By Nick Stamatakis

For one more year, the historic Panagia Soumela Monastery in Pontos (established in the 4th Century AD) remained closed on August 15th this year.  We are hearing that the “Neo-Ottomans” may allow a service tomorrow, but nothing is certain in barbaric Erdogan’s Turkey. For many decades the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, led by Karloutsos, have promised to defend Orthodoxy and protect the Patriarchate’s rights. They boast of privileged ties with Washington and especially the U.S. State Department. Yet their actual record is barren. A big ZERO – “0”!!

  • Halki Seminary has remained closed since 1971, when Turkey banned all private higher education institutions, including the Patriarchate’s most important seminary.

  • Panagia Soumela — the sacred monastery in Trabzon — only reopened for liturgy in 2010, after 88 years of closure, and only thanks to Russian political intervention.

  • Hagia Sophia, once a symbol of Christian heritage, was reconverted into a mosque in 2020, despite global condemnation.

  • Chora Monastery (Moni tis Choras), famous for its mosaics, followed the same fate, converted into a mosque in 2020 and fully reopened for Muslim worship in 2024.

Despite their banquets, medals, and endless “high-level contacts,” the Archons have achieved NOTHING on these issues.

THE LOGO OF THE ARCHONS: “Protecting the Future of the Faith”… Seriously?

Meanwhile, Putin and Ivan Savvides Made It Happen

The only real progress came not from Washington, but from Moscow. In 2010, Russian President Vladimir Putin, working through Greek–Russian businessman Ivan Savvides, pressured Ankara to allow the first liturgy at Panagia Soumela after nearly nine decades.

The Greek-American community recognized Ivan Savvides’ role in 2017, when he was honored as Grand Marshal of the Greek Independence Day Parade in New York. The blunt reality is this: Putin’s one act of Orthodox diplomacy achieved more than half a century of Archon lobbying.

PHOTO: © DIMITRIOS PANAGOS-GANP/ΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ ΠΑΝΑΓΟΣ…. Ivan Savvides, holding the Greek flag, leads the Parade of 2017, next to AB Demtrios and Mayor De Blasio….

So, Why Don’t They Ask?

Now, with the Trump–Putin meeting in Alaska signaling a thaw in U.S.–Russia relations, the moment is ripe. Why not appeal directly to Putin as an Orthodox leader? Why not urge Trump to ask for help from Putin for the establishment of Orthodox religious rights in Turkey? Pution has a direct line to Erdogan…

These are not partisan questions — they go to the survival of our sacred traditions and the very future of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Real Question: Why the Silence?

But the Archons remain silent. Where are the so-called “lobbyists” of the Greek-American community? Why do they always bow to the Deep State rather than fight for the Hellenic and Orthodox causes? How is it that decades of photo-ops and fundraising dinners have produced zero victories while sacred sites fall one by one?

Conclusion: Time for Accountability

The facts cannot be denied:

  • Halki remains closed since 1971!! 

  • Hagia Sophia and Moni Tis Choras are mosques.

  • Panagia Soumela is again closed in 2025.

  • And yet, one phone call from Putin in 2010 accomplished what the Archons have failed to deliver in fifty years.

The geopolitical opening is here. If the Archons truly stand for the Patriarchate, they must act — now.

Until then, the question remains:

Why don’t the Archons ask Putin’s help on Panagia Soumela? Painful to answer, isn’t it? Because it reveals their hypocrisy, their duplicity, and their hidden role as Deep State Actors… THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED!!

August 23, 2025, n.stamatakis@aol.com   www.helleniscope.com

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

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10 COMMENTS

  2. It is very sad that the Greek Diaspora in the US has little effect on US policy toward Greece or Cyprus. But can the Diaspora really hope for a lot more from Russia? That would be good, but all I can really see at this time is that Russia has been more helpful regarding a monastery.

    The outrage at the Holy Wisdom in Constantinople continues. The partition of Cyprus continues. The threats continue.

    What I see is that helping Greece or Cyprus is a very low priority for both the US and Russia. We must proceed carefully.

  3. The archons & “leaderless 100” are just a bunch of clowns- They are useful idiots used by the archbishop. They pay 100k/year and in return the archbishop gives them to wear a cheap $5 patch in their suit jacket pocket and they get to sit in the front row at church so they can feel important for their ego. The archbishop and other bishops all gush over them and throw praise at them not because they like them, but because they want their money. The archons are just good at attending gala dinners and getting fatter, giving useless tiresome speeches and nonsense awards to people that don’t matter who praise each other in an echo chamber. The archbishop and bishops praise them, say meaningless jargon blah blah blah nobody cares & nothing gets done. All they care about is the next steak dinner and trip they’re all going to. They are not a serious organization- if they were, they wouldn’t have been awarding pompeo who is anti trump and part of the deep state. They are so stupid that they along with the archdiocese and patriarchate are still stubbornly supporting Ukraine and the leftwing agenda. Someone please tell these clueless people already that Biden isn’t in the Whitehouse anymore😂

  4. All comments above, on the specific points, are well made. Regrettably, I was offended by the misguided, mediocre standing, regarding the lack of quality leadership by Hellenes, in The USA diaspora, as to who were chosen, to represent us.
    Please review the important players, as to who they were/ are, to represent Hellenic Interests at the White House upon the appointment of Guilfoyle- as the new US Ambassador to Greece. KG has zero experience in international law or foreign policy issues. Her role in Athens is speculatively compromising in US Policy and Greek National security.
    Pres. Trump who has a” huge conflict of interest” with Greek/Americans, foreign policy views, due to his financial contracts by receiving $4 million dollars a year for the royalties-licensing agreement for the use of his name on two buildings ($2M each) in Constantinople that underscore his credibility with Greece. Almost all of DT Hotels are supplied
    by Turkish Imported towels, beddings, linens manufactured by the Turkish Cotton Industry! So Much for MAGA! Now the Sleeping Archons, who kneel and give Millions of Dollars to a Turkish Citizen, Archbishop Epildophoros born in Turkey- has served in the Turkish Army, who has taken the oath to honor Turkey’s Best National Interests. Archbishop
    Elpidophoros , who is born Turkey, is the chosen person in America, the authority to endorse and bless DT/KG for Hellenic Interests by Greek/Americans?? He is Not born in Greece nor the USA! What is wrong with this picture? at the White House?? -Pres. Trump who has vested financial interests in Erdogan’s’ Turkey?? – appointing the new clueless ex/girlfriend of Trump’s son and a Turkish Born, Citizen-who has no ties to Preserve Greek Security,
    endorsing the new ambassador for Greece at the White House some 5-6 months ago! What is Wrong with this picture??

    • This is tragic. True Archons and the willing priests and bishops are in a godless relationship. The church members go to Confession to the priests and the bishops and give them money for what? The whole system is dysfunctional.

    • look I can help it , if the ruling Evangelical Protestant and Jewish Zionist populist of America has elected, funded, and supported two competing evangelical Protestant and Jewish Zionist crime families called the Republican and Democratic parties .. who with the leaders of Israel have been running a Racketeering and Protection Racket to make American Oligarks, Bankers, investment houses, Billionaires , oil and gas barons, military contractors, Media Heads, and Foreign dictators First .. in money and power of the entire world !
      And of course Russiagate has proven that no successful Criminal enterprise can succeed without the cooperation of the Justice Department, FBI , Intelligence Services , and law enforcement agencies of America and Israel who allow all violations of God and Mans laws by the ruling parties! Trump declared ..”that Edrogan and all EU/ Nato leaders do whatever he wants” … period! He literally told Orthodox Christians of Greece and Cyprus .. that Mistotakis and the leaders of Cyprus .. do not do what the people of Greece and Cyprus want , but what the Evangelical Protestants of America want . Period! Who do you think the Archons and Ahepa do ..whatever Donald Trump and the ruling leaders of politcal parties of America want ! Mobsters rule by threat , fear and violence to coerce, extort, Blackmail, Bribe , money laiunder , murder to make them subordinate to their rule ..not Gods rules!

  5. You said it:
    Archons & Leaderless 100 live in perpetual DELUSION paid for by their money!$$$
    &
    Rasputin Alex Karloutsos, Dr. Limberakis & Manatos =
    judas betrayers of our faith

  6. Is it the blind leading the blind scenario? No wonder the Aegean Sea and Greek National Sovereignty is in Jeopardy. Our Greek Brothers and Sisters from Greece expect much better patriotic representation by the leaders of our Hellenic Communities that influence foreign policy by the US Government! No Excuses!

  7. The Archons aren’t exactly deliberately failing to ask for help from Putin, the premier Orthodox leader today… they rely on highlighting ongoing unsolved struggles to sustain donations which creates a cycle where “failure” and “fundraising” reinforce each other. Money down the drain in a cycle of waste fraud and fabulous “celebrations”.

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