Elpidophoros, In A Panicky Interview, Loses All Credibility He Had Left…

ΕΑΝ ΠΡΟΤΙΜΑΤΕ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΠΑΤΗΣΤΕ ΤΗ ΣΗΜΑΙΑ ΣΤΟ ΚΑΤΩ ΜΕΡΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΟΘΟΝΗΣ

In the wake of mounting turmoil surrounding St. Demetrios and Hellenic education, Archbishop Elpidophoros attempts to defend his record in a strained interview that raises more doubts than it resolves. His remarks on the Niarchos Foundation, parish governance, and shifting community demographics reveal a pattern of misjudgment and detachment from reality. As trust erodes and divisions deepen, calls for accountability grow louder within the Greek-American Orthodox community.

By Nick Stamatakis

In a desperate situation, faced with first-seen historic circumstances, a panicked Elpidophoros, making one mistake after another, gave an interview to Dimitris Filios of Cosmos FM, trying to explain the inexplicable. (Here is the link to a transcription by Orthodox Observer in Greek -please use any method to translate it) The Archbishop touched on several topics and tried to present a vision for the future of St. Demetrios and Hellenic Education in general. Not only was he unconvincing, but he lost all remaining credibility. Below, we will touch on the main points and elaborate on his mistakes.

RE-APPROACHING THE NIARCHOS FOUNDATION.  Elpidophoros explained that he supports the previously proposed SNF plan for Saint Demetrios and has asked SNF to resubmit it, believing it fits today’s needs. BUT, he said that even without SNF,  the Archdiocese will work to develop the school, though partnership would make it easier. A few hours after this statement, it was reported (TNH) that Niarchos’ President, Mr. Dracopoulos, denied that the Archbishop approached him!! “I do not know anything about that,” he said…

HELLENISCOPE COMMENTS. We must remind everyone why the Niarchos plan failed: a) Because the “team” who pushed the plan, led by A.Koularmanis, was serving their own interests and not the community’s. b) They would take TOTAL control of the School, even installing family members unrelated to education on the School Board!! c) They would give the parish $12,000 a month for school buildings worth over $100 million!! d) MOST IMPORTANT – they would change the Greek-Orthodox character of the school!! The new charter school would have to closely follow the guidelines of the JENCKS REPORT (a specific study paid for by NSF).  When Parish Council members demanded to see the Jencks Report, they were not allowed!!  I will stop here.  Helleniscope is not opposed to the Niarchos Foundation or Charter Schools.  But if there are some among us, either in the press, in GOARCH, or in the community, who want to whitewash the story of NIARCHOS’ offer to St. Demetrios, I promise you I will come back to this, and they will not like the truth!! In one thing we agree with the Archbishop – that we need to look to the future. This doesn’t mean we have to glorify a deeply flawed past. As for Koularmanis’ sudden resurface and effort to appear as a “savior” – I think it is absolutely despicable.

• THE COMMUNITY IS “MISSING” NIKOS ANDRIOTIS. Elpidophoros suggested that, after the passing of benefactor Nikos Andriotis, the community lost a central financial backstop; deficits grew under old ways of operating that no longer fit today’s realities.

HELLENISCOPE’S COMMENTS. We again agree with Elpidophoros that the community must look forward. But if “looking forward” means idolizing the past — as practiced in China with Chairman Mao, who killed millions and called it “Cultural Revolution” — that is the wrong path.  We should all share the same goal: to leave the past behind, learn from everyone’s mistakes, unite, and make serious plans for the future.

• PARISH COUNCIL REMOVALS WERE ABOUT GOVERNANCE – NOT CHARACTER. The archbishop stated that seven Parish Council members were placed on leave to enable reforms—not because they are “bad people” or anti-Greek/anti-church. He stresses respect for their past service and says the action shouldn’t be taken personally. He has reinstated two members (Giannis Stroubakis and Kritikos), underscoring continued trust in Astoria’s people.

HELLENICOPE’S COMMENTS. Elpidophoros has a long history of unjustifiably removing Parish Council members since his first or second year of tenure, often acting on ill-advised counsel. His lack of judgment is remarkable. The best course would be to offer a sincere Christian apology to those people. But no — “Sultans” do not apologize! Yes, he was forced to reinstate two PC members, but not Kelly Manetas, the PC President! We all interpreted the reinstatements as a Phanariot maneuver to evade the catastrophic dead end Elpidophoros faces.

PHOTO: The eternal image of arrogance, by the leadership itself… Bartholomew is ecstatic in front of his own “hagiography” in St. Nicholas of Ground Zero…

• THE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS. The Archbishop repeatedly referenced changing demographics, noting that many Greek families have moved from Astoria to Long Island, Westchester, and New Jersey.

HELLENISCOPE’S COMMENTS.  Here we are dealing with the Archbishop’s limited vision for the community and his faulty vision of Orthodoxy.  A quick search online proves (in conservative estimates) that in Queens live 35,000 Russians, 10,000 Ukrainians, 11,000 Romanians, 5,000 Albanians, and a few thousand Serbians, Bulgarians, and other Orthodox faithful. The numbers refer to people born in these countries. How many times were they approached?  Even Pat. Bartholomew felt the need to speak recently against ethnophyletism! What better way to practice against this heresy – and at the same time to help Saint Demetrios School – than to invite these Orthodox communities to bring their children to the school!! The PC could waive the membership to the Parish if these families only want to use the school for their children. I am really tired of proposing this practical idea to deaf ears for a full five years… Why doesn’t the Archbishop show the way?  The school requires more than 600 students to be viable, but it currently has fewer than 400. How much longer before the PC and the Achdiocese do the obvious? I have offered practical tips, but nobody listened.

• ARCHDIOCESAN SUPPORT AND OVERSIGHT.  Elpidophoros said that GOARCH moved to cover shortfalls via a line of credit drawn from funds that belong to all U.S. metropolises/communities. To justify the use of shared funds, the Archdiocese required strong oversight and changes in management to ensure that the same people wouldn’t handle money in the same way.

HELLENISCOPE’S COMMENTS.  The parish would not need support and oversight if a “newcomer”, Elpidophoros, totally ignorant of what life in America means (again, our problem remains CONTROL FROM THE PHANAR), made the wrong decisions and removed the wrong people. Example 1: When you remove (or otherwise force the resignation) of people who have the leadership skills and are respected (e.g., Asprogerakas and others in his team), while you reward and promote the wrong-doers (e.g., Fr. Nektarios – and I could mention several others), you cannot blame the parish for your failures.  Example 2: When you fail to enforce strict rules on “conflict of interests” in the archdiocese and the Parishes, you end up installing Elaine Allen as a PC council member in St. Demetrios!! Unbelievable!! Do you realize that if any member of the parish – and there are several lawyers – files a simple lawsuit, the judge will chastise you and your organization?

• PROPERTY AND FINANCES.  The Archbishop said that selling the newly built property (31st Street) is not a real solution—it would only buy 2–3 years and leave root problems intact. He explained that priority is structural, financial, and administrative reform so the parish/school becomes sustainably run (even surplus-generating for reinvestment).

HELLENISCOPE’S COMMENTS.  Selling the building on 31st Street may not be the solution, but other solutions can happen in the banking system: 1) The bank (ALMA) can extend the infamous October 17 “deadline”. 2) The Bank (ALMA) can release the warrantor (GOARCH) – in which case the Archdiocese is kicked out of the picture and a leadership team takes over. 3) One or more wealthy individuals can put forth actions instead of empty words and offer some serious financial help.

An idea I proposed two days ago may be helpful: An advisory/support committee should be formed, consisting of past PC presidents or officers.  They should provide advice and support, with some of them potentially returning to serve at the PC. In any case, with their status and connections, they would unite and stabilize the parish.

Conclusions

• Trust is the main issue, and it has been lost. Fixing it will necessitate profound changes, including the removal of the Archbishop and steps towards autonomy of the GOA from the Phanar.
• Financial issues are directly related to matters of Faith: Promoting “BLM”, multiple identities, and LGBTQ ministries by heretic Fordahmite “theologians”, chases people away from the church. Approving “blessings” by Rabbis chases people away from the Church.  “Multiple spoons” and abolishing “rassa” denote that this is not an Orthodox Church.  If you do not turn back to the Faith and Tradition, the financial problems will persist.
•  One hundred or one thousand mega-millionaires do not form a church: They create a country club.

October 10, 2025, n.stamatakis@aol.com   www.helleniscope.com

DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author. This article represents the opinion of the author and shall not be interpreted as legal advice.

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