GOARCH Deceptively Demands Parish Property Information!

Whew. I need to reread all this. For starters, I just looked up IRS/ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and came upon a report that stated they filed their last tax report in 2019. I will leave the link here.
https://www.taxexemptworld.com/organization.asp?tn=141174

So the Patriarch tried to acquire church deeds in 2009 also. .https://www.aoiusa.org/patriarchate-asks-for-title-to-u-s-church-property/

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew wants legal title to properties around the world, but how would this, as the author below argues, secure the legal position of the the Patriarchate vis-a-vis the Turkish government? Further, with the request for metropolitans worldwide to apply for Turkish citizenship, the Ecumenical Patriarch seems to be distancing the Patriarchate from the other Orthodox churches given that the invitation was only extended to Greek metropolitans.

The National Herald, December 11, 2009, By Theodore Kalmoukos, The National Herald Staff Writer
Flag of Turkey
BOSTON – The Ecumenical Patriarchate – in an official letter recently sent to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and its local Metropolises – requested the official transfer of the ownership of at least one real estate property belonging to each metropolis to the Patriarchate. Archbishop Demetrios of America and the metropolitans have yet to notify the parishes of the Archdiocese of the request of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The same request was made to all other eparchies (ecclesiastical provinces) outside of Turkey that belong to the ecclesiastical and spiritual jurisdiction of the Patriarchate, that they “register at least one real estate property irreversibly in the name of the Patriarchate.”

By taking this action, the Patriarchate is trying to secure its legal position vis-a-vis the Turkish government. The Turkish government does not recognize Ecumenical Patriarchate as a legal entity or its ecumenical nature and mission, and has treated the institution with disrespect since the creation of the Turkish Republic in 1923. The interference and abuses of Turkish officials have been reported in the international media for decades and occasionally elicit protests from U.S. and other government officials and agencies.

Patriarch Bartholomew in his letter (protocol number 861) stated that “The (Turkish) authorities refuse to recognize the legal status of our most sacred institution.” Ankara considers it to be a Turkish institution in the Phanar district of Constantinople under the administrative jurisdiction of the district’s prefect.

The issues that pertained to the property request were discussed at the Holy Synod in Constantinople and the Patriarch stated in his letter that, “We were led to the decision to urge, though this Patriarchal letter, the hierarchs of the Eparchies abroad to register in the Registry of Deeds in the country in which their Eparchy is located, at least one real estate property, community or parish in the legal name of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as follows: “Ecumenical Patriarch, instituted according to the International Law whose See is in Constantinople (Istanbul).”

The Patriarchal letter appeals to the good faith and respect of the hierarchs, reminding them that it was the Patriarchate that elevated them to the rank of metropolitans and archbishops. The Patriarch requests that the hierarchs send “all the signed documents of their transactions of the recording of the real estate property to the Patriarchate in order to be placed in their file.”

It was not clear if this request included the Metropolises of the so-called New Lands (sees whose administration was delegated to the Church of Greece in 1928 but are spiritually under the Ecumenical Patriarchate), or the Metropolises of the Dodecanese or the semi-autonomous Church of Crete, which fall into the ecclesiastical, canonical and spiritual jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The prefect of the Phanar often gets involved in issues that have to do with the life and operation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and there is concern that any transferred properties and parishes would be exposed to interference from Turkish authorities.

Prefects have been aggressive to the point that they the Patriarch into their office to give explanations and clarifications. The National Herald is in a position to know of many instances when the Ecumenical Patriarch was called into the prefecture of the Phanar. The most revealing and egregious case of this kind took place in August, 1990 and involved the late Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios. After his return to Constantinople from a month-long, historic visit to the United States. The Patriarch was summoned to the prefecture and was put through an exhausting examination by the authorities. It has been said by his close associates that Patriarch Dimitrios became so upset that – a few weeks later – he suffered a stroke which led to his death.

There is some speculation as to whether the letter about the properties is related to other recent developments regarding the relations of hierachs outside of Turkey with the Patriarchate. The National Herald exclusively revealed, on November 12, that “The government of Turkey seems to be willing to grant Turkish citizenship to all those hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate who serve outside of Turkey. Turkish citizenship will allow them to freely participate in all the administrative activities of the Patriarchate including the right to be candidates for the Ecumenical Throne when a vacancy arises. It was made clear by the Ecumenical Patriarch himself that ‘they will have the right to elect and to be elected.’ Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew broke the news to Archbishop Demetrios of America and to the hierarchs of the Archdiocese during his recent visit to the U.S. at the luncheon that was held at the Carlyle Hotel after the Patriarchal Liturgy at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York on Sunday, November 1.”

This newspaper also reported that “Prime Minister Erdogan told Patriarch Bartholomew that his request will be satisfied and asked him to send the appropriate information with names of the hierarchs and other details to the government of Turkey.” To this day the Archdiocese has not officially notified the Greek Orthodox people and the community in general about which and how many metropolitans will become Turkish citizens, including Archbishop Demetrios himself.

Bart and his boys must be possessed. They’re certainly demonic. Human manifestations of Satan itself. May God help us. For those who criticized the Athonite monasteries in the US, it appears that these may end up being our ONLY home and safeguard of Christ and His Church (certainly not Bart’s church).

I thank Jane for publishing the DEC11,2009 National Herald article by Calmoukos that states:
“By taking this action, the Patriarchate is trying to secure its legal position vis-a-vis the Turkish government. The Turkish government does not recognize Ecumenical Patriarchate as a legal entity or its ecumenical nature and mission, and has treated the institution with disrespect since the creation of the Turkish Republic in 1923. “
So if the Patriarchate in Constantinople can show to Turkish authorities it owns properties in other countries its ECUMENICAL CHARACTER WILL BE PROVEN!
May be transfer of small or parts of properties can satisfy this requirement but one needs to be very suspicious of the intentions of Turkish authorities.

They have no right to demand anything from any parish. They should be counting their blessings that thus far parishes have been submissive to their constant strong arming and paying their outrageously inflated parish dues!!!
For what? For a rubber stamp on a baptism, wedding, divorce. That’s all they have to give is a rubber stamp! Communities receive nothing else..
That rubber stamp is paid with “sighs of plenty and sold for endless rue” as Edgar Allen Poe recites in his poem!
I hope the sexual abuse/ infant child torture cases real wake up calls for every Orthodox Christian. Do we really want to continue to fund and support a diocese who for years did nothing but ignore and play stupid to any accusations made against its priests?? Do we want to support lying homosexual bishops who practice child molestation ?? Do you know how many children have been sexually abused over the years and will never come forward because they are humiliated and too embarrassed?? I thought clergy were supposed to protect our children from evil.
God job and congrats to the archdiocese for doing such a great job in protecting these kids! Not only have you proven you are negligent with finances but you are negligent all around with all that you touch!! Hands of the parishes please! They were never yours to take and never will be. Focus on defending your homosexual priests whom instead of defrocking you promote and give more money too!

George, the monasteries are under and in communion with the GOA and therefore under the EP.

Dear Faithful Flock,
It’s time to leave and go forth to another church who will welcome you with open arms without begging, pleading and guilting you into submission. Don’t confuse church dues paid quarterly with Tithing. One comes out of forced obligation the other comes straight from the heart. Only the second one is true and righteous.

True salvation awaits in asking for forgiveness and repentance to the Father for our past ways of worship which includes believing in a false God of a religion. True FREEDOM awaits once you leave the GO Church and it’s deceptively cunning and crafty, shifty leaders who lack the moral aptitude, character and fortitude to truly lead a righteous life as Christ’s disciples.

We will always be Greek due to our birthright and heritage. It doesn’t mean we have to practice Orthodoxy just because that is all we grew up knowing and were exposed to ritualistically on Sundays or holidays. Free yourselves from the emotional bond of a “religion” and run to Christ directly fleeing from the religiosity of ritualistic repetition laden with idolatry and falsehoods by those who preach and seek control of your money (not God’s) and the grand church edifices and property on which they sit.

We are saved not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:3-7).

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:10-11). Clearly, if our so-called church leaders and hierarchy actually “loved” themselves and us as Christ loves us, strife and deception would not be the modus operandi of status quo. So trying harder to be a good, loving Christian won’t make you a loving Christian. Instead, believing in the love God has for you will.

John summarizes all he is saying in 1 John 4:19, “We love God because He first loved us.”

The simple fact is you can’t love God until you believe and receive the love He has for you. That love doesn’t exist in the Greek Orthodox Church.

“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. Isaiah 55:1-2 NLT

Read between the lines to understand this scripture. The Greek Orthodox Church doesn’t give life, but taketh away and distracts from our walk with Christ Himself.

It may not be too late to place assets in trust for each individual parish (as did a certain metropolitan in a certain city). That said, the correct answer to each inquiry is “as previous.” Let them do the leg work
There’s no goa charter
Therefore, there are no uprs or local bylaws
There aren’t barriers to legally protecting assets by placing them in trust

As the old timers would say (roughly translated) they don’t have their God…in this case, those who are God’s representatives here on earth

When Margaret speaks –
everybody listens! Lol
Really, nobody says it better – you’re more an Archbishop than fairy Elps,
you’re more true Priest than Rasputin of GOA, the sinister Karloutsos…

you’re more Orthodox despite leaving GOA, because what’s left of it is tainted &
in smithereens.
God help our original true church.

Sotiris,
no way am I funding the Phanar hucksters anymore & thanks for exposing story on homosexual bishops & priests, dear Lord, this is grounds they be defrocked.
But so should Elps …
And quite frankly,
& if former priest George Passias got defrocked doing less than
Home boy Alex Karloutsos,
then he needs to be defrocked from title.

Sir Gatanas no I do not recall any other instance where Elpi blocked another individual for speaking up? Care to share details? I did hear about Former AB Spyridon though.
Bottom line, is the current diocese has an agenda in collaboration with the Roman Catholic Church and the other “global” religious faiths which is to lead the Orthodox Christians into heresy. Much of this will be done seamlessly without a question but it’s up to people who know better to do their part and enlighten the blind. There are full force efforts in place to accomplish this mission and unfortunately most of the wealthy, elite and governments are collaborators as well.

Sotiris: yes you can find article on latest AB Elpidoforos blocking someone on Twitter by checking Lawrence Wheeler’s Orthodox blog called:
Handwritings On The Wall

Elps blocked him fir speaking his truth

He blocked someone from facebook— it’s all been documented…