Apostolos Ascent to Power in Canada…

OUR MAIN IMAGE: An artistic rendition of Apostolos’ true character…

By Lambros Karpodinis

As you may know, our own metropolitan, Apostolos, was chosen to lead the Canadian archdiocese, earning him the title of archbishop. It appears that, in rising through the church hierarchy, lack of Christian ethos and past accomplishments in furthering Christ’s church plays no role.

How did I reach that conclusion? Very simply. Apostolos has been leading the N.J. diocese for about 5 years. What has he accomplished? Nothing substantial comes to mind. Sure, he has the “burden” of attending dinners, galas, and endless ceremonies, honoring persons that don’t deserve the honor bestowed on them, having not once, that we know of, visited the poor, the homeless, the sick, and the refugees.

A hierarch should serve as Christ’s representative until Christ’s Second Coming. Nothing in Apostolos’s active ministry comes close to reflecting Christ’s ministry.

Where does Christ come to mind when Apostolos honors the Trump disciple, Christos Marafatsos, a young man who wields no power in the administration other than his total devotion to Trump? He was honored with some kind of useless medal, in the hope that Marafatsos is a Trump whisperer who has the power to facilitate Elpidoforo’s and Apostolos’ rise in hierarchy.

Christ was certainly absent when Apostolos honored archdiocesan lawyer George Tsougarakis with the Alexander the Great Lifetime Achievement Award and showered him with undeserved praise as “a quiet, respectful servant to clergy and faithful alike.” A quiet servant? That description would be no more truthful than claiming Tsougarakis is a brain surgeon. Tsougarakis may be a servant—or, more accurately, a poodle—to the clergy, but he bullies, disrespects, and threatens the faithful. He is misguided in believing that clergy and their selfish, un-Christian actions should be protected at all costs from the scrutiny of the faithful.

Further evidence of Apostolo’s unsuitability in leading an archdiocese is his self-promotion. When he visited our parish of St George, he had a follower who carried a camera, taking upwards of 200 pictures, with the annoying flash going off, while the liturgy was being conducted. The camera would flash when Apostolos was behind the altar, when he was bringing the Holy Gifts out for communion, while communion was dispensed. In other words, no part of the liturgy was too sacred to give the camera a break.

When I called his office to object to photographs being taken during the liturgy, his secretary said he would not stop. I then asked whether parents of the children lining up to retrieve the cross would be allowed to photograph their children during the service. He said they would not. When I pointed out the hypocrisy, he stopped taking my calls. From what I understand, he spends time reviewing his photos and deciding which ones to publish. While people may think their hierarch is working for the church, he is instead choosing which pictures make him look best for his website, as though he were a teenager posting on Instagram.

During the Greek festivals, a vendor of lewd, violent and racist material had penetrated most of the churches in N.J. Apostolos, as the overseer, failed in his one mission. To keep our churches holy. When I pointed out that such a vendor is desecrating our churches, which finally woke up from the deep lethargy and ignorance that characterizes the clergy and responsible board members, I was declared persona non grata, trespassed from the church, and handed over to the Pharisees of the archdiocese to be bullied.

Due to my activism, my calls were not answered. So, I decided to visit the Metropolis office, which was triple locked. I rang the bell, identified myself, and asked to see the chancellor. The woman who answered the bell told me through the intercom that I needed to call and make an appointment. When I countered that my calls are not answered, because they have my phone number on their “do not respond” list, she went silent. Despite my repeated attempts to communicate, no further response was offered.

Christ, during His ministry, was asked gotcha questions. He never disregarded them. He answered them because He was truthful. Only when you’re reluctant to allow your lies to come to the surface, then, you don’t answer questions.

Because dishonesty appears to characterize these clergy, they avoid interviews with the Greek-American press. If they had nothing to hide, why would they refuse to answer questions?

Kalmoukos of the National Herald has never interviewed Apostolos and, more troubling, has never held him accountable for his many misdeeds. The National Herald regularly criticizes others, especially Elpidoforos—and often deservedly—but never Apostolos. I suspect that some understanding was reached between Apostolos and the National Herald to withhold criticism in exchange for inside information. If true, this would show the archdiocese’s power to act against the interests of its own parishioners and the body of Christ it claims to represent, as well as the weakness of the National Herald’s claim that it fights for the Greek-American community.

In conclusion, by Apostolos being sent to the cold North, our diocese will not lose an advocate and a hard worker and Canada will not benefit by the newly installed archbishop. Let’s hope that I am wrong.