Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Karen Herzog Not unlike the Apostle Peter, the Rev. James Dokos betrayed his church. While Peter denied knowing Jesus, Dokos embezzled more than $100,000 from Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Wauwatosa while serving as the parish priest. Dokos used the money to buy jewelry for his wife and to pay for lavish dinners and everyday expenses, according to court records. On Sunday, the start of Holy Week in the Greek Orthodox Church, the new leader of Midwestern Greek Orthodox parishes came to Wauwatosa to discuss betrayal, forgiveness, and trust — themes that particularly resonate with Christians this time of year. In advance of his visit, Metropolitan Nathanael Symeonides told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel…
Browsing: Fr James Dokos
Source: The National Herald BY THEODORE KALMOUKOS Analysis I had written about the so-called “Spiritual” Courts some years ago. The reason that I decided to write about the issue once again is the recent case of Rev. James Dokos, who pled guilty to embezzling funds. And entered into a differed agreement with the authorities in order to avoid imprisonment. There are two types of “Spiritual” Courts. The First Degree, which is convened on the local level at the Metropolis and the Second Degree on Archdiocesan level. Specifically, the Eparchial Synod itself becomes a “Spiritual” Court. The First Degree Court submits…
Friends, As promised, I am sending you a copy of the Motion filed by Dokos’s attorneys to file “under seal” a letter from Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago. The contents of that letter remain secret and should be released to the public, now that there has been a disposition of the case. Whatever the contents of that letter may be, it is obvious from the response of the State, and from the subsequent ruling of the Court denying the defense motion to dismiss the criminal charge on 1st Amendment “Separation of Church and States” grounds and because “this should be handled…
Source: WTMJ-TV Milwaukee More than $100,000 was taken. by Pete Zervakis MILWAUKEE — A local priest accused of stealing more than $100,000 from his former parish between 2008 and 2012 pleaded guilty in a Milwaukee County courtroom on Monday. According to a criminal complaint, Father James Dokos, longtime priest at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, stole more than $100,000 from a trust fund that was supposed to be used primarily for the building of the church’s cultural center. Under the conditions of a deferred prosecution agreement accepted by the judge Monday, Dokos must perform 40 hours of community service over the…
Source: The National Herald BY THEODORE KALMOUKOS The case of Fr. James Dokos, former presiding priest of the Annunciation Parish in Milwaukee has brought to light once again a lack of leadership in the Greek Orthodox Church, on the Archdiocesan and Metropolis levels. The Milwaukee DA has charged Dokos with theft of trust funds, and Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos with attempt to interfere with the judicial process. First of all Fr. Dokos should not have been involved with financial issues involving his parishioners including assuming the role of caretaker of the trust established by the Franczak family. Undoubtedly, this entire…
Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos Rev. Angelo Artemas, presiding priest at the Annunciation parish in Milwaukee, spoke with TNH about his predecessor, Fr. James Dokos, who has been charged with stealing money from a trust of a former parishioner of his. MILWAUKEE, Wisc. – Rev. Angelo Artemas, presiding priest at the Annunciation parish in Milwaukee, WI broke his silence and in exclusive interview to TNH spoke freely and openly about the situation involving his predecessor, Fr. James Dokos, who has been charged with stealing money from a trust of a former parishioner of his. Dokos, who is charged…
Source: Chicago Tribune By Lisa Black Prosecutor: Chicago Greek Orthodox bishop was warned not to intimidate witness in theft case against priest A high-ranking Greek Orthodox bishop in Chicago was warned by a prosecutor against “potential efforts to intimidate witnesses” in a case involving a priest accused of stealing more than $100,000 from a Milwaukee church. The warning came after another priest in Milwaukee told authorities that Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, the No. 2-ranking official in the Greek Orthodox faith in the Midwest, threatened in emails to remove him from his post if the church did not withdraw a theft…
July 22, 2014 Rev. Fr. James Greanias, President Metropolis of Chicago Clergy Syndesmos c/o St. Iakovos Greek Orthodox Church 602 E. Monroe Street Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 Fr. Jim, You are listed as the current leader of the Clergy Brotherhood of our Metropolis. I have been a steward of the Parish of Saints Peter & Paul for almost 40 years. Twenty years on the Council, three of them as President. I served as a delegate to several Diocesan Assemblies and ten Clergy-Laity Congresses. I stepped off the Council three years ago to make room for others to serve. I know that…
Source: WISN.com MILWAUKEE —A priest accused of embezzling six figures from his Milwaukee congregation is a no-show in court again. His attorney said Father James Dokos was admitted to the hospital Monday morning. VIDEO: Father James Dokos a no-show in court again Monday She waited outside court to show her support. The former secretary at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church compared her former boss to Jesus Christ. “There’s only one man that’s perfect and what did they do to him? He’s gone. He’s dead. They killed him, and that’s what they’re trying to do to Father Jim — crucify him,” church member…
Source: WBLX Local By Alan Silverman WAUWATOSA (WITI) — The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office is investigating whether a former priest stole money from Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Wauwatosa. Members of the congregation gathered on Sunday, October 27th to learn more about the alleged activity of their former priest, Father James Dokos. Church attorney Emmanuel Mamalakis presented members with the findings and sequence of events that led them to the District Attorney’s Office. “We were doing some work on accounting. We were cleaning up papers and as we were going through, we noticed some issues,” explained Mamalakis. The issue was…