Source: The National Herald By Theodoros Kalmoukos SIOUX CITY, IA – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America appointed Fr. Luke Melackrinos to the Holy Trinity parish of Sioux City in Iowa. He will assume his full pastoral duties on November 19. The parish belongs to the jurisdiction of the Metropolis of Chicago, which is currently vacant after the death of Metropolitan Iakovos. Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit is the locum tenens and Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos is the chancellor. Rev. Melackrinos was placed on suspension from all liturgical and administrative duties as presiding priest at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Hempstead, NY…
Browsing: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Source: The National Herald By Theodoros Kalmoukos NEW YORK – The economic situation of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is much more serious than thought before. The National Herald has learned from within the recent meeting of the Archdiocesan Council that the deficit actually is $12.75 million. The deficit includes a transfer of $4.75 million made from the restricted accountsof which $2.5 million was from St. Nicholas at Ground Zero rebuilding fund. The transfers were made to the Archdiocese’s general operating accounts, which violates is own regulations and may cause legal problems. Another $4 million is in deficit since…
Source: The National Herald By Theodoros Kalmoukos NEW YORK – Nothing substantial was achieved in the recent meeting of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America presided by His Eminence Geron Demetrios. The Archdiocese’s financial crisis, which The National Herald revealed on August 30, was discussed. A discussion took place about the vacant Metropolis of Chicago. The List of Candidates for elevation to the rank of episcopacy was not complete, except for some deletions of candidates deemed entirely unfit. Archbishop Demetrios attributed the delay to the Archdiocese’s Legal Committee examining whether hierarchs serving in metropolises abroad…
Source: The National Herald By Theodoros Kalmoukos NEW YORK – The Registry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese is in danger because it was given to a special company to digitize it without keeping copies, but the company refuses to return the data until the Archdiocese pays it in full. The Registry contains the names of all the Greek-Orthodox faithful who have had baptisms, weddings and funerals performed by the Church. Practically speaking, the Archdiocese doesn’t have the ability to issue any certificate of baptism or wedding in case some faithful members of the parishes request one, especially before the creation…
Source: The Pappas Post by Gregory Pappas Michael Psaros, treasurer of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America addressed the full Archdiocesan Council this morning at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City where hundreds of representatives from various Metropolises around the country are meeting. The subject of the financial crisis that has gripped the Archdiocese was on the agenda and a full report was presented by the Council’s treasurer, Michael Psaros, a New York businessman and someone who has committed much of his own time and money to help clean up the fiscal mess at the Archdiocese. The subject of…
Source: Estiator by P.S. MAKRIAS The matter of replacing Archbishop Demetrios was discussed last month in Constantinople in conjunction with the crisis that broke out following the Patriarchate’s decision regarding the vacant see of the Metropolis of Chicago. The National Herald reported that it was proposed to Archbishop Demetrios that he resign. The Archdiocese denied this report, but the newspaper insists on the accuracy of its information. It’s much easier for us to believe the newspaper. However, regardless of who is telling the truth, we, too, believe that it’s time for Archbishop Demetrios to hand over his position to another prelate. The Archbishop…
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America NEW YORK — The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America releases below a “Statement on the Archdiocesan Financial Situation” and a “Message from Archbishop Demetrios” Statement on the Archdiocesan Financial Situation Beginning in October of 2016, and continuing through early 2017, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America, and the officers of the Executive Committee of the Archdiocesan Council learned that the Archdiocese faced a severe and complex financial deficit that had been building for several years. Concurrently, Archbishop Demetrios recommended a new leadership team, which was elected by the full Archdiocesan Council. George Tsandikos, managing…
Source: The National Herald By Theodoros Kalmoukos The message recently sent by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America to submit explanations about the Archdiocese’s finances immediately, to the patriarch and the Patriarchate’s Holy Synod, as The National Herald reported, was certainly ominous. Beyond the specific directive, the patriarch’s decision, communicated directly by him, clearly indicates that the time has come for Archbishop Demetrios to depart willingly and spend his remaining years in peace and quiet. It was a way for the patriarch to tell his archbishop to step down, rather than be dethroned,…
Source: The National Herald By Theodoros Kalmoukos BOSTON – Dismissed Archdiocese Finance Committee chairman Mr. George Vourvoulias in an exclusive interview with The National Herald spoke about his dismissal, the $900,000 he received for his expenses, the $8.5 million deficit, the $15 million from St. Nicholas reportedly unaccountable at the September 26, 2017 meeting, Archbishop Demetrios, Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, and the work of the Finance Committee. The entire interview follows: The National Herald: Is it possible to comment about your dismissal from the chairmanship of the Finance Committee? George Vourvoulias: I don’t know if it would be proper or…
Source: The National Herald By Theodoros Kalmoukos BOSTON – The restricted and inviolate Leadership 100 funds, in excess of 2.5 million dollars donated in 2017 which were to be allocated to various departments of the Archdiocese in support of specific programs and ministries, were not actually allocated for their intended purpose, according to reliable sources of The National Herald. Disturbingly, as in previous similar instances of misallocation by the Archdiocese, nobody seems to know what happened to the funds. TNH has learned that some of the heads of departments were persuaded, at the risk of losing their jobs, to falsify…
Source: The National Herald By Theodoros Kalmoukos NEW YORK – George Vourvoulias, Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is organizing a behind-the-scenes campaign in support of Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, Chancellor of the Metropolis of Chicago to be elevated to the rank of metropolitan. Vourvoulias is the one who received the sum of $900,000 over a period of ten years from the Archdiocese for his travel expenses; purportedly, he is a volunteer. In a September 12 email to Chicago parish officials, he urged them to bombard Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop Demetrios of America, and…
Source: The National Herald By Theodoros Kalmoukos CONSTANTINOPLE – The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which was convened at the Phanar on October 4, presided by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, directed Archbishop Demetrios to submit explanations about the Archdiocese of America’s finances. The Synod also asked about the List of Candidates for the High Priesthood and specifically about the Metropolis of Chicago, which unless things proceed expeditiously, will not have a new metropolitan in place for Christmas. The Synod also discussed paideia, given the closings of many parish day schools. Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh, who is Demetrios’ spiritual offspring, attempted…