Instead of overblowing Turkish nationalists’ threats against Elpidophoros, he and the Patriarch should take measures to correct their course and move away from the “losing side of history”: away from “wokeness,” away from heresies, and away from Ukraine. Finally, they should take steps to grant wide autonomy to the Church of America.
By Nick Stamatakis
A lot of noise has been caused since yesterday by the publication of statements by some relatively unknown Turkish nationalists targeting Elpidophoros and demanding that his Turkish passport be taken away (please see below in English and Greek). As someone who has been following Elpidphoros’s statements and actions closely even before he arrived in America in 2019, I can assure you that his statements on the “Ecumenical” Patriarchate and other Hellenic issues, particularly on Cyprus, have always been very “measured” and soft, always paying attention to how many cameras, if any, are around.
The one exception was in July 2024, when Elpidophoros faced significant criticism from Turkish officials and media following his remarks at the “Cyprus: Land of Embrace” concert during the Clergy-Laity Congress. He condemned the Turkish invasion and occupation of northern Cyprus, stating: “We are fifty years from the invasion, and the illegal seizure and occupation of one third of this sovereign Island Nation by the Turkish troops. We cannot let the world forget, and we will not let the world forget.”
Other than this one statement, Elpidophoros has been careful “not to rock the boat”, i.e., Erdogan, with whom he is suspected to have made a deal: Elpidophoros needs Erdogan’s support if he is to achieve his goal of becoming a Patriarch. Alas, his strong attachment to “Deep State” politics and his anti-Trump, woke messages have placed him on “the losing side of history.” Even worse, he followed these policies, going against the overwhelming majority of the Greek-American community who have strongly supported Trump. He managed to put himself in a corner, in an impossible way!!
The Archbishop’s circle and his advisers believe that overblowing statements by Turkish nationalists will give him a much-needed aura of a “Hellenic Hero.” However, this will not be enough. The damage he has caused during his tenure is widespread. It has to do with his heretic religious positions, including his support of homosexuality, his (and the Patriarch’s) inappropriate involvement in Ukraine, and his lack of support for Hellenic issues.
Patriarch Bartholomew, himself in an even worse “hole,” plans to come in late August to participate in Kalroutsos’s “Blue Dream” in the Hamptons. He also wants to re-establish ties with Washington, D.C., and, of course, he will see if Elpidophoros can somehow be saved and stay as an Archbishop. Notably, Elpidophoros was NOT notified about the Patriarch’s trip, and he learned it from the news..
I can offer some advice to both Bartholomew and Elpidophoros. It is based on the very disturbing realities of our life as a Greek-American community: Like the Jewish, the Armenian, and other communities in America, we are supposed to support Hellenic causes – and God knows there are plenty. Yet, as we are trying to do that, we are saddled with religious leaders (Archbishop and Metropolitans) who are Turkish citizens and have a direct, open line with the Turkish Foreign Ministry… It’s schizophrenic!! How would the Jewish-American community react if their chief Rabbis were under the boot of the Mullahs of Tehran?
There are two solutions: First, move the Patriarchate to either Mount Athos or Mistras or Thessaloniki in Greece, keeping a skeleton/museum structure in Constantinople. Second (and to me more preferable), give the Church of America broad autonomy (the “autocephaly” is a more complicated question), arranging for exceptional financial support for the Patriarchate. Use the Church of Crete as a model without calling it autocephalous. The easiest way to achieve this solution is to install the American-born AB Nikitas (Loulias) as the next Archbishop.
You can continue to proceed in the same disastrous way, but do not be surprised if parish membership falls even further from its current dismal levels.
April 2, 2025, 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!!
=================
Request to cancel the Turkish passport of the Archbishop of America
01.04.2025 13:47
By Maria Zacharaki
Archbishop of America Elpidophoros has been targeted this time by Turkish nationalist circles, who are calling for the cancellation of his Turkish passport, because… he spoke about Constantinople and referred to the term “Ecumenical”.
Journalist and columnist Erol Kara, representative of the “Blue Homeland Union” in Elazig, demanded through the local television channel Kanal23 that Archbishop Elpidophoros be banned from entering Turkey.
According to the publication, “the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America Elpidophoros caused a major scandal with his anti-Turkish statements during the “Celebration of Greek Independence, which took place a few days ago at the White House”, noting that “despite the decision of the Supreme Court of Cassation, Elpidophoros has used the term ‘ecumenical’ many times for the Greek Patriarch of the Phanar Bartholomew, recalling that he uses the noun ‘Constantinople’ instead of the correct ‘Istanbul’”.
The “Byzantine dream” is disturbing
The publication points out that “the Archbishop is being closely monitored, as he spouts hatred against Turkey with his Byzantine dream”.
Erol Kara openly urges nationalist circles in Turkey to take legal action against him, stating: “The followers of Ataturk, the conservatives and the nationalists in Turkey should file a lawsuit against Elpidophoros. I ask the prosecutors to do whatever is necessary for this man who acts against the Turkish Republic.”
The architect of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum is also in the game
The publication does not fail to mention that retired Rear Admiral Cihat Yayci, known for his anti-patriarchal sentiments, will continue the legal fight against the Archbishop. Yayci, the initiator of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum, has repeatedly spoken out against the presence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople and considers Elpidophoros a threat to the Turkish state.
=================
Ζητείται η ακύρωση του τουρκικού διαβατηρίου του Αρχιεπισκόπου Αμερικής
01.04.2025 13:47
Μαρία Ζαχαράκη
Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής Ελπιδοφόρος βρέθηκε στο στόχαστρο αυτή τη φορά των τουρκικών εθνικιστικών κύκλων, που ζητούν την ακύρωση του τουρκικού διαβατηρίου του, επειδή… μίλησε για την Κωνσταντινούπολη και αναφέρθηκε στον όρο «Οικουμενικός».
Σύμφωνα με το δημοσίευμα, «ο Ρωμιορθόδοξος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής Ελπιδοφόρος προκάλεσε μεγάλο σκάνδαλο με τις αντι-τουρκικές δηλώσεις του κατά τη διάρκεια του «Εορτασμού της Ελληνικής Ανεξαρτησίας, που πραγματοποιήθηκε προ ημερών στο Λευκό Οίκο», σημειώνοντας ότι «παρά την απόφαση του Ανώτατου Ακυρωτικού Δικαστηρίου, ο Ελπιδοφόρος έχει χρησιμοποιήσει πολλές φορές τον όρο ‘οικουμενικός’ για τον Ρωμιό Πατριάρχη του Φαναρίου Βαρθολομαίο υπενθυμίζοντας ότι χρησιμοποιεί το ουσιαστικό ‘Κωνσταντινούπολη’ αντί του σωστού ‘Ιστανμπούλ’».
Ενοχλεί το «βυζαντινό όνειρο»
Το δημοσίευμα επισημαίνει πως «ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος παρακολουθείται στενά, καθώς εκτοξεύει μίσος κατά της Τουρκίας με το βυζαντινό του όνειρο».
Ο Ερόλ Καρά προτρέπει ανοιχτά τους εθνικιστικούς κύκλους στην Τουρκία να κινηθούν νομικά εναντίον του, δηλώνοντας: «Οι οπαδοί του Ατατούρκ, οι συντηρητικοί και οι εθνικιστές στην Τουρκία πρέπει να υποβάλουν μήνυση κατά του Ελπιδοφόρου. Ζητώ από τους εισαγγελείς να κάνουν ό,τι είναι απαραίτητο για αυτόν τον άνθρωπο που ενεργεί εναντίον της Τουρκικής Δημοκρατίας».
Στο παιχνίδι και ο αρχιτέκτονας του τουρκο-λιβυκού μνημονίου
Το δημοσίευμα δεν παραλείπει να αναφέρει ότι ο απόστρατος υποναύαρχος Τζιχάτ Γιαϊτζί, γνωστός για τα αντι-πατριαρχικά του αισθήματα, θα συνεχίσει τον νομικό αγώνα εναντίον του Αρχιεπισκόπου. Ο Γιαϊτζί, εμπνευστής του τουρκο-λιβυκού μνημονίου, έχει ταχθεί επανειλημμένα κατά της παρουσίας του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου στην Κωνσταντινούπολη και θεωρεί τον Ελπιδοφόρο απειλή για το τουρκικό κράτος.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate made mistake that may have been fatal when it violated the canons by recognizing the pseudo church in Ukraine. Since then both Hagia Sophia and the Chora Monastery have become Mosques. Halki remains closed.
The British, Italians, and French betrayed Greece in 1922. In 1955 and 1964 neither the US nor NATO lifted a finger to protest or stop the ethnic cleansing of the Greeks of Constantinople and the islands of Imbros and Tenedos.
The Phanariots forgot their history. Did they think Washington would help them today? When the US is done using the Phanar for its anti Russian policies, the Patriarchate will be left to its fate. And the complicity of the Phanar in the persecution of the Ukrainian Church is shameful.
The spiritual heritage of Constantinople is a glorious one. It is tragic that it has been so badly betrayed by the Patriarchate itself. Two decades ago Russian bishops served with the Patriarch in liturgies in Cappadocia and later at Panagia Soumela in 2010.
The Patriarchate can only exist by fidelity to Orthodoxy and being respected by the local Churches, especially the Russian. Florence did not save the City in 1453 and Washington will not save the Patriarchate.
Only Christ and the Orthodox faith can save the Patriarchate!
ΟΜΟΘΥΜΑΔΟΝ ΟΛΟΣ Ο ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΣ ΜΙΑ ΨΥΧΗ ΨΗΦΙΖΕΙ ΥΠΕΡ ΤΟΥ ΒΥΖΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ ΟΝΕΙΡΟΥ ,,,ΕΙΝΑΙ ΘΕΛΗΜΑ ΘΕΟΥ Η ΠΟΛΗ ΝΑ ΡΩΜΑΝΕΨΗ,,,
The precedent of moving the Patriarchate exists under the model of Antioch, whose Patriarch now resides in Damascus. However, Mt. Athos wouldn’t tolerate wokeness very long, and there would be trouble. Ironically, if Constantinople had not been so “generous” with its autocephaly policy, moving just across the border on the Bulgarian side wouldn’t have been a bad idea, but now they can’t do that… Mystras is probably out of the question because it involves walking up a hill of an archaeological site, and limousines, lavish apartments, and hotels would be lacking.
Bottom line: let’s hope the Israeli opinion that the Turks have nullified the treaty of Lauzanne 1923 by their actions in Syria is upheld by the international community, so that the prior treaty of Sevres (1920) is restored…refresh your memories on that map below, but as you look at the map, recall that St. Paisios had once maintained that there would be a future “uprising” of Armenians and Kurds that would force Europe to “carve up” Turkey for those lands to be recognized…
https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%A3%CF%85%CE%BD%CE%B8%CE%AE%CE%BA%CE%B7_%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD_%CE%A3%CE%B5%CE%B2%CF%81%CF%8E%CE%BD#/media/%CE%91%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%BF:The_Treaty_of_S%C3%A8vres_1920_-_EL.png
As you can see on the map, there’s a wonderful part of Eastern Thrace that could welcome the Patriarchate, only 30-45 minutes of a commute from its original offices…of course, with a shrinking of Turkey, it is likely that the international community can also impose a human rights condition upon the Turks that they cannot force the Patriarch to be a Turkish citizen going forward…that would also solve the problem.
Root cause – the “Western” international community has never much cared about the demise or corruption of Orthodoxy, which falls in line with long-standing Uniate visions of the Vatican, since the days of the 4th crusade. The day the Vatican actually becomes sympathetic to the plight of Orthodoxy and remorseful about its own past behavior towards the Orthodox Church is also the day that Western leaders will be convinced to do the right thing (Treaty of Sevres, UN Resolutions on withdrawal of Turks from Cyprus, etc)….
“Τον Παπα να καταρασθε…αυτος θα ειναι η αιτια του κακου…” -St. Kosmas the Aitolian
Considering there are practically no Christians left in Turkey, the Treaty of Sevres is impossible to reactivate. Unless there is something to the stories of Crypto Christians living in Turkey.
If the Patriarchate leaves Constantine’s city, it should go to Thessaloniki. That city was the second most important city of New Rome. There is the beautiful cathedral of Hagia Sophia which Greece liberated which would be an excellent Patriarchal Cathedral.
The Patriarchate would be close to Mount Athos and its activities would not hinder the monastic life as it would if it were on the holy mountain.
The city was evangelized by Saint Paul so apostolic succession. The relics of Saint Demetrios and Saint Gregory Palamas are there.
The Patrisrchate would have real flock once again and the Church of Greece would come under its authority again undoing the Tomos of 1850. The Patrisrchate could then leave the Greeks outside Greece to unite with other Orthodox to create local Churches in their countries.
Also, future Patriarchs would be selected from Greece which is more traditionalist oriented and anti ecumenism bringing the Patriarchate back to its traditional roots.
I think this is the way to go if the Patriarchate leaves the City.
I’m not sure this particular Patriarch is welcome in Thessaloniki, with all the things that have transpired…
In the future post Bartholomew.
Theodoros,
You’ll need to get rid of multiple layers of “Bartholomew-groomed” Patriarchal “rasoforous” before you can convince us of an authentic “post-Bartholomew” future…the current mindset of the “Constantinopolitan court” reeks of schism and heretical quotes such as “primus sine paribus”, images of metropolitans kissing the hand of the Pope, and even a bishop that proclaimed the “filioque” at his ordination as a “confession of faith”. This is not the sort of “successor” pool that could secure a “post-Bartholomew” future. As a matter of fact, you should be far more concerned of the increasing probability that the Patriarch of Constantinople may soon be offered an office in the Vatican vs. Thessaloniki
You are also naively suggesting that a tomos can be revoked and it becomes a de facto situation without the consent of a Pan Orthodox Synod…that’s not what the tomos language has historically said…read the fine print. The expectation of “Pan-Orthodox consent” was always included in the language of the tomos. That’s why we have schism right now due to the Ukrainian tomos. He was asked by multiple jurisdictions NOT to issue it, and he did anyway, causing schism. The Patriarch of Constantinople is not a dictator or a Pope. For these reasons, it’s a bit late to consider Thessaloniki, at least as things are today…
But you are also missing another important point that is contributing to delusional “prophesy” theories. You are ignoring the last unfulfilled prophesies of St. Kosmas the Aitolian [so far undeniably reliable], which include the phrase “1/3 of the Turks will be baptized”…that’s a good 20+ million by today’s calculations, and there’s your “future flock” to tend to – no need for Thessaloniki. So sit back and order a little bit of popcorn and a LOT of patience, because it’s going to be a wild geopolitical and ecclesiastical show the next few years…:)
Americans are showing interest in Orthodoxy. Some are converting. The harvest is ripe. Two things need to be done to bring this harvest in: 1.Unite the various Orthodox jurisdiction in America 2.Create an autocephalous American Church.
Measures should be taken so that our Greek identity survives. But the most important thing is that we follow Christ’s command that we baptize all nations. European bishops are an obstacle to the growth of Orthodoxy. It’s long overdue for us American Orthodoxy to act.
We love you Mother Europe, but it’s time for us to fly out of the nest and start our own. Voethia Mas!
Just as younger Americans are “showing interest” and are converting to Orthodoxy, so too are the many who have become disenfranchised as they begin to realize that the right hand of the priests often, most frequently contradicts the left hand of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Those new converts can’t leave the church fast enough! Frequently, I receive emails from those who are looking for truths from a church and they thought the Greek Orthodox Church was “it”! Sadly, few if any traditional religions offer solely what is rooted in the Word of God to help feed the depraved, lost or hungry thirsting for God’s righteousness. Religious ideologies and agendas are not what those who just want to worship God desire. Man has once again failed and disappointed the flock. Archbishop Elpidorforos and Patriarch Bartholomew offer nothing but empty promises to help right and uplift the Greek Orthodox Church.
What “ecumenical” patriarch? I do not recognize Barto as the “ecumenical” anything. He did nothing to unite, only to divide. It is very dangerous to consider one patriarch as above others. They are equal. Period. This will solve all the problems since one patriarch can’t pass his liberal agenda on the OC.
Patr Barto things Constantinople is the mother church, when in reality, there is not Constantinople anymore and therefore no mother church. If anything, The Patriarchate of Jerusalem is the Mother of Churches and I am not the only one that believes this:
https://spzh.eu/en/news/85699-serbian-patriarch-the-jerusalem-patriarchate-is-the-mother-of-all-churches
I don’t remember the Holy Light at Easter shining on the Istanbul patriarch. Through his actions, he is very disliked, so thank God he does NOT represent the mother church.
To Markos
I agree with what you say but here is what I do not get. How is it that most bishops in Greece and Cyprus went along with recognizing the OCU?
This brings into question how autocephalous these Churches really are.
Surely, bishops in Greece and Cyprus are aware of Bartholomew’s Vatican sympathies. Even a traditionalist like the Metropolitan of Nafpaktos supports the OCU. The Greek Churches are all a mess
Right now excepting a few bishops and priests.
A pan Orthodox council might have to abolish the Patriarchate outright if it is not feasible to move it.
We’ve posted the answers to that in the past, but it is likely you haven’t read those, or paid close attention to the “play by play” that was going on at that time, so I’ll summarize. The Synod of the Church of Greece did not actually vote properly on the matter. Ieronymos had a prepared speech for the staged media cameras that he delivered when he exited, but during that Synodal session, it turned into a shouting match…it became clear that Ieronymos did not have the votes (HE DID NOT HAVE THE MAJORITY), so he manipulated the situation to end the session early by declaring that he “heard more in favor than against”, an ancient process called (δια βοης), but it was clear he actually didn’t have the votes, and many metropolitans went on record after the fact saying exactly that “we haven’t voted”. As a further testimony, the Dyptichs of the Church of Greece have not formally added the name of Epiphanios because of that reason…no real vote. This is also the ONLY reason Moscow has not cut Communion ties with the entire Synod of the Church of Greece, but with only certain bishops who are on the “Epiphanios fan club” list. Constantinople was a “clear cut” of Communion, because the entire Synod voted. What we have since that fatal day in Athens is a Schism within the Churches of Greece, Cyprus, Alexandria, where some bishops have crossed the line and are commemorating and concelebrating with Epiphanios, and others who are not. Classic Schism by the “friends of Bartholomew”…many of these bishops also have “Vatican sympathies”… I wouldn’t call Nafpaktou a “traditionalist” either, by the way…that’s a different discussion for a different day. You probably don’t even know the half of what’s really going on behind the scenes with the Greek hierarchy these days, and that’s probably best for your soul…
And a Pan-Orthodox council is not really about abolishing a Patriarchate, but about declaring schismatics and heretics what they truly are, and expelling them from the body of the Church, in order to remove the “cancer” and restore Ecclesiastical order…that’s what should ideally happen. Depose those who are betraying the Unity of the Faith… (i.e. those who are supporting the Vatican’s Uniate movement and dividing Orthodoxy)…