Elpidophoros Should Be A Uniter, Not A Divider, In the NY Federation

By Nick Stamatakis

Please take a look at our main photo. It shows AB Demetrios just five years ago addressing the thousands of Greek-Americans who gathered at the UN Plaza to protest the use of the name of Macedonia by anyone else but Greece.  It was March of 2018, and AB Demetrios, despite the chilly weather and his old age, was there to protest with all of us and be heard throughout America and beyond.

Who organized the protest? Several organizations shared the duty under the auspices of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York.  Here are some more photos:

The Federation of NY has been the primary organizational vehicle for all the causes of Greece and Cyprus and all other threats facing Hellenism in the most dangerous neighborhood of the planet, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. And it has the history to prove it. The fact that the Federation has been the official organizer of the 5th Avenue Annual Greek Independence Day Parade further enhances its importance.

This historic 85-year-old organization has been plagued by internal conflict for over three years, and the two main factions accuse each other of all kinds of violations. Nothing is unusual here as we all know our national vice, “anger.”  Homer’s Iliad starts with precisely this word, anger: “Μῆνιν ἄειδε, θεά, Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος…” which translates as “The αnger Sing, o Goddess, of Achilles, the son of Peleus…” The conflict in the Federation is deeply rooted in previous leaders’ malpractice (and, in some cases, corruption). But considering that the annual budget has been around $500,000 and the known expenses are not far behind, it does not take a math genius to understand that, more than malpractice and corruption, we are dealing with childish behavior of monumental proportions. We are dealing with stupid, unreasonable, egotistical pride more than anything else.

The photo above shows the last time the Archbishop bothered to gather together the two sides of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York over two years ago, in November 2021. Both sides, openly or privately, had asked to see Elpidophoros and sought his mediation then.  I thought these older leaders with years of experience in the community’s affairs should be able to solve the issues between them and unite for the common good. They could achieve it without asking the Archbishop.  And I said so at the time.

But what did the Archbishop do after the meeting? Did he give the right advice? Did he follow up on his mediation efforts? Did he apply all the prestige and respect any archbishop enjoys in the community? Or did he stand back and let the two sides fight each other in Court while he was blessing AHEPA and setting an “AHEPA Day” in the Church’s calendar?  And at the same time, planning secretly to help AHEPA take over the organization of the 5th Avenue Parade? Why did he side with AHEPA? What did he gain out of this one-sidedness?

The reality is that Elpidophoros has not done much else since the first meeting with the Federation leaders in Nov. 2021. Not only did he not do anything, but in the Parade of 2022, he was seen as undermining the parade on the issue of the Evzones – which we were able to reverse at the last possible minute thanks to the intervention of HANC President Mr. Mataragas and Helleniscope. The following year, in the parade of 2023, the Archbishop picked Fr. Evagoras (Kontantinides) as his representative in the Federation. Fr. Evagoras headed (inappropriately) the “Evzones Committee” of the Federation. After the end of the parade, he refused to account for the income and expenses of his committee, a Federation Committee!!  How do we interpret such an action? This could only be seen as another step towards discrediting the Federation.

Whatever plans Elpidophoros had in mind, the situation has now radically changed. Karloutsos, helped by the acts of the Israeli lobby (AIPAC), plans to send Elpidophoros to retirement, and they used Alexandra Papadopoulou, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs for Greece, to transfer to the Patriarch the Greek Government’s “dissatisfaction with the Archbishop’s divisive practices” in America.  The accusations are well-founded – Helleniscope has documented them thoroughly…  I will only underline this: Could anyone imagine Elpidophonos taking part in any such event as the UN demonstration of our main photo – let alone addressing it? I am afraid not. Instead, in Sept. 2021, he visited the Turkish House despite solid warnings to the opposite.

Now, as the Archbishop faces dire straights and is looking at the exit door, he is trying to show a unifying behavior: Photos and more photos with all, even the “journalists” (sorry, I meant photographers…), who suddenly “bought” a birthday cake for him… And more photos, as he was serving turkey during Thanksgiving in Astoria… And finally, yesterday, a “patriotic” statement against the British PM, Rishi Sunak, “who insulted all of us Greeks by canceling his meeting with Mitsotakis!!”

All these “photo-ops” are useless because they are superficial. There is a more practical way for the Archbishop to show that he is a uniter: to bring peace to the Federation.  The older among us remember well that Archbishop Iakovos had invited the Federation’s leaders to his office quite a few times and quickly settled many disputes of this type.  How did he do it? By applying pressure, following up, and showing genuine interest in this historic organization.  By recognizing that if anything terrible happens to Greece and Cyprus, the Federation of NY will – and not AHEPA – would carry the heavy political load of supporting the “mother countries.”

• AHEPA has done next to nothing for the issues of Greece and Cyprus in its 100 years.
• AHEPA is led by people motivated by a personal interest more than a sense of duty.  They are handling substantial property without transparency and accountability. The time will come for them to be held accountable appropriately.
• Just this past week, AHEPA refused to answer all the questions we posed to them regarding their inappropriately close connection to the State Department.
• AHEPA has a role to play – but this role cannot include taking over events organized by other organizations.
• AHEPA, the Federation of NY, and other Federations and organizations nationwide must reform themselves to allow the younger Greek-Americans to take the lead.

Elpidophoros may have a significant opportunity to intervene in the Federation.  How?

1) By calling the two most significant leaders of the two sides, Dimitris Kalamaras and George Georgopoulos, into his office immediately.  Nobody else is needed for the beginning. The others’ involvement will cause problems and delays. I spoke to both of them recently, and I know they are tired of the continued conflict and ready to find a solution and a way out. The community is exhausted – and also disgusted.

2) Set deadlines for finishing the work for the two committees set up last June.  This can be done with some friendly, good-faith suggestions.

3) Encouraging all organizations outside the Federation to enter (or re-enter), let’s say by Jan. 20.  A call by the Archbishop will go a long way. AB Iakovos or AB Demetrios would have done the same because they recognized the significance of preserving and reforming the Federation.

4) Suggesting that the critical task of reforming the Charter is to be done by the new administration after the elections.

5) By asking both Georgopoulos and Kalamaras (along with other leaders of past administrations) to step aside after the upcoming elections and form an “Advisory Board,” and allow younger Greek-Americans to take over. I do not want to hear again that the current Charter provides that “no one can assume an office of the Federation unless they have served at the Board before.”  This is a childish excuse: We are at a constitutional phase; we will re-write the charter.  It’s as if the Federation starts from scratch.

Do I believe the Archbishop can lead this effort and achieve such a unifying feat, even at this late moment? Yes, I do. He now has a tremendous personal interest in proving that he is a uniter and a sincere supporter of our communal goals. Whether he has the skills and the ability is doubtful. 

But will he take the initiative in good faith?

December 2, 2023, n.stamatakis@aol.com   www.helleniscope.com

DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author.

TO SUPPORT HELLENISCOPE OR BECOME A SUBSCRIBER, LINK HERE!!