The Archons Of Disaster Turn Against the Parishes! And They Are Still Honoring Pompous Pompeo!…

By Helleniscope’s Editorial Team

As the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate sent out yet another impassioned letter begging parishes to contribute to the Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, the hypocrisy of their leadership has never been more painfully exposed.

Only 16 out of over 500 Greek Orthodox parishes in America have answered the call to become “Founders” of this $100,000 fundraising initiative. This should be a moment of profound self-reflection. Instead, we are treated to yet another letter—drenched in guilt-tripping piety—signed by Dr. Anthony Limberakis, pleading for support that has clearly not materialized.

Why? Because the faithful are disillusioned. They no longer trust the stewards of this cause.

While parishes across the nation face financial stress, shrinking congregations, and alienated youth, the Archons continue to divert their energy and credibility toward absurd spectacles like honoring Mike Pompeo—the same man whose political arm-twisting helped engineer the disastrous Ukrainian autocephaly, which fractured global Orthodoxy and ignited the deepest schism in the Church since 1054. They honor Mike “Pompous” Pompeo, while last year they honored Yulia Navalnaya… Which leaves us with the question: Are they Archons of Orthodoxy or Archons of the State Department and the Deep State? Do they realize that the Greek American community voted for Trump, having in mind one central goal: to dismantle the Deep State and its operatives!! And the community will never relent on this goal!! Yet, the Archons keep pushing “Russia, Russia, Russia” hoaxes!!

PHOTO: Last year, the “Archons of Disaster” honored Pompeo in Athens, where he was a featured speaker….

For over 50 years, the Archons, Pompeo, and the State Department have managed to do “didly squat” regarding the freedoms of the Constantinople Patriarchate. The Halki Seminary remains closed, Hagia Sophia has been converted into a mosque, and the same fate befell Moni tis Horas last year.  The only advancement of the Patriarchate’s Freedoms in the previous 100 years was the reopening of the Panagia Soumela Monastery in Pontos in 2015 —and this was achieved thanks to Vladimir Putin, with the intervention of Greek-Russian businessman Ivan Savvides.  The Federation of New York made Savvides the Grand Marshal in the 2017 Greek Independence Parade to honor him!! Why don’t the Archons do the same? 

Why did they choose to give the Athenagoras Human Rights Award this coming Fall (link here) to “pompous” Pompeo instead of Ivan Savvides or – I dare say – Vladimir Putin? What did Pompeo do for the “freedoms” of the Patriarchate? NOTHING!!

And now they want to know: “If your parish is not a Founder, why not?”

Here’s why not:

• Parishes will not be coerced into financially supporting an institution that acts more like a geopolitical agent of Washington than a spiritual beacon of Orthodoxy.

• Parishes are sick of elite galas, tone-deaf photo ops, and honors bestowed on men like Pompeo while authentic ecclesiastical leadership is nowhere to be found.

• Because parishioners want to fund their local ministries, their youth programs, their outreach, not cover the political debts of Istanbul-based diplomacy gone wrong.

The letter asks: “Will you stand with the Ecumenical Patriarchate?”

But here’s the truth: the Archons themselves have not stood with the faithful. They have stood with politicians, with embassies, with empire-builders. They have sold out the unity of Orthodoxy to curry favor with Western powers. They have dragged the Church into war, scandal, and division—and now have the audacity to send fundraising appeals demanding $100,000 from parishes struggling to survive.

All that without providing the slightest sign of transparency and accountability for the funds collected and directed to the Patriarchate!!… Greece alone, through its Foreign Ministry, allegedly contributes to the Patriarchate a cool $10 million a year (!) in cash (!!) using diplomatic mail (!!!) Then you have tens of Metropolises in Greece’s “New Lands” and in Crete, which also provide contributions preferably in cash!! And finally Greece pays for the salaries of ALL the Patriarchate’s priests and Metropolitans in Europe!! Yes, All of them!! Including Maximos, Emmanuel’s assistant (now in England) who had the gall to invite Bulgarian gay escorts in the Metropolis of Paris!! (Why didn’t Bartholomew demand the Paris Police report for the Gay escorts scandal?) Is this a Church or a Mafia criminal organization? When is the last time an accounting report saw the light of day? Except for the numerous rumors about Emmanuel’s and Bartholomew’s personal accounts in Geneva, we have heard nothing else regarding the accounting of the Phanar’s finances!!

This is not stewardship. This is dysfunction. It is not worthy of the Apostolic Church.

If the Archons truly care about the survival of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, they should stop handing out medals to career politicians and start repairing the shattered trust of the Orthodox people. They should listen—really listen—to why the donations aren’t coming.

The parishes aren’t the problem. The leadership is.

HELLENISCOPE’S NOTE TO THE PARISHES: Read carefully the disgusting, disdainful tone of the Archons’ letter below and shut your doors and your budgets to them!! They are up to no good!

July 28, 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!!

BELOW YOU CAN READ THE ARCHONS’ LETTER TO THE PARISHES…

Is Your Parish a FOUNDER of the EPBF? If Not, Why Not?

July 28, 2025 Dear Brother Archons and Treasured Friends of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,What is your parish doing to ensure that the Sacred Center of our Holy Orthodox Christian Faith survives and thrives in an extremely difficult environment? The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation (EPBF) was founded in order to secure the financial independence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and enable It to fulfill its worldwide salvific mission in perpetuity. The need is immense! Our beloved Ecumenical Patriarchate exists in a hostile and dangerous environment. Its situation is precarious. The more financial stability It has, the greater will be Its ability to carry out the responsibilities God gave to the Mother Church as the First See of the Holy Orthodox Church. There are 16 parishes out of 500 of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America who are FOUNDERS. Here is a list of the Churches by Metropolis who have stepped up: Direct Archdiocesan District – 5 parishes Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, New York, NY Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New York, NY Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, Southampton, NY Kimisis tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, Brooklyn, NY Saints Constantine and Helen Cathedral, Brooklyn, NY Metropolis of Boston – 0 parishes Metropolis of Detroit – 3 parishes Saint George Greek Orthodox Church, Southgate, MI Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Plymouth, MI Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Carmel, IN Metropolis of Pittsburgh – 1 parish All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, Weirton, WV Metropolis of San Francisco – 0 parishes Metropolis of Atlanta – 3 parishes Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church, Naples, FL St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church, Boca Raton, FL Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Mobile, AL Metropolis of New Jersey – 3 parishes Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Elkins Park, PA Cathedral of Saint John the Theologian, Tenafly, NJ Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Westfield, NJ Metropolis of Chicago – 1 parish Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Chicago, IL Metropolis of Denver – 0 parishes If your parish is not on the HONOR ROLL, please prayerfully consider undertaking the sacred, all-important mission of promoting and defending the Ecumenical Patriarchate by urging your parish priest, parish council president and parish council members and most importantly your fellow parishioners to have your parish commit to becoming a FOUNDER of the EPBF. It is a $100,000 commitment payable over 10 years ($833.33/month or in any convenient payment plan). Perhaps your parish would like to become a FOUNDER in honor of or in memory of a beloved priest or other person in the life of the local church. Or maybe it would simply like to go on record in this turbulent time as supporting the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and not just in words.As an Archon, you can make it part of your own sacred diakonia to help your parish make this decision. Suggested action steps: Approach your parish priest. Discuss it at your next parish council meetings. Get it added to the agenda at the next parish assembly meeting. Arrange to make a presentation on the EPBF at the next Clergy-Laity Congress in your Metropolis. Please also consider, if you yourself are not an individual FOUNDER of the EPBF, becoming one now. If not a FOUNDER, then a Builder (any amount less than $100k). It is critically important that we all do what we can within our means to provide the economic support necessary for the needs and ministries of the Ecumenical Patriarchate – especially given the intense religious persecution faced by the Holy Mother Church in Constantinople and Christians around the world. For 34 years as Archbishop of Constantinople, New-Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has been a beacon of courage in a darkened world, bearing indefatigable witness to the saving truths of our Holy Orthodox Faith and sounding a prophetic voice for peace, unity, care for the natural environment, and much more. Will you stand with him? Yours in the service of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Anthony J. Limberakis, MD Archon Grand Aktouarios National Commander