letter sent to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and to His Eminence. Archbishop Demetrios and attributed to Mr. Armaou regarding Father Michael Kouremetis forces me not to ratify his election. The reason for this is because the contents of the letter go against the Uniform Parish Regulations, Article 30, Section 4:

It must be known by all the members of the Archdiocese, clergy, monastics, and la:ity, that the Uniform Parish Regulations have been reviewed and. approved, as they appear today, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate years ago. See Article 3, Section l,P. Our Patriarch would never go contrary to the official approval of the U.P.R.'s; neither, consequently, would the Archbishop.

I have gotten to know Mr. Armaou in my several visits to the community, as well as his parents and have even had the occasion to share a meal in their home; and I have considered them fine people. I suspect that Mr. Armaou may have been used as a pawn and projecting someone else's thoughts and desires. Even so, I cannot, nor wish to go, against the Patriarchate; and therefore am unable to ratify his election because of the letter attributed to him.

Finally, please know that the Salt Lake community is the largest parish in the Denver Metropolis, Your recent parish council elections proved it. Know that the parish in Houston, Texas is immediately second in size, and it consistently has had four fulltime priests. If much of the stewardship monies of the Salt Lake community did not go to one of the four independent accounts, which are not under the custodianship of any current parish council, as has been happening in the community, the parish would easily have more than enough funds to submit its 2011 obligations, as well as its 2012 obligations to the Archdiocese. Moreover, the parish would have ample funds to cover the full compensation of four or five fulltime priests, which would be appropriate to serve the spiritual needs of all the Greek Orthodox people in greater Salt Lake.

At the time when you, the current parish council assumed your responsibilities, I was assured that you would work together to bring peace and unity among all the people. Are the recent newspaper articles about the community part of this process? When do you plan to start in being faithful to your word?

With paternal blessings,

/s/

+ Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver

IT'S TIME

It is now time for the blog, “Take our Church Back” to be discontinued. No question, it has served its purpose over the time it has operated and all of the articles posted in it were mostly accurate; however, now is time that our community must show some compassion and allow healing to occur. As was pointed out in the General Assembly on Sunday, November 17, it is now time for all of us, Clergy as well as parishioners, to bury the hatchet and forgive one another for the good of the community. It serves no purpose to allow negative comments to appear on the blog. We must strive for unity and the time to begin is now.

One of the primary reasons for the blog was and is to provide accurate information to all parishioners concerning events that are happening, both presently as well as in the past. The blog served a useful purpose in that regard and over 264,000 hits since its inception show that our parishioners, as well as others, reviewed it and made their comments.

At the General Assembly on Sunday the Parish Council did a good job of presenting the agenda and allowed parishioners to express themselves appropriately. Thanks must be given to President, Mr. Tsagaris and his Parish Council members for the work they are doing, but more work needs to be done as was pointed out by the auditing committee chairmen, Mr. McGrath and Mr. Kapos. The need for an Operations Manager for this parish is great and this position must be filled as soon as possible. As was pointed out in the meeting, we must get control of church finances and run our parish as a business.

Now I will discuss the two churches, Holy Trinity Cathedral and Prophet Elias. Whether we like to admit it or not, the two churches have been separated for years. There should be no hard feelings on this matter, but the two churches are separate. We have two Proestamenoi, as they are called, two Philoptochos Societies, two choirs, two Sunday Schools, etc. Both churches are presently governed by one Parish Council and for keeping the community as one, this should continue until such time as the need arises in the future for two Parish Councils. At the appropriate time, a committee could be established by the General Assembly to totally separate the two churches, but presently we must operate as one UNIFIED parish. There should no bickering from parishioners and we must show some love, compassion and unity toward one another. We have shown that we can unite as one by the beautiful work that has been done at our annual Greek Festival.

As to the Uniform Parish Regulations (UPRs), these should be examined carefully by the Parish Council and as changes are necessary, they should be brought up for discussion at the Clergy-Laity Conference which is held annually and attended by the appropriate people from the Clergy as well as the Parish Council. In my opinion and I served on many Parish Councils in the past as well as the President in 1968 when ground was broken for the Prophet Elias Church, changes are necessary in the UPRs but I will not go into details at the present time.

Regarding stewardship, Mr. George Pappas, Chairman, eloquently stated his position at the General Assembly and he is correct that we must increase our church members as well as each family should give an extra amount of money in order for the Parish Council to balance the parish budget for the year 2013.

With love and humility,

/s/

Nick P. Sefakis

Dissing the "Cradle Orthodox"!

As our Metropolitan once said, "thank God for our converts!"

First of all, to every latest convert to our faith who calls those of us who grew up in this church community "cradle Orthodox": you cannot imagine how OFFENSIVE we find the appellation. If you want to fit in here, DO NOT USE THAT TERM! If you dare say it to our face, our first inclination might well be to deck you. Since most of us do not condone violence, we will simply walk away from you and ask you to NEVER speak to us again if you choose to continue using the term.

We are PROUD to be what you term - too often, derisively - "cradle Orthodox". Our parents and grandparents simply told us from the time we knew what language meant - in both Greek and English - that Orthodoxy meant - "correct faith/glorification".

We understand that if you have converted to our faith you are engaged in something wondrous. There is, however, more to those of us who grew up with this heritage than just that wonder. We are the PROUD cultural descendants of a group of immigrants who strove, starved, suffered, endured and prospered.

We understand that legacy and continue to feel it in our marrow. We do not expect you to understand it. However, we will not allow you to denigrate it, or to tell US it is not significant - even if our so-called "spiritual fathers" deem it convenient to ignore or subsume that legacy, whenever it suits their purposes, and use YOU to help them attack it as it suits their purposes.

Don't tell us we have too much time on our hands. Don't tell us to go to confession. This is beyond your right and scope of responsibility. We know who we are; we don't need you to remind us. We have been brought up to know this, and we know WHO our true spiritual fathers are! Moreover, we know who they are NOT!

We are glad to have you join us, but before you throw yourselves into a fray that you really do not understand, please at least have the courtesy to ask a variety of others of us - the "cradle orthodox" who you obviously disrespect - what our point of view might be.

Then, if you still wish to hold an opposing viewpoint, so be it.

"The Oil Did It!"?

This week, many of us attended Con Skedros' Trisagion  and Burial Services. While at the "makaria" luncheon after the funeral, we learned that our erstwhile Proistamenos-of-Prophet-Elias-only had indeed been busy attempting to refute an earlier article from the "Faith" section in the Salt Lake Tribune. The text of the latest article (Paul Rolly, Salt Lake Tribune, "Utah " Section) can be viewed in this Website's sidebar.

Everyone has the right to their opinion. However, historians such as Con knew and know, no one has the right to the facts. The facts just are THE FACTS. Opinions surrounding those facts can be evaluated on their merits in how closely they conform to, or explain, the facts.

Metropolitan Isaiah never said, or even implied, that the "phenomenon" that he accepts as a "miracle" was a sign to keep the two parishes unified as one under the Greek Orthodox Community of Greater Salt Lake. In fact he said, in a letter to the community dated October 20, 2010, the EXACT OPPOSITE! (The original letter may be viewed here.)

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. [emphasis added]

Using parts of the Metropolitan's letter, Father Kouremetis has subtly misrepresented to Mr. Rolly, and to the Salt Lake Tribune, the intent of that original letter.

There can be no doubt of the intent of Metropolitan Isaiah's letter. He chose to interpret the "miracle" or  now, the "phenomenon" as a "clear sign" to DIVIDE our community and its assets in 2010. Father Michael cannot at this point in time go back and rewrite that history. Nor can he proclaim that either the Metropolitan's words, or the charade that he played in proclaiming a miracle, now points to maintaining unity - not even the type of "unity" he has in mind! He does, however, try, and has apparently convinced Mr. Rolly to write the following:

Here is the rest of the story. The miracle of the oil, which the priest and metropolitan still insist is true and say it has actually healed parishioners, was discovered right at the time church members were vehemently protesting the church’s decision to split the congregations of the Prophet Elias Church in Holladay and the Holy Trinity Church in downtown Salt Lake City into two parishes.

There was even talk of suing the church, and several hundred members stood in protest outside the Prophet Elias Church.

Several hundred members stood in protest outside the Prophet Elias Church? When? The only people who stood outside Prophet Elias Church were five of six faithful stewards last year about this same time (the sixth who was ill and had to remain home in sub-freezing weather, ironically, was CON SKEDROS) that the Metropolitan banned from the church they had helped to build!

The church was sued? When? The only persons sued were appointed Parish Council members, as individuals, who refused to follow the Uniform Parish Regulations that they usually hid behind, and in doing so violated civil law. It was under civil law that they, again as individuals, were sued.

The ultimate outrage of this article is the statement that, "the oil 'settled it'!" The "it" was not the non-existent protest of "hundreds" outside Prophet Elias, nor the potential for the church to be sued. Neither happened.

The "it" was the "vehement" reaction to Metropolitan Isaiah's decision to split this community, and "the oil" did not thwart that decision! In fact, "the oil" was used by the Metropolitan to justify it!

This is sheer sophistry - not history! The omissions are glaring. The "oil" did nothing! It was spilled due to a maintenance accident. If someone chooses to believe that the "phenomenon" of Father Michael's charade, and the Metropolitan's enthusiastic espousal of such, healed them, we have no problem. But let's not claim that this charade "healed" or "settled" the real damage that has been done to this community by the continuation of such deceits and conceits.

Con Skedros - A Good and Faithful Servant

Today we are burying Constantine James Skedros.

Con was a quiet, unassuming man of letters – an historian who knew the importance and the value of documenting the world he lived in. He was a man who understood that what might seem commonplace or mundane to most, was, in fact, unique and important in the larger scheme of things.

I had the singular opportunity and the great honor to meet with Con, one-on-one, last year a few days before our November Special General Assembly where our hierarchy was demanding that we foreswear the special agreement (the 1964 Accord) we had in place that gave this community control over its own assets. This was, in fact, the same assembly that our hierarch had also forbidden this good and faithful steward, along with five others, entrance into HIS OWN CHURCH! This, because he was willing to put his name on a lawsuit, representing hundreds of others, in opposing a construct that kept those same hundreds from proper representation in their church’s affairs and governance!

Con’s quiet and wise counsel, his extraordinary documentation, were not only enlightening in light of the events about to take place, but provided an insight into the history of our community. They also explained the thought processes of those who gave the community its unique legacy.

To enumerate all the roles this GREAT MAN took upon himself, humbly, without complaint, in our community, and in the community at large, not only in this city, but in this nation, would probably take years and fill volumes!

Con achieved the status in our Church of Archon Depoutatos. No big deal, perhaps? Others have done this as well. I would tell you that Con achieved that status through time and through talent - not only as a stalwart Sunday School teacher, but as a tireless servant to this community and to Orthodoxy throughout this country. Further, he was a faithful schoolteacher to thousands of public school students in this valley, and as a responsible civic leader in his field on various civic and charitable boards and committees. Con did not have the means – the treasure - to achieve this status in the manner that many, if not most, Greek-Americans in this country have done so. It is to our faith’s great credit that it often looks beyond a person’s means to elevate someone so entirely worthy as Con Skedros, counselor,  friend, mentor, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, godfather – TEACHER– so many titles!

Axios – kai ΠΑΝΤΑ AXIOS!

It is so often said when someone so illustrious and accomplished passes, that we shall not see his (or her) like again. It is my fervent hope that we SHALL see his like again. His example should be a shining light to us, to our children, to our grandchildren and to generations beyond!

Αιωνία η μνήμη του! Καλὀ ταξεἰδι, ἁξιε και αγαπημἑνε δάσκαλε!

- Barbara Billinis Colessides

Fallacies as Facts, Yet Again!

How surprising is it, that having requested letters about "miracles", the rabid minority that still demands our community be split, is complying by sending letters attesting to "miracles"? And, they are "following the Lord's example" by keeping them "secret"! (Surely, there is an admonition in the commandments about bearing false witness?) Further, complaints regarding the "allowing" of Mr. Tsagaris' letter to be distributed to the community are rather ineffectual and silly since His Eminence did not "allow" the letter to be distributed via e-mail; rather, he demanded it. Interestingly, he did so with no explanation other than it be sent. Fr. Michael took it upon himself to "clarify" that the Metropolitan's demand was "not an endorsement" - for which, apparently, he was chided by the Metropolitan.

For a hierarch who is now convinced that the "miracle" is a  true "phenomenon", doesn't it strike anybody as strange that the community has a "miraculous" icon, but that no hierarch - including Metropolitan Isaiah - ever came around to witness it and conduct services, didn't send a representative, didn't inform the Archdiocese or the Patriarchate? None of the monks from the monastery in the next state over came to witness it, or to pray. None of the other Orthodox prelates in the city, nor any other clergy from other faiths came to check it out, either. We have had visiting Archons who have never mentioned venerating that particular icon. 

It was simply yet another ruse to confuse. It was mentioned only as a further justification for splitting the community, especially when the minority knew that the community was planning to resist at all costs, to appeal to the Archdiocese and to the Holy Synod. And, the issue had been dormant for a while until it was discovered that the maintenance person who had accidentally spilled oil on the glass of the icon, while filling an oil lamp nearby, was coerced into signing a document attesting to a miracle, and did so, for fear of losing his employment. That the Metropolitan and Father Michael, our Lord's Apostolic successors, continue to justify this sham is truly sad!

As for the community's relationships with several priests, the Metropolitan's assertions continue to be flawed and problematic. First and foremost, Father Katsaris did not, as he himself attests, leave this community under any pressure from the community. He was, and is still, highly respected. He is, to this day, in contact with many prominent parishioners here. He has firmly denied such an allegation, though the Metropolitan seems highly content to perpetuate the myth. Subsequent priests left due to retirement, promotions, a desire for better remuneration, and what we will charitably call problematic behaviors. No one in this community denies that some parishioners have sometimes been hostile toward certain clergy; the converse, unfortunately, is also true.

Fr. Michael's appointment here has been described as an appointment to "resolve existing problems which obviously came from the former priest". This is a rather simplistic generalization for a highly specific problem that involved that former priest's personal life and not the community as a whole. To suggest differently is highly disingenuous.

Father Michael has had every opportunity to minister to this community with love. He is a highly gifted and talented man, who conducts beautiful services. He can be both articulate and charming. He sadly also has an unfortunate, almost pathological need to exert complete control, to only work with and minister almost exclusively to those he likes and can control, and to squelch any point of view he deems inimical to his personal interest. He refuses to accept that the majority in this valley do not wish to split their community, and assists in every effort to thwart that will, which has been expressed over and over again. If he cannot accept it, he should leave. This community does not need an Ephialtes in its midst. We have enough to do to try to repair the damage he, and the unelected, appointed minions he kept installing as "leaders", have created.

And, of course, we are always returned to the specious argument that TAKE OUR CHURCH BACK is literal and not metaphorical. For the umpteenth time this blog's contributors and writers know the Church was built, belongs to, and exists for the greater glory of the Lord and for our salvation. As with the clergy, we, too, have a responsibility to our Church and our Faith. It is both disappointing and disheartening to see our Church's clergy succumb to arrogance, hubris and condescension. It is further disheartening when the hierarchy promotes a rigid, unresponsive view of the relationship between the apostolic priesthood, and what St. Mark called "the royal priesthood" - the laity. Finally, we know what our forefathers were seeking, and we will not foreswear that legacy. Along with you and the clergy, Your Eminence, WE are also the Church. Blind obedience is not an absolute requirement in the face of high-handed leadership and poor judgment by the clergy. If it were so, our Lord would not have confronted the moneylenders in the temple, nor would he have challenged the Pharisees.

The fact is, as has been pointed out to our Metropolitan, most certainly by more than one person, Father Michael is no longer effective; he is a divisive force in this community who will not work with all the community. He is this community's servant, but behaves like its feudal lord and master. More time will not change that fact, and this community should not have to continue to suffer for it, or to pay for it, no matter what the highly flawed UPRs say.

Metropolitan Isaiah Responds to Recent Correspondence & Articles

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Metropolitan Isaiah's original letter may be viewed by clicking here.

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GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF DENVER

November 5, 2012

Rev. Michael Kouremetis, Proistamenos
Rev. Matthew Gilbert, Proistamenos
Mr. Dimitrios Tsagaris, Parish Council President
The Esteemed Parish Council
The Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church
5335 S. Highland Drive
Holladay, UT 84117

Beloved in the Lord,

Please accept my apologies for my unintentional delay in responding to your latest correspondence to me. I was away for the past week.

As you may imagine, I have been inundated with much correspondence from an increasing number of parishioners from the community at large, most of whom attest to healings that have been attributed to our Lord Jesus Christ through His icon at Prophet Elias Church. I have also received some complaints that I allowed the letter of the council president, Mr. Dimitrios Tsagaris, to be distributed to the membership of the community.

Please know that parish councils represent the total membership of parishes within our holy Archdiocese. Therefore, transparency is appropriate and necessary in regard to the life of our parishes. Due to the chronic problems within your community, which are exacerbated by continuing misinformation, especially to the New York Greek newspaper time and again, I felt that it was necessary for all the membership to know what is hoped for or expected by the parish council, their representative leadership.

At the same time, please know that no one speaks for me regarding both serious and trivial situations. Having served our Lord and His Church for more than fifty years, I do not need anyone to speak for me. My priests know my usual saying; "If you did not see it in print, I did not say it." I have been diligent in documenting my decisions in the Church, so that there may be no room for rumors or falsehoods.

As I attempt to reflect on the sad situation in your community, I see an uninterrupted continuity of the false notion that the current priest is the cause of the problems facing the community. In Salt Lake City it appears that the priest is always to blame when troubles arise. The priest is always to blame? Really? God blessed my life in allowing me to begin His holy priesthood at Holy Trinity Church in Salt Lake City in March 1962. My proistamenos, Father Steve Katsaris, was my mentor in regard to how parishes are administered or should be administered. Since that time, a parade of priests has passed through the community like an unending procession. How strange this is when I realize that one of my classmates from seminary has served the same parish for the past fifty-two years. And he is not an exception regarding many of our dedicated priests.

In the Salt Lake Tribune of November 6, 2002, a major article was written about the assignment of Father Michael Kouremetis to the parish which included a large picture of him. The article stressed that the reason for his assignment was for him to resolve existing problems which obviously came from the former priest. Now it seems that he is the problem. How strange!

Is it logical to assume that every priest from Father Katsaris to your current priests are the only ones to blame for problems in the community? Is there no sharing of the responsibility by any lay members of the Church as well? A realistic self examination must reveal accountability from more than one direction.

It is clear that an attitude exists among some which is contributing to the problem. Consider those who poison the minds of others simply with the name of their newsletter, "TAKE OUR CHURCH BACK!" as if the Body of Christ has no cosmic significance, but rather is their own personal possession. Whose Church is it that all of you found in Salt Lake City by being born there or by migrating to Utah from other places domestic and foreign? Whose Church will it be after all the current members have died? What mere mortal can claim ownership over the Church which was established by and belongs to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Not even archbishops, metropolitans, or patriarchs can dare to declare the Church as their own, for certainly this is blasphemy against Christ.

You, the members of the parish council, are correct in referring to Article 30, Section 4 of the Archdiocese Uniform Parish Regulations as the only process to be used whenever there is any disagreement between the priest and the council. Since priests are assigned by their metropolitans, having been ordained by the Holy Spirit through hierarchs, this is the only procedure we can follow. There is no other way and I commend you as a parish council for referring this matter in accordance with the U.P.R. regarding the position of an assigned priest in a parish. Due to the emotionalism among you which is so strong at this time regarding the community, I caunot consider any single decision as proper in order to alleviate the problem. Therefore, I will take some time to prayerfully study the matter.

Again I reiterate, please allow tempers to subside, so that everyone who loves our Lord's Church may begin to see the life of the parish more objectively. This will help all of us come to a positive perspective regarding the local church, so that we can continue to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ Who established His Church on earth for our salvation.

With paternal blessings,

/s/

+Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver

WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION: Letter for the Hierarchy!

Moderator's Note: We are asking all faithful supporters of this community to support our beloved community and its elected Parish Council. Please download the note of support below and send or deliver it as soon as possible to Yanni's Greek Express.

The letter to be signed may be downloaded by clicking HERE. 

We encourage everyone who wants a united community, with open assemblies and fair elections, to please show their support. We have had word that the members who, behind this community's back, once again established a SEPARATE PROPHET ELIAS CORPORATION, are now gathering signatures to keep Fr. Kouremetis here, despite his demonstrable and ongoing support to divide our community. If they are so anxious to keep him, they can pay his salary and benefits THEMSELVES and BUILD THEIR OWN CHURCH!

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His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah
Metropolis of Denver
4550 East Alameda Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80246-1208 

November 2012 

Your Eminence, 

As a faithful member of the Greek Orthodox Community of Greater Salt Lake, I would like you to know that I stand firm in my support for our community's elected Parish Council. 

In a very short time since their election, the community has witnessed positive steps in restoring the vibrancy and dynamism that exists in the Greek Orthodox Community in the Salt Lake Valley. This community asks that you keep your word, and you allow this elected Parish Council to continue in its efforts, without any fear of removal or sanction. 

Further, I join others in respectfully requesting the immediate reassignment of Father Michael Kouremetis from his position as a Proistamenos in the Greek Orthodox Community of Greater Salt Lake. Sadly, Fr. Kouremetis has proven to be a divisive force, seeking to undermine lay leadership efforts in efficient and transparent governance, and at a time when this community is seeking to heal and to unify. His reassignment will allow this community a fresh start. 

I ask that you, along with His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, the Holy Synod, and His Beatitude, Patriarch Bartholomew, honor the efforts and wishes of their faithful flock in Salt Lake City. We ask that all would follow Christ's example of the good shepherd who leads his flock with love and good will. 

In His Name,


_____________________________________________________
Faithful Member, The Greek Orthodox Community of Greater Salt Lake 

cc: His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios & the Holy Synod
His Beatitude, Patriarch Bartholomew

Additional Comments:

UNIFORM PARISH STRANGULATION

MODERATOR'S NOTE: The original of this protocol, issued by Metropolitan Isaiah, may be viewed here. It was also published, as demanded by the Metropolitan, in the recent issue of "Theologia", our community's newsletter.

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October 10, 2012

Protocol 12–16

The Esteemed Parish Council Members, and
The Faithful Laity of the Metropolis of Denver

Beloved in the Lord,

In response to several questions recently received from the parishes of this Metropolis regarding clergy salaries, please allow me to call your attention to the following provisions of the Uniform Parish Regulations.

According to Article 29, Section 1, Subparagraph E, of the UPR, it is a duty of the Parish Council to "Provide for the Priest's remuneration and benefits in accordance with the Clergy Compensation Plan of the Archdiocese."

This means that the Parish Council members are obligated, as a fiduciary responsibility to the parish, to do everything that they can to develop and implement a stewardship program to afford the proper compensation for their assigned priest(s).

It also means that they are also accountable for providing that the priest's compensation is paid in regularly, in full, and on time.

According to Article 17, Section 8, of the UPR, "The Archdiocesan Council and the Archdiocesan Benefits Committee will establish remunerative standards for the Clergy."

Further, according to Subsection A of this same Section 8, it is the Hierarch of each Metropolis who reviews and approves the specific remuneration package for each individual priest he assigns to a parish.

It is therefore not within the capacity of a General Assembly, nor of a Parish Council, to debate or determine the priest's compensation package.

You received information regarding the individual minimum compensation package of your priest in my recent Protocol 12-13, dated September 21, 2012. This information is to be included in your 2013 budget, and is to simply be relayed to the General Assembly. It is not subject to debate or revision by the Parish Council or the General Assembly.

With Paternal Blessings,
/s/
✠ Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver

TO BE PRINTED IN ALL PARISH BULLETINS AND NEWS LETTERS

LEAD WITH CHRIST'S EXAMPLE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD!

We Won't Endure Another ELECTED Parish Council's Dismissal!

For some STRANGE reason the Metropolitan recently asked that the elected Parish Council president's follow-up letter, regarding problems brought forth by Mr. Tsagaris - in an open and forthright manner - be sent to the entire parish via e-mail. As a further note, Fr. Michael had one of the administrative assistants send out a "clarification". In the correspondence, Fr. Michael took it upon himself to point out that the demand by His Eminence to email the note to the parish was not an "endorsement" of Mr. Tsagaris' letter.

Mr. Tsagaris followed the Metropolitan's directives to keep the issues, discussed between them in a recent meeting, quiet, in order to give the Metropolitan time to address them. The result of that admonition, which Mr. Tsagaris honorably kept, was the recent letter the Metropolitan, along with Fr. Michael's e-mail, sent out to the community. Instead of dispelling a ruse, the Metropolitan and his Proiestamenos-of-Prophet-Elias-only made a further mockery of a purported "miracle" by soliciting testimonials, none of which were made public. Furthermore, none of which have even been heard of within the community prior to the Metropolitan's recent correspondence referring to such in glowing terms. Following this, we now have the Metropolitan's latest "directive" that Mr. Tsagaris' letter to him be made public to the community.

And the problem is ... what? Is this supposed to be some sort of a "shame" game? Considering the letter's contents and the Metropolitan's prior and subsequent actions, shame most certainly does not lie with the president of this community's Parish Council!

We do not feel we're exaggerating here - especially since Fr. Michael refused to attend last Monday night's regularly scheduled parish council meeting, calling it a "witch hunt". He further pointed out that the UPRs stipulate that he is assigned by the Metropolis, not employed by the community. If ever an absurd situation existed, such an arrangement defines it. We do not "employ" him, but are required to pay him, and pay him not according to this community's means, but according to a schedule determined by the Archdiocese and its Metropolises. If he has outlasted his ability to be effective in the community, and the Metropolitan chooses not to reassign him (or more than likely cannot find anyone to take him!), it is simply our tough luck. In what other entity does such a ridiculous arrangement exist? Again, shame on the laity who pushed this nonsense through at Clergy-Laity meetings! Couldn't anyone envision the lopsided consequences of such a vile construct? Unlike Fr. Michael, who simply refused to attend, Fr. Matthew was instructed, by the Metropolitan, NOT to attend.

It is quite clear that our Metropolitan seeks to "invalidate" any discussion and/or decisions that may have been made. This, of course, will be based on the questionable and onerous UPRs that the Metropolitan sometimes follows, and sometimes does not, as suits his fancy and/or purpose.

We surmise that our Metropolitan views the correspondence he demands we all see as some sort of prima facie "evidence" for a justification to attempt an action he has become rather fond of in several parishes, including this one, in the last few years - that is to disband councils of elected lay leaders, then appoint his own group of more pliable laity.

THIS PARISH COUNCIL is an elected entity (επι τέλους!), though such considerations have never troubled the Metropolitan. Time and again, he has sought to scuttle and thwart our newly elected leaders at every turn, despite his assurances he would let all eligible parishioners run and be ratified, and despite offers to help and support in revitalizing the community that he and his minions keep attempting to sunder these past years.

Contrary to his notions of his own leniency and largesse, it is the members of this elected council, and, in fact the great majority of the congregation, who have "bent over backwards" (his phrase, not ours), hoping to put the dismal past behind them. We have had a well-attended, successful Prophet Elias nameday celebration, followed by a highly successful Greek Festival. We have tried hard, despite the obstacles thrown at the community, to show the Metropolitan, and the local clergy the true worth of our community and our elected leaders. These leaders chose to begin their leadership in a spirit of duty, forgiveness and respect. Sadly, this spirit of goodwill has not been reciprocated by Fr. Michael or our hierarch.

We have seen, far too often, that the hard work of those who do what is best for this parish face removal from office if they challenge any action of Father Michael. For far too long this community has been forced to endure ongoing pettiness, Machiavellian mind games, and Byzantine machinations. If the Lord has relied on the type of "spiritual" leadership we are currently witnessing to lead His Church and His Flock, He surely must be appalled by the cowardice and the banality!

WE WILL NOT ACCEPT -- EVER AGAIN -- THE CONTINUATION OF THESE TYPES OF ACTIONS! The actions of this elected Parish Council reflect our wishes for a construct of MUTUAL respect and governance, instead of this top-heavy structure where the clergy can do as it wishes, with far too little recourse left to the laity if the clergy usurps its power. We demand that this elected Parish Council be allowed to continue in its efforts, without fear of removal or sanction, to do its job.

Finally, it is now painfully obvious to almost the entire parish that it is time for Father Michael to leave. Even his supporters will state privately that he is no longer effective and can be divisive. His detractors, who constitute a large percentage of the Parish, see him as one who engages in actions that harm our faith, our sense of unity and our love for service to our Parish. With his departure, we firmly believe that we can meet our financial obligations to our members, our ministries, our Archdiocese and our future. More importantly, we will start to heal and unify.

Therefore, to ALL the clergy and hierarchy, here, in Denver, in New York, in Constantinople:

HELP US! Work in the Lord's vineyard with us and you'll get the deference and respect you are due. Lead us with Christ's LOVE and you will maintain that respect. And we will HONOR you for it! Foreswear the need to dominate and control, and LEAD WITH LOVE, with Christ as your example.

Parish Council, Current Matters - Part 2 of 2

Dimitri Tsagaris notes about his meeting with His Eminence on Sep 27th, 2012 in Denver,
Colorado.

(Attachment to the official Parish Council minutes of October 1, 2012)

• I thanked him for seeing me and requested to have a respectful, frank and honest conversation. He encouraged  me to do so and he wanted to hear me "exso apo ta dontia".

• I started asking. "What has the P.C. done to you and you wrote to us those letters?"
(!pointed at a complete package of the FROM and TO correspondences).  We were elected and came to you with an olive branch, letting you and the community know that we are ready to do work to heal wounds and unite the community. We have a sense of you being ready to dismiss us in "our first misstep."

We already have done quite a bit of work and we see measurable results such as parishioners talking to each other and constantly approaching us to thank us for the spirit and the direction we are taking the community. Stewardship  during the summer months is measurably up and our financial records will verify that. We can see a positive change among the parishioners and hope for the future. Clergy could give him input and verify.

We talked about the wonderful Greek Festival experience and how parishioners were happy to work together. We talked about the roofing and dome work that is about to start at PE, and also the HT Sunday school good problem of having quite a few students and renovation of some rooms to accommodate all the students.

He has quite the knowledge about the Sunday school rooms above the Gym and their limitations. (He was assigned to our community in 1960, I believe he said, when the classrooms were built). I was clear that the classrooms are not proper for our kids and we should tear them down and rebuild. I said something like "We are ready to proceed and we should discuss why we have not done so."

• At this point His Eminence responded before we continue the conversation by giving me the perspective  of the situation in general.

After Mr. Strike and others completed the PE Church, a notion started that at some point PE should be a separate parish. In his 2010 letter His Eminence, based on the separation notion that continued, asked the P.C. since they are in charge see how to separate the community.

At this point the Archbishop was involved (since a group of parishioners went to him), and his Eminence was accused of ordering the separation. The Metropolitan repeated that he never ordered the separation. It was a P.C. issue to handle.

As a result a conflict between His Eminence and the Archbishop arose.
He never ordered anyone in any of his parishes to do something they do not want to do. As far as the money in general, he wanted to make it clear, it belongs to the parish, to the olomelia and not to anyone else.

• Dimitri at this point expressed that it was very unfortunate that a conflict between the Archbishop and His Eminence arose. The damage of such public conflict was very damaging and confusing to the parishioners. Dimitri gave the example of a Father-Mother situation arguing, who is the boss, in front of the kids.

• Dimitri presented his thoughts on the division issue. He stated that he understands from an ecclesiastical perspective the reasoning as stated by both His Eminence and the Archbishop. However the way of going about it, the tactics and the mechanics used to arrive at a noble idea are on the one hand unacceptable and on the other hand will be very damaging since the community has not the proper infrastructure at this time to have two viable parishes. The demand for separation is premature and is made by a small minority.

In final analysis, instead of certain clergy looking at the viability of two parishes and improve upon the existing infrastructure  and make it ready for the separation, they tried to enforce a noble idea by forcing it down the throats of parishioners and further erode good infrastructure and parishioner relationships.  Parishioners resisted and will continue to resist if those practices will continue. The only clear explanation, we the community, received for this madness was "the Metropolitan asked me, asked us, to do so." So much energy wasted to do harm, when it could have been used for good.

• At this point Mr. John Johns dropped by to deliver something to His Eminence.
We had the opportunity to talk for about 20 minutes. He asked me a question in regards to the signatories on the High Tower account. Specifically  a couple of years ago he was in a P.C. meeting along with the two signatories of the account, Manoli Sargetakis and George Metos. At this meeting he said that the most recent change of the U.P.R's called for all money to be under custody of the P.C. and asked them to withdraw their signatures.

Dimitri thanked him for giving him the opportunity to provide his perspective. Dimitri has been involved with the H.H.C. and also the H.C.F. since their inception and served as a Chair of the Finance committee on the first, and a Member of the finance committee of the second. He provided short history of the creation and accomplishments of the H.H.C. and explained that the three signatories were authorized by the General Assembly. Mr. John Johns agreed that it was fine then however the U.P.R's changed afterwards. Dimitri replied that the issue was very simple. A General Assembly authorized the mechanism, the General Assembly was not informed about the U.P.R's change, and a General Assembly can change the directive given that there is a control mechanism. Since then the following have transpired.

His Eminence did not authorize a General Assembly for this discussion to take place and on top of this the community kept having one interim (appointed) P.C. after the other.

The Greek Orthodox Community is incorporated in the State of Utah. As such they asked the P.C. for a membership list so they can have a meeting of the members. Refusal of this list resulted in the lawsuit.

This lawsuit was not done by individuals, but by the community's request to the individuals to do so. This Lawsuit was not against the church but against certain P.C. members refusing to produce the list. The P.C. attorneys and Mr. John Johns made a very simple matter so complicated. There was no reason for any of this.
J .J. agreed that it should not go that far.

Dimitri further explained that at this time under the current P.C. the community could direct the change of signatures and control of the funds to go to the P.C. However, with all due respect to His Eminence, the trend shows that who knows for how long this P.C. will be on and not be replaced by His Eminence or by someone else that assumes his position in the future.

Mr. John Johns explained to me a mechanism that all restricted monies go to a "fund for development  specific account" and they can only be used for that specific purpose. Then I talked about the H.C.F. and its role. I recommended that he looks at their web site. He mentioned something about the bylaws saying that the H.C.F. will manage the project..... I told him that if there is something in the by-laws that needs to be refined, let us talk.

• At this point l discussed our "elephant stifado priorities list". Any by-laws or amendments are not anywhere near the top of our list, and separation is not on the list. I repeated again and pointed out that the roofing at P.E, the dome issue, (possible removal and reinstallation followed by iconography), H.T Sunday School classrooms, Gym and in general the development  of the H.T campus is our priority now as it has been for several years.

We talked extensively about the separation issue and repeated what I had previously discussed with his Eminence. I also mentioned the expression that I heard from someone, (during the period that we received specific instruction of how the properties will be split between the two parishes), "let us take the deal­ we have the better end of the bargain". That statement made clear to me on how low our morale was at the time and the extent of the damage done by clergy to this community due to the forced separation. I replied that statements like those are improper and I continued by asking a simple question. What am I going to tell Mr. S.K or J.C or others, (real parishioners that attend P.E church and have giving their lives to the Church and community and still do), I got you? I got the better end of the bargain? I told His Eminence that even though he suggested for a "task force" to examine the issue the fact that he states how the properties will be divided insinuated his desired outcome. That was not proper.

I also mentioned that because of actions like those we have lost many parishioners to other churches, a fact that his Eminence agreed that he has knowledge about.

I told Both Mr. J.J. and His Eminence that the community has funds, has architectural plans and a mechanism in place, to move forward with raising additional funds for the PE dome and start building the new Sunday school rooms along with the rest of the HT campus development.

In a nut shell I said "Your Eminence, if you want this to take place it will happen, if not, a solution will never be found." What are we waiting for?

I also suggested to His Eminence  in a funny way to "Lock the attomeys and others involved in a room, and not let them out until they find the way to make it work."

I also suggested to Mr. J .J. to talk among others to Harry Souvall, (member of our legal committee), who I have a lot of respect for, and I feel that he has the best interest of the community at heart. J.J. said that be already had contact and discussions with Harry and will continue to do so. At this point J .J. left.

• The Metropolitan told me that he has his clergy and his attomey(s) to work with.
He receives feedback from them. Many times he receives one-sided information. He thanked me again for a different perspective and information.

He understood my perspective and the community's perspective and he feels that under the circumstances since the U.P.R's  are an obstacle he will improvise, something that he has already done for other things.

I will contact him in one or two weeks or he will get back to us.

He brought up the statement in his last correspondence in regards to composition of the current P.C. being from HT. He now understands that we represent the entire community.

He also brought up Yannis situation, and I told him that I personally do not believe that he will ever ratify him. I told him my perspective about Yannis as I've known him since day one that I came from Greece 37 years ago, and we left it there.

He really wanted to get my perspective for many community issues in general. I did and he was really appreciative and for him many issues were different than he had heard before.

He kept saying that he receives so many letters from different people many with complaints. Many times, absent other input, he makes decisions based on those letters.

I made clear to his Eminence that this P.C. has the best interest of the community at heart, and will proceed to do things as committed and will keep him appraised as we see appropriate.

• I also made clear to him the obstacles that prevented us to move forward (gave him a list for his consideration)  and I was firm saying that those obstacles have to be removed, the sooner the better.

All along I had his attention and of course he had mine. He was very happy that I visited him and we had a face to face conversation and most importantly he heard things that he did not know. He will visit us at some point later on. However he is encouraging us the P.C., or collectively the P.C. and Clergy to meet with him at any time. He invited me to dinner. We enjoyed the company and then we left.

The Parish Council Discusses Current Matters - Part 1 of 2

October 30, 2012

Part 1 of 2

Fellow Parishioners,

The Parish Council felt it was necessary to respond to the letter dated October 24, 2012 that was received by each of you per the instructions of the Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver.

It is important that you know that this was an internal communication between Mr. Dimitrios Tsagaris and the Metropolitan. It was written to confirm the face to face conversation they had on September 27, 2012 at which time Mr. Tsagaris discussed many concerns about what was transpiring in our community.

At the time of the original meeting, the Metropolitan requested that the information discussed not be shared with the entire Parish Council as "he was planning to handle the situation himself." The letter you received yesterday, was simply our President reaching out to the Metropolitan for assistance in determining what our Parish Council should be doing and discussing at our regularly scheduled board meeting. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to contact the Metropolitan prior to our board meeting to seek direction. Mr. Tsagaris continued to believe that the Metropolitan was planning to help the community and would give us direction we needed to help heal this community.

Rather than contacting us, the Metropolitan contacted the Holy Trinity office and directed that Mr. Tsagaris’ letter be sent to the whole community. Several things discussed in that letter were of a sensitive nature and we were trying to deal with the situation delicately and respectfully. We as an Executive Committee would never have released that information without confirmation and direction from the Metropolitan. The letter was shared with the rest of the Parish Council just hours before you received the letter.

Last evening [October 29th] we moved forward with our regularly scheduled Parish Council meeting, where non-Parish Council members of our parish were also in attendance. However, notably absent from this Parish Council meeting were any of the clergy assigned to our parish. During that meeting we addressed many items of concern and importance to this community ranging from finances, budgetary, to the La France apartments maintenance issues to just name few.

We as a Parish Council are of the opinion that we are faced with many important and pressing issues and these issues transcend beyond the circumstances surrounding the Icon at Prophet Elias. It was disheartening to a great number of the Parish Council that the clergy were absent during our meeting and during your community’s time of need. Great men and women chose to lead in the face of adversity instead of wilting to obscurity and irrelevance. We believe, like with the annual Greek Festival, that the clergy should be present during the joyous times facing our community. However, we also believe the clergy should be present during the hard times, offering assistance and guidance to members of our community, including your duly elected Parish Council. Sadly this was not the case yesterday as no clergy were present because of personal refusal to attend, or as per our Metropolitan’s directive, either as a Priest or as a concerned member of our beloved community.

Today, a second e-mail blast was initiated from the Prophet Elias office stating that His Eminence did not endorse the prior letter. This was equally confusing. Remember that the letter was a confirmation of a private conversation between His Eminence and our Parish Council President. It is unclear what the Metropolitan hoped to convey with sending the second e-mail blast.

The parish council is saddened that after reaching out to His Eminence for help and guidance and also going through the appropriate channels described in the UPR’s article 30, Section 4, the Metropolitan responded in a manner that can only be described as purposely divisive and an attempt to discredit the hard working members of your Parish Council and it is consistent, in spirit, with previous communications to our community since the first day we took the office of affirmation.

Please be aware that we have written a letter to his Eminence which is also being sent as an attachment to this e-blast for you to read. If we are provided with additional communications we will forward them on to you in a timely manner.

As always, we are trying to be transparent with all of our parish members. We are staying focused and are trying to meet the needs of our community in a way that will allow all of the community to grow and prosper. We have listened to many parishioners that believe many drastic changes must occur to turn our community around and restore the faith of our parishioners in their church and its elected officials. We are committed to do so and will be by your side to serve our Church and community.

We hope this information will help answer many of the questions you have and as always, we are available through telephone or email to address your questions and concerns.

Part 2 of 2 of this communication will be separately transmitted shortly after this one, due to technical issues of attaching two documents on the same communication.

The attachment to the 2^nd communication is a summary report given by our President Dimitri Tsagaris, about his meeting with His Eminence on Sep 27^th 2012 in Denver, Colorado and is also an attachment to the official Parish Council minutes of October 1, 2012.

In His Name and Service,

Your Parish Council

Nick Colessides Comments Upon the Needed Defenestration of Fr. Kouremetis

Desperate acts.

I just received, courtesy of others, the below listed “clarification;” it was not signed. It gives us the impression that it was a follow up by Mr. Tsagaris, on his correspondence to the Denver Aghio.

However, this is not the case. Mr. Tsagaris did not mail the “clarification.” Fr. Kouremetis usurped the Denver Aghio. It is as if the Denver Bishop is unable to write his own editorial comment. We don’t need to know whether he endorses the letter; and, we don’t care. Incidentally no endorsement is necessary. Mr. Tsagaris recapped his meeting with the Metropolitan. We do not see any repudiation of the truth of the events and the discussion. The Tsagaris letter is factual and it points out the need for Fr. Kouremetis to go.

We do not need endorsements. We need action.

It is time that Fr. Michael be swiftly removed from his office as a Proistameno of our Parish.

We can no longer tolerate his prevarications.

Please urge all clerical authorities to reassign him, so that we all can live in peace.

Thank you,

Nick

From the National Herald: October 27-Nov 2, 2012 (print edition)

THE STORY BEHIND THE UTAH MIRACLES
Denver Metropolitan Isaiah and His Salt Lake City Miracles

By Theodore Kalmoukos
ΤΝΗ Staff Writer

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – The crisis that has created a rift at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Salt Lake City, UT with the unsuccessful insistence of Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver to divide the historic parish into two is experiencing another twist. This time it has to do with a “miracle” that supposedly is occurring at the church of Prophet Elias.

As TNH had reported on Nov. 13, 2010 an icon of Christ was said to have exuded oil on Oct. 17, 2010 during the Divine Liturgy, which Metropolitan Isaiah declared a miracle. In a letter to Fr. Michael 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, that 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 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.”

On October 1 of this year, Metropolitan Isaiah in a letter addressed to priests Michael Kouremetis and Matthew Gilbert and also to the parish council reversed himself on the “miracle.” He wrote that “two years have passed from the time I was informed of your icon of the Lord. Yet I have never received any information regarding healing attributed to the oil from the icon at Prophet Elias. On the contrary, recently I have received written information signed by individuals that oil has never actually come forth from the icon in question.”

Isaiah also wrote that “in order to verify the truth in this very serious matter, I am asking that anyone who has been anointed with the oil from the icon and who has received relief or healing in any way, to inform me, so that I may know definitely that my letter of October 20, 2010 reflects a true phenomenon, and was not based on imagination or biased intentions.”

Isaiah also informed that he has a “miraculous” icon at his Metropolitan Center: “An icon of the Theotokos which is over 200 years old and which continues to exude oil. Several persons who have been anointed with the oil have been healed of various maladies. Among them is one woman who had been diagnosed with cancer and on a later examination was told that she had no malignancy.”

On October 17, Isaiah wrote a new letter to the parish officials which reversed his stand of his letter on October 1. He wrote that “I have been informed in writing by respected and reputable people of the community that they have truly seen oil emitting from within the holy icon of our Lord. More importantly, several members have been healed of physical maladies after being anointed with the oil.”

Isaiah also wrote that “I am now totally convinced that my words in the October 20, 2010 letter to the parish are based on factual phenomena of healing which came about through the icon of our Lord. Because of this, I am truly relieved and thankful to God that so many members of the community have responsibly attested to the fact that the oil exuding from the holy icon was truly real.”

The sexton of the church Bob Marcooles on October 25, 2010 under the instruction of Kouremetis wrote that he was “writing this letter freely and I verify that I did not spill any oil on the miraculous icon of Christ the Archpriest. This is truly a miracle from God.”

But in an interview on September 22, 2012 with parish council president Dimitri Tzagaris (sic), attorney Nick Angelides and Marcooles, “the miracle” was explained. Marcooles “got on a step ladder
and went to fill the lamp using a plastic bottle filled with oil. He tipped the plastic bottle filled to
the top and poured into the lamp above the icon of Christ. As Bob Marcooles pulled the bottle back oil shot out of the bottle and splattered onto his hand and onto the floor.”

DIRECTIVE from the Metropolis!

FROM LATEST E-MAIL CORRESPONDENCE TO THE GREEK ORTHODOX COMMUNITY OF GREATER SALT LAKE:

His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah has directed that the attached original correspondence  he received from Parish Council President, Dimitri Tsagaris, be sent to the parish via e-mail.

---

October 24, 2012 SENT VIA OVERNIGHT MAIL

His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver
4550 East Alameda Avenue
Denver, CO 80246-1208

Your Eminence,

Again thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet with you in your office on Thursday September the 27th, 2012, to discuss many issues facing our beloved community.

As I mentioned in my letter to you, the attached summary report of our meeting was given to the Parish Council on Monday Oct 1, 2012. Besides our conversation, as reflected in the summary report, I also apprised you and presented to you written documentation and audio materials about two very sensitive issues: a) the issue ofthe Icon, and, b) the necessity for Fr. Michael Kouremetis' immediate reassignment.

On the issue of the Icon:

I provided to you a letter that I found in one of our employee's personnel file, Mr. Bob (George) Marcooles, along with his audio and written transcripts that provided explanation about the letter that was written on official Church stationery dated October 25, 2010, in which Bob signed the following statement:

"I, Bob Marcooles am writing this letter freely and I verify that I did not spill any oil on the miraculous Icon of Christ the Archpriest. This is truly a miracle from God."

Sincerely, Bob Marcooles

As I explained to you, at our meeting, upon discovery of the above-mentioned letter, I informed the Executive Committee about the existence of such letter, and the allegations, (as many of our community members heard over the last couple of years), that Bob did not compose such a letter. He did, however, sign such letter under pressure and fear. Most importantly, due to the sensitive issue regarding the icon, it was decided that I would proceed and contact Mr. Marcooles and give him the opportunity, if he wished, to explain the letter.

After my meeting with Bob, in the presence of Mr. Angelides, an attorney and retired military officer, who took the minutes of the interview, and also created the summary transcript of the audio tape, it became apparent to me that Bob was not the writer of the signed document, and that Bob was also directed by Fr. Michael not to discuss the accidental oil spill while he was filling the oil lamp hanging above the Icon.

Under these circumstances, I feel that we are dealing with a very serious issue, and most importantly with a very sensitive issue, of a premature declaration of a miracle, followed by actions of a cover-up.

I, along with the Executive Committee of our Parish Council, felt it was our duty and responsibility for you to know the details before the issue and documentation is to be discussed with Fr. Michael and Bob in the Parish Council and consequently with the community.

I also expressed to you my true struggle and concern for two reasons.

• First, our Community and Church cannot afford such damaging controversy and it is vital for you to address this sensitive issue in a timely manner. 
• Second, because Fr. Michael was not present to explain and defend himself, I was planning to immediately provide him with the same materials I provided you with and or meet with all involved.

You shared with me your sincere concerns and sadness for the situation, and expressed to me that this is an issue that you would like to handle yourself. As such, you asked me not to talk to or provide Fr. Michael with any materials, and also suggested not to talk to the Parish Council at that time. I respectfully honored your request and did not.

I tried to communicate with you via telephone on Friday and Saturday, October 19th and 20th, and left messages with your secretary and on your answering machine, (before we received your latest letter dated October 17, 2012), in order to follow up with our September 27th 2012 meeting. I will keep trying to verbally communicate with you.

We received your two letters, dated October 1st and 17th, with regard to the icon. For this we thank you. I also wish to tell you that those letters raised more questions, rather than providing answers, about this sensitive issue.

I mentioned to you that I have personally seen members of our parish as well as other Christians kneel in front of the icon as we all often do with icons. The issue, as we discussed at the meeting, is not whether people find relief when they pray to an icon or when they ask from Panagia or other Saints of our Church for their help with the various issues that they face, concerning health, career or well-being. We, as faithful Orthodox Christians, experience these kinds ofMiracles, Thavmata constantly in our daily lives. The real question that we face here is the circumstances under which the oil appeared on the icon of Christ the Archpriest at Prophet Elias. Also, the subsequent actions of Fr. Michael to silence Bob Marcooles to talk about the accidental spillage of oil, while he was filling the oil lamp overhanging directly over the icon, on his hands and the surrounding area by directing him to not talk about it. In addition, by pressuring Bob to sign the letter dictated by Fr. Michael and typed by his secretary verifying that this is "a true miracle from God." For these serious reasons I wanted to meet fust with you in private, before informing anyone else including Fr. Michael and the Parish Council at large.

It was my oversight not to mention at our meeting that Bob is going through emotionally hard times because of what has transpired. I am concerned and do feel for him as well.

On the importance of Fr. Michael Kouremetis' immediate reassignment:

I made it clear that Father Michael's liturgical and social abilities are superb and I admire him. However, I stated to you that there is another side of his personality and actions that have resulted in his inability to be effective as a priest in our community. He has, as well, put you personally in a difficult situation by repeating that he is following your directives (sometimes for trivial things). Most importantly, he has simply failed to provide the example of a good spiritual shepherd to the overwhelming majority of this community.

We have deep concerns that Father Michael has abdicated his role of community healer; he is now considered to be a highly divisive force. We are equally concerned that Fr. Michael has lost the trust of the larger Salt Lake City Greek Orthodox Community and is no longer an effective shepherd of our parish and Parish Council.

I explained to you that I hear, time after time, from many parishioners, and also from our own Executive Committee and Parish Council members that this community will not in any way move forward spiritually, fmancially or otherwise while Fr. Michael is among our clergy.

I provided you with a list of concerns and reasoning as to why Fr. Michael should be peacefully reassigned by the end of the year to another community because of performance and credibility issues. I also mentioned that this Parish Council does not wish to place itself, Your Eminence, and most importantly our parishioners, in a UPR fight or in a circus-like situation in front of a Parish Assembly. I do not view it as a UPR or Metropolis and Archdiocese conflict issue. I see this transfer as a required, necessary and prudent administrative action that will move our community forward. Fr. Michael announced from the pulpit on Sunday October 7th that the people who do not believe in miracles have "black souls" and also on October 14th Fr. Michael announced the two year anniversary of the miracle and mentioned that "there are among us people that do not believe in miracles and are antagonists of the Church". Statements like those do not move the community and Church forward.

Thank you for listening and also sharing your personal thoughts with me; I understood that this is an issue known to you from other sources, and that you will look into it.

In order for this community to move forward, the Parish Council has no other option but to discuss, among other employee personnel issues, Fr. Michael's issue as well, and to take the appropriate action.

In closing, I humbly and respectfully request that, this time, you take appropriate actions and allow this community to move forward and to finally heal. You have a capable Parish Council to assist you, and most importantly a community that is willing and determined to do so. Give us a chance. There are past mistakes and hard feelings across the board, however as we discussed, leaders have no luxury to take things personally. You have the power and the authority to let us move forward. The good of our community, our Church, our children and the legacy we leave to our future generation of leaders is at stake here.

In His Name and Service,

Respectfully,
/s/
Dimitrios Tsagaris
2012 Parish Council President

enclosure

Thoughts on the Metropolitan's Actions

“If you love the Church, if you love your community, as I believe you do, you will step forward with faith at the special general assembly and declare that your community is under our Ecumenical Patriarchate and our holy Archdiocese. Moreover, you will declare that your community will no longer be a secular "association" controlled by a select few temporal humans, but rather by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who has promised that His Church will continue to be in the world, even to the great day of His Second Coming.” +Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, November 15, 2011

Who does Metropolitan Isaiah favor? Does he side with his fellow priests or with our community? Who did Metropolitan Isaiah side with when news of child sexual abuse came to light about Rev. Nicholas Katinas? Did the Metropolitan have concern about the victims in this case or was he more concerned about his clergyman? Did the Metropolitan think about his flock in Salt Lake when he decided to split our community, or did he side with Fr. Michael again and again? Did the Metropolitan listen to the advice of Archbishop Demetrios on the subject?

The Metropolitan tells us above that if we love our community that we must agree to the amended and restated articles of incorporation. This way, we will not be controlled by a select few temporal humans, but rather by our Lord and Savior. Time and time again, the Metropolitan places himself and his clergy above their flock. We are a strong community and we are a good community. To think how this man and his puppets have tried to disgrace the most honorable people among us causes great anger and pain. Our Church leaders have stepped on the names of Bapis, Sargetakis, Skedros and others that have earned the highest respect among us. The Metropolitan does not place his flock above himself. We have no problem with our community being controlled by our Lord and Savior and our community deserves a Metropolitan and Clergy that follow the Lord's teachings.

Perhaps someday we will have a Metropolitan who has earned the respect of our community like the people he now tries to step on. Perhaps when that day comes, this community will favor the adoption of the amended and restated article of incorporation. But for now we will remain a good community, strong in our faith and without the need of false miracles.

- Jim Sefandonakis

Conspiracy or Miracle??

Continuation of the “miracle” saga.

An accidental oil spillage is not a miracle.

Last week I ruminated about the miracle.  I was wondering whether or not the Denver Aghio was misinformed or a conspirator.  The answer came last [Saturday] night.  The Denver Metropolitan took leave of his senses and proclaimed widely that it was indeed a miracle.

Last week Mr. Marcooles called me and related to me that the oil was accidentally spilled, when he was cleaning in and around the icon.  Mr. Marcooles said that he was coerced in signing the letter; the letter dictated by Fr. Michael and typed by his secretary.  Mr. Marcooles also told me that he told several people, who also related the same story to me, about the accidental oil spillage.  We demand that Fr. Michael make the letter public at this time so that we can all be informed.  At a minimum there is a diametrically opposed position which needs to be researched, so that we can all find the truth.

My limited understanding about miracles is that in order that some act or event be proclaimed a miracle, the Holy Eparchial Synod and the Archbishop must investigate and decide.  It cannot be left to either a single priest or a single bishop.  It is crystal clear that during last week’s Synodal meeting, the Holy Eparchial Synod did not consider the Salt Lake miracle.  The Denver Metropolitan did not attend the Synodal meeting.  He no longer enjoys the confidence of his fellow Synodal bishops.  He has become a non-entity.

Christ said in one of His parables: Η πίστη σου σεσωκέσαι. The Denver Bishop finds no solace in faith.  He did not attribute this miracle to the healing power of a person’s great faith for the veneration of the icon.  Instead the Bishop thought that it was convenient to conspire to fabricate the miracle.  Faking and fabricating a miracle and supporting the claim by unnamed sources strains the credulity of the event, and the credibility of the Bishop.

The Denver Metropolitan continues to follow Rasputin’s great example of disinformation.

It is time that we get out from under the yoke of the Denver Metropolitan and his minion appointed clergymen.

Let us ALL unite to go back to our roots.

Best regards to all.
Nick J. Colessides
Attorney at Law
466 South 400 East, Suite 100
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111-3325

CEASELESS WONDERS! More October Missives!

Moderator's Note: Father Michael sent out this latest note via e-mail on October 20 from Metropolitan Isaiah. The original letter may be viewed here.

One further note: interestingly, Fr. Michael received this letter prior to his scanning it and sending it out via e-mail on Saturday, October 20th. Holy Trinity's copy of the same letter arrived on Monday, October 22nd. 

Collusion? Obviously.

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From the Office of Father Michael

Beloved in the Lord,

We have just received the following letter from His Emminence Metropolitan Isaiah directing us to email this letter to the entire parish. His has also asked us to send a hard-copy to each home which will be sent this coming week. Please excuse the formatting of the emailed copy, the mailed copy will be in its original format. We give glory and thanksgiving to our Lord and Savior for the blessings He bestows upon us.

In His service,

Father Michael

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GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF DENVER

October 17, 2012

Reverend Michael Kouremetis, Proistamenos
Reverend Matthew Gilbert, Proistamenos
Mr. Dimitrios Tsangaris, Council President
The Esteemed Parish Council
Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Prophet Elias Church
5335 S. Highland Drive
Holladay, UT 84117

Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Prophet Elias Church
5335 S. Highland Drive
Holladay, UT 84117

Beloved in the Lord,

During the past two weeks, I have received many surprising and inspiring responses to my letter of October 1, 2012 to the community regarding the holy icon of our Lord Jesus Christ. I have been informed in writing by respected and reputable people of the community that they have truly seen oil emitting from within the holy icon of our Lord. More importantly, several members have been healed of physical maladies after being anointed with the oil.

One highly respected member of the community informed me in writing that the reason that this person did not mention the healing to anyone was to be faithful to our Lord's words in the holy gospels, when He healed certain people and told them not to tell anyone of the healing. Although this statement of our Lord is in all four gospels, this parishioner decided to inform me of the healing miracle, due to my letter of October 1sr of this year. For this, I am truly grateful because I was remiss in not asking for any evidence concerning the exuding of the oil from the Lord's icon, when this phenomenon first began.

I am now totally convinced that my words in the October 20, 2010 letter to the parish are based on factual phenomena of healing which came about through the icon of our Lord. Because of this I am truly relieved and thankful to God that so many members of the community have responsibly attested to the fact that the oil exuding from the holy icon was truly real.

May our Lord's rich blessings continue to inspire and strengthen the people of Holy Trinity and Prophet Elias to come together in love and peace for the growth of the Church in the Salt Lake City area and, especially, for the salvation of God's people in His coming Kingdom.

With Paternal Blessings,

/s/

Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver

Questioning the "Christianity" of "THE MATH"?

Someone recently accused this site of " 'Mitt Romney style' accounting" when discussing "the math" surrounding the community’s recent elections, the makeup of the elected parish council, and the wishes reflected by the majority in this community.

We are not sure what the political reference infers, but another comment made was that "the Math" we referred in a previous blog article somehow reflected the feelings of the "non-Christians" in the community, as opposed to, what we are to assume to be the wishes of "Christians"?


We are not sure what this assertion implies either.

Is it that if one opposes the splitting of the community one is de facto "non-Christian"? Or is it that one cannot be "christian" and support the current GOP candidate? (That would be news to quite a few of our fellow citizens who would undoubtedly insist otherwise!)

We are unsure how or why these assertions might be relevant to the community's concerns in matters that are important to our church community. 

To date it has never occurred to anyone who has written on this blog to conflate the secular politics of this country with the insular problems of our community - or even with the larger concerns of Orthodoxy in this country and abroad. Many of this community's members have expressed opinions on this blog, undoubtedly reflecting diverse political points of view that are utterly irrelevant to the ongoing crisis in our Church - locally, nationally and globally.

For the record, this site is NOT politically partisan. Those who have written here are committed to the restoration of this community's vibrancy as a beacon of Orthodoxy, Hellenism and other Orthodox cultures, and, more importantly, to the greater glory of our Lord. Additionally, this blog has hoped to initiate a dialogue that will lead to a better balance between clergy and laity throughout this country.

Finally, we have said it before and we will say it again: Holy Trinity and Prophet Elias are part of this community's legacy and both belong to the Lord and to this community as a whole. If they are to split, it will be the MAJORITY that decides, based on the REAL MATH, no matter who counts it, or what some, ignoring the dictum, "judge not lest yet also be judged", choose to label as "Christian" or "non-Christian"!

- Barbara Billinis Colessides

OCTOBER LETTERS

Moderator's Note: the two letters below, one from our Parish Council president, Mr. Dimitrios Tsagaris, and one from His Eminence, Metropolitan Isaiah, were recently distributed to the community's membership. The originals of these letters may be viewed here.

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October 2, 2012
VIA FAX AND FIRST CLASS MAIL

His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver
4550 East Alameda Avenue
Denver, CO 80246-1208

Your Eminence,

l humbly and sincerely thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet with you in your office on Thursday, September 27, 2012 where we discussed many issues facing our beloved community.

I felt the meeting was very open, sincere, productive, and informative for both of us.

A report of our meeting was given to the entire Parish Council during last night's October 1, 2012 meeting.

The Parish Council thanked me for taking the initiative to meet with you on a one-to-one basis, and also expressed their gratitude for your encouragement to continue our communications with you at any time. We further thank you for planning to visit with us at the near future.

During our October 1, 2012 meeting, we discussed ways in which we might acknowledge and thank the many volunteers who provided exceptional service during the critical time period before and during our annual Greek Festival, along with other events. We have begun with letters to the overall chairpersons for the festival. Over the coming days, we will work on acknowledging the many others, without whom the success of this summer's events would have been greatly diminished.

The Parish Council directed me to copy you on one of those letters. I thank you for your time and your concern for our efforts.

In His Name and Service,
/s/
Dimitrios Tsagaris
2012 Parish Council President
enclosure

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GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF DENVER

October 1, 2012

Rev. Michael Kouremetis, Proistamenos
Rev. Matthew Gilbert, Proistamenos
Mr. Dimitrios Tsangaris, Council President
The Esteemed Parish Council
Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Prophet Elias Church
279 South 300 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Beloved in the Lord,

On October 20, 2010 I wrote a letter to Father Michael Kouremetis in response to a telephone call I had received from him informing me that an icon of our Lord Jesus Christ began to exude oil at the Prophet Elias parish. My emotions took hold of me since in our Metropolis Center we have an icon of the Theotokos which is over two hundred years old and which continues to exude oil. Several persons who have been anointed with the oil have been healed of various maladies. Among them is one woman who had been diagnosed with cancer and on a later examination was told that she had no malignancy.

Two years have passed from the time I was informed of your icon of the Lord. Yet I have never received any information regarding healings attributed to the oil from the icon at Prophet Elias. On the contrary, recently I have received written information signed by individuals that oil has never actually come forth from the icon in question.

Please know that when I was first informed of this reputed phenomenon, I immediately believed that this was a sign from the Lord that the problems in the community would come to an end and that unity and peace would prevail. Obviously, this has not happened.

My fear at this time is that this event was either imagined by those who also wanted to see an end to the anomalies in the community, or that it was orchestrated for personal reasons. If it was done deliberately, then this was a sacrilegious act which can bring judgmental consequences against those responsible.

In order to verify the truth in this very serious matter, I am asking that anyone who has been anointed with the oil from the icon and who has received relief or healing in any way, to inform me, so that I may know definitively that my letter of October 20, 2010 reflects a true phenomenon, and was not based on imagination or biased intentions.

With paternal blessings,
/s/
+Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver