ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΜΕΤΑΦΡΑΣΗ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΕΙ
By Nick Stamatakis
The so-called “leadership” at the 79th Street headquarters is relentlessly preoccupied with how to get its dirty hands on parishes’ real estate. Not one week goes by that we do not hear more news about their “laser beam” focus to consolidate parish properties under their “hierarchy”, properties built with the blood sweat and tear of four generations of Greek-Americans… As the GOARCH lawyers put it in the “amicus brief” they filed (supporting the Episcopalians) in the US Supreme Court in November 2020 “All church property – regardless of which church entity it is held by – is held expressly for carrying out the faith and purpose of the Greek Orthodox Church. See Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (“Regulations”), Art. 16 § 1 (2007). Only the church hierarchy is vested with the authority to determine if a parish is carrying out the faith and purpose of the Greek Orthodox Church, so any property dispute is inherently entwined with ecclesiastical matters”…
Helleniscope reported that this particular attempt failed: the legal precedent created by the US Supreme Court’s refusal to take on the case renders the State Laws very valuable in defending against attempts by Church hierarchies (esp. corrupt ones like ours) to take over parish properties.  Faced with very difficult odds against state laws (esp. in NY, TX, and CA) the GOARCH predators decided to manipulate parishes so that they transfer their properties to them “voluntarily”.  The emphasis is on “voluntarily”, and this is a very forceful “voluntarily”. Why? Because GOARCH leadership has proven again and again over the years (and lately in Astoria) that they will not hesitate to fire any parish council member (or the whole council if necessary) that does not obey their abusive directives.
But this time they are faced with serious reactions from the community and, for the first time in decades, they have to deal with constant revelations of their deceitful actions by a substantial part of the Greek-American media – and I am proud to say that Helleniscope is leading this journalistic effort. As a result, they decided to “smooth out” opposition by sneaking a question about “ownership of parish properties” in the questionnaire regarding the new Charter as we reported two weeks ago… It was a clear effort to “test the waters” and prepare the ground for the ultimate takeover of properties through the Charter that they plan to bring in a vote during the Clergy-Laity Conference next July in New York!
But a few days ago they took another step: With an “URGENT” email sent by the Chancellor (Fr. Andreas Vithoulkas) they put forward the “scarecrow” of the IRS that was supposedly “requesting a complete list of all our Parish, legal names, and Tax ID”.  If there was an IRS letter they should produce it and they should attach it to the email – it would be to their advantage as it would show urgency! To make this more believable the letter stated that it was needed to re-instate “the GOA’s Group Exemption”.  And so they demanded to have by February 18 the following:
  • Legal Name of your Parish (Name incorporated under) 
  • Federal Tax ID Number 
  • Latest By-Laws  

(YOU CAN SEE THE FULL EMAIL/LETTER AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST)

A quick search (please link here) will inform you that a “Group Exemption” is irrelevant in our case.  It could be used only in the formation of new parishes under a central, hierarchical, organization.  This is certainly not our case, where each parish had been formed independently as a separate 501c3 many years ago, by a group of faithful according to the laws of each state.  Each parish is incorporated separately AND IS PROTECTED BY THE STATE LAWS.  GOARCH knows well they cannot touch the parish properties, as it stands now, without the approval of the State Attorney General (in the case of New York and many other states).  So they want to legally, with the consent of the parishes, put the property under the “hierarchy”…

A brief consultation with a couple of lawyers convinced us that THIS IS THE TIME FOR PARISHES TO TAKE ACTION.  As a first step, the State Attorney Generals have to be informed about the attempted takeover.  Then, a parish or a group of parishes need to come together and file lawsuits on the grounds of violating state laws regarding non-profit Church organizations.  At least in New York, we have verified that neither the AG’s office nor the judicial system in general, has any “respect” AT ALL for “hierarchies”.  The likelihood of success of such legal action is great.
Why are our “hierarchs” so desperate? you may ask. A quick search into the court system of NY online proved that there are about thirty (30!!) or so active lawsuits against GOARCH regarding sexual crimes!!  This also partially explains the sale of the hugely valuable property of HCHC in Brookline, which we reported on two days ago!!
The reality is that the “hierarchs” in New York and the “Sultan of Istanbul” were very pleased when, about twenty years ago, they managed to transfer under their umbrella the property of Old Calendarist Chuch of Agia Irini Chrysovalantou in Astoria and other six churches or “metochia”, valued at $20 million then and at least double this amount now!… And as we have learned, the “milking” of these Old Calendar churches continues unabated to this day by Bishop/Abbot Ierotheos who is supplying the Phanar regularly with loads of cash, illegally selling even the golden offerings the faithful put on icons!! Based on that “successful” model, the predators of GOARCH and Phanar want to expand their “enterprise”.
The faithful should have no doubt that a substantial amount of their donations ends up at the hands of the Turks, from the local “pasha” (County Governor) of Istanbul all the way to higher authorities… Also, a good part of this is deposited in the Swiss Banks in the accounts handled personally by Met. Emmanuel and Pat. Bartholomew. Yes, my friends, this is what “transparency” and “accountability” mean in Turkey…

I will conclude this post once again with the advice we posted before: It is imperative that parish councils begin to prepare for a fight over assets.

Suggestions:

  1. Form committees, take this very seriously.
  2. Keep copies of all your important documents (real estate docs/deeds, donations) in a safe place outside of your parish. 
  3. Consult with real estate and corporate formation attorneys, formally and informally.
  4. Review and understand your own parish incorporation, bi-laws, and governance.
  5. Consider the creation of separate 501(c)3 foundations to which donors will contribute, keeping all donations out of parish coffers and out of reach of the bad actors in charge.
  6. Prepare for litigation. Know your options.
  7. Withhold GOA monthly stipends.

All of the above are offered not in a spirit of hysteria or hate, but to discharge our solemn duty to protect the hard-earned legacy and sacrifice of the past.

This is a strategic and existential moment for every parish.

February 23, 2022, n.stamatakis@aol.com   www.helleniscope.com

DISCLAIMER: This is an expression of the writer’s opinion on matters affecting the public interest and in no way constitutes legal advice.

Helleniscope calls on each and every one of you, clergy and laity, to follow this link to change.org and sign the declaration of Independence of our Church from the Patriarchate 

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Η Αρχιεπισκοπή Απαιτεί Πονηρά Πληροφορίες Για Την Ακίνητη Περιουσία των Ενοριών!

Του Νίκου Σταματάκη

Η αποκαλούμενη «ηγεσία» στα κεντρικά γραφεία της 79ης οδού ασχολείται αδυσώπητα με το πώς θα πάρει στα βρώμικα χέρια της τα ακίνητα των ενοριών. Δεν περνάει μια εβδομάδα που να μην ακούμε περισσότερα νέα για την εστίαση της προσοχής τους στην ενοποίηση των ενοριακών περιουσιών, που χτίστηκαν με τον ιδρώτα και τα δάκρυα τεσσάρων γενεών Ελληνοαμερικανών υπό την «ιεραρχία»… Όπως οι δικηγόροι GOARCH το έθεσαν στο «amicus brief» που κατέθεσαν (υποστηρίζοντας τους Επισκοπαλιανς) στο Ανώτατο Δικαστήριο των ΗΠΑ τον Νοέμβριο του 2020 «Όλη η εκκλησιαστική περιουσία –ανεξάρτητα από ποια εκκλησιαστική οντότητα ανήκει– κατέχεται ρητά για την εκτέλεση της πίστης και του σκοπού της Ελληνικής Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας. Βλ. Κανονισμός της Ελληνορθόδοξης Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής («Κανονισμοί»), Άρθ. 16 § 1 (2007). Μόνο η ιεραρχία της εκκλησίας έχει την εξουσία να καθορίζει εάν μια ενορία εκτελεί την πίστη και τον σκοπό της Ελληνικής Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας, επομένως κάθε περιουσιακή διαφορά είναι εγγενώς συνυφασμένη με εκκλησιαστικά ζητήματα».

Το Helleniscope ανέφερε ότι αυτή η συγκεκριμένη προσπάθεια απέτυχε: το νομικό προηγούμενο που δημιουργήθηκε από την άρνηση του Ανώτατου Δικαστηρίου των ΗΠΑ να αναλάβει την υπόθεση καθιστά τους Νόμους του Πολιτειών ιδιαίτερα πολύτιμους για την υπεράσπιση από προσπάθειες εκκλησιαστικών ηγεσιών (ιδίως διεφθαρμένων όπως η δική μας) να καταλάβουν ενοριακές περιουσίες. Αντιμέτωποι με πολύ δύσκολες πιθανότητες ενάντια στους νόμους των πολιτειών (ιδίως στη Νέα Υόρκη, το Τέξας και την Καλιφόρνια) οι άρπαγες της Αρχιεπισκοπής αποφάσισαν να χειραγωγήσουν τις ενορίες ώστε να μεταβιβάσουν τις περιουσίες τους σε αυτές «οικειοθελώς». Η έμφαση δίνεται στο “εκούσια”, και αυτό είναι ένα πολύ ιδιαίτερα ισχυρό “εκούσια”. Γιατί; Γιατί η ηγεσία της Αρχιεπισκοπής έχει αποδείξει ξανά και ξανά όλα αυτά τα χρόνια (και πολύ καθαρά τελευταία στην Αστόρια) ότι δεν θα διστάσει να απολύσει οποιοδήποτε μέλος του ενοριακού συμβουλίου (ή ολόκληρο το συμβούλιο εάν χρειαστεί) που δεν υπακούει στις καταχρηστικές οδηγίες τους.

Αλλά αυτή τη φορά έρχονται αντιμέτωποι με σοβαρές αντιδράσεις από την κοινότητα και, για πρώτη φορά εδώ και δεκαετίες, έχουν να αντιμετωπίσουν συνεχείς αποκαλύψεις των δόλιων πράξεών τους από σημαντικό μέρος των ελληνοαμερικανικών ΜΜΕ – και είμαι περήφανος που το λέω το Helleniscope ηγείται αυτής της δημοσιογραφικής προσπάθειας. Ως αποτέλεσμα, αποφάσισαν να «εξομαλύνουν» την αντίθεση από τα κάτω θέτοντας στα μουλωχτά ερώτηση για την ιδιοκτησία των ενοριακών ακινήτων» στο ερωτηματολόγιο σχετικά με το νέο Χάρτη όπως αναφέραμε πριν από δύο εβδομάδες… Ήταν μια ξεκάθαρη προσπάθεια να «δοκιμάσουν τα νερά» και προετοιμάζουν το έδαφος για την τελική μεταφορά των τίτλων των ακινήτων μέσω του Χάρτη που σχεδιάζουν να ψηφίσουν κατά τη διάρκεια της Διάσκεψης Κληρικών-Λαϊκών τον ερχόμενο Ιούλιο στη Νέα Υόρκη!

Όμως πριν από λίγες μέρες έκαναν ένα άλλο βήμα: Με ένα «ΕΠΕΙΓΟΝ» email που έστειλε ο Πρωτοσύγγελος (π. Ανδρέας Βυθούλκας) έβαλαν μπροστά το «σκιάχτρο» της Αμερικανικής Εφορίας που δήθεν «ζητούσε πλήρη λίστα με όλες τις νόμιμες επωνυμίες  της καθε Ενορίας και ΑΦΜ». Εάν υπήρχε μια επιστολή από το IRS, θα έπρεπε να την παροθσιάσουν και να την είχαν επισυνάψει στο email – θα ήταν προς όφελός τους καθώς θα έδειχνε επείγον!

Για να γίνει πιο πιστευτό, η επιστολή ανέφερε ότι χρειαζόταν να επαναφέρει την «ομαδική εξαίρεση της Αρχιεπισκοπής από την φορολογία». Και έτσι απαίτησαν να έχουν μέχρι τις 18 Φεβρουαρίου τα εξής:
Νόμιμη επωνυμία της ενορίας σας (Όνομα ενσωματώνεται παρακάτω)
Ομοσπονδιακός Αριθμός ΑΦΜ
Τελευταίος Κανονισμός

(ΜΠΟΡΕΙΤΕ ΝΑ ΔΕΙΤΕ ΤΟ ΠΛΗΡΕΣ EMAIL/ΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΗ ΣΤΟ ΚΑΤΩ ΤΗΣ ΑΝΑΡΤΗΣΗΣ)

Μια γρήγορη αναζήτηση (παρακαλώ συνδέστε εδώ) θα σας ενημερώσει ότι η “ομαδική εξαίρεση” δεν έχει σημασία στην περίπτωσή μας. Θα μπορούσε να χρησιμοποιηθεί μόνο για τη συγκρότηση νέων ενοριών υπό κεντρική, ιεραρχική, οργάνωση. Αυτό σίγουρα δεν είναι η περίπτωσή μας, όπου κάθε ενορία είχε συγκροτηθεί ανεξάρτητα ως ξεχωριστή 501c3 πριν από πολλά χρόνια, από μια ομάδα πιστών σύμφωνα με τους νόμους της κάθε πολιτείας. Κάθε ενορία ενσωματώνεται χωριστά ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΣΤΑΤΕΥΕΤΑΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΥΣ ΝΟΜΟΥΣ ΤΟΥ ΠΟΛΙΤΕΙΑΣ ΟΠΟΥ ΒΡΙΣΚΕΤΑΙ. Η Αρχιεπισκοπή γνωρίζει καλά ότι δεν μπορεί να αγγίξει τις περιουσίες των ενοριών, όπως είναι τώρα, χωρίς την έγκριση του Γενικού Εισαγγελέα (στην περίπτωση της Νέας Υόρκης και πολλών άλλων πολιτειών). Θέλουν λοιπόν να θέσουν νόμιμα, με τη σύμφωνη γνώμη των ενοριών, την περιουσία στην «ιεραρχία»…

Μια σύντομη συνεννόηση με δύο δικηγόρους μας έπεισε ότι ΕΙΝΑΙ ΤΩΡΑ Η ΩΡΑ ΓΙΑ ΤΙΣ ΕΝΟΡΙΕΣ ΝΑ ΔΡΑΣΟΥΝ. Ως πρώτο βήμα, οι Γενικοί Εισαγγελείς της κάθε πολιτείας πρέπει να ενημερωθούν για αυτές τις ενέργειες. Στη συνέχεια, μια ενορία ή μια ομάδα ενοριών πρέπει να συνεργασθούν και να υποβάλουν αγωγές με βάση την παραβίαση των νόμων του κράτους σχετικά με μη κερδοσκοπικούς εκκλησιαστικούς οργανισμούς. Τουλάχιστον στη Νέα Υόρκη, επαληθεύσαμε ότι ούτε το γραφείο της AG ούτε το δικαστικό σύστημα σέβονται ΚΑΘΟΛΟΥ τις «ιεραρχίες». Η πιθανότητα επιτυχίας μιας τέτοιας νομικής ενέργειας είναι μεγάλη.

Γιατί είναι τόσο απελπισμένοι οι “ιεράρχες” μας, ίσως αναρωτηθείτε. Μια γρήγορη αναζήτηση στο δικαστικό σύστημα της Νέας Υόρκης online απέδειξε ότι υπάρχουν περίπου τριάντα (30!!) περίπου ενεργές αγωγές κατά της Αρχιεπισκοπής σχετικά με σεξουαλικά εγκλήματα!! Αυτό εξηγεί εν μέρει και την πώληση της τεράστιας αξίας περιουσίας της HCHC στο Μπρούκλιν, την οποία αναφέραμε πριν από δύο ημέρες!!

Η πραγματικότητα είναι ότι οι «ιεράρχες» της Νέας Υόρκης και ο «Σουλτάνος ​​της Κωνσταντινούπολης» (Πατ. Βαρθολομαίος) χάρηκαν πολύ όταν πριν από είκοσι περίπου χρόνια κατάφεραν να μεταφέρουν υπό την ομπρέλα τους την περιουσία της Παλαιοημερολογίτικης Εκκλησίας της Αγίας Ειρήνης Χρυσοβαλάντου στην Αστόρια και άλλες έξι εκκλησίες ή «μετόχια», αξίας 20 εκατομμυρίων δολαρίων τότε και τουλάχιστον διπλάσια τώρα!… Και όπως μαθαίνουμε, το «άρμεγμα» αυτών συνεχίζεται αμείωτο αυτή τη στιγμή από τον Επίσκοπο/Ηγούμενο Ιερόθεο που προμηθεύει τακτικά το Φανάρι με πολλά μετρητά, πουλώντας παράνομα ακόμα και τις χρυσά αφιερώματα, τα τάματα, που οι πιστοί βάζουν στις εικόνες!! Με βάση εκείνο το «επιτυχημένο» μοντέλο, τα αρπακτικά της Αρχιεπισκοπής  και του Φαναρίου θέλουν να επεκτείνουν την «επιχείρησή» τους.

Οι πιστοί δεν πρέπει να έχουν καμία αμφιβολία ότι ένα σημαντικό ποσό της δωρεάς τους προς τις εκκλησίς καταλήγει στα χέρια των Τούρκων, από τον τοπικό «πασά» (Κυβερνήτη) της Κωνσταντινούπολης μέχρι τις ανώτερες αρχές… Επίσης, μεγάλο μέρος κατατίθεται στις ελβετικές τράπεζες στους λογαριασμούς που διαχειρίζεται προσωπικά ο Μητ. Χαλκηδόνς Εμμανουήλ και ο Πατ. Βαρθολομαίος. Ναι, φίλοι μου, αυτό σημαίνει «διαφάνεια» και «υπευθυνότητα» στην Τουρκία…

Θα ολοκληρώσω αυτήν την ανάρτηση για άλλη μια φορά με τη συμβουλή που δημοσιεύσαμε προηγουμένως: Είναι επιτακτική ανάγκη τα ενοριακά συμβούλια να αρχίσουν να προετοιμάζονται για έναν αγώνα για τα περιουσιακά στοιχεία.

Προτάσεις:

  • Σχηματίστε επιτροπές, λάβετε το πολύ σοβαρά υπόψη.
  • Φυλάξτε αντίγραφα όλων των σημαντικών εγγράφων σας (έγγραφα/πράξεις ακινήτων, δωρεές) σε ασφαλές μέρος έξω από την ενορία σας.
  • Συμβουλευτείτε δικηγόρους ακίνητης περιουσίας και εταιρικής σύστασης, επίσημα και ανεπίσημα.
  • Ελέγξτε και κατανοήστε τη δική σας ενοριακή ενσωμάτωση, τους νόμους και τη διακυβέρνηση.
  • Σκεφτείτε τη δημιουργία ξεχωριστών ιδρυμάτων 501(c)3 στα οποία θα συνεισφέρουν οι δωρητές, κρατώντας όλες τις δωρεές μακριά από τα ταμεία της ενορίας και μακριά από τους κακούς υπεύθυνους.
  • Προετοιμαστείτε για δίκη. Γνωρίστε τις επιλογές σας.
  • Παρακράτηση της ετήσιας λογίας προς την Αρχιεπισκοπή.

Όλα τα παραπάνω δεν προσφέρονται σε πνεύμα υστερίας ή μίσους, αλλά για να εκπληρώσουμε το επίσημο καθήκον μας να προστατεύσουμε την κληρονομιά και τις θυσίες του παρελθόντος που κερδίσαμε με κόπο.

Αυτή είναι μια στρατηγική και υπαρξιακή στιγμή για κάθε ενορία.

23 Φεβρουαρίου 2022, n.stamatakis@aol.com   www.helleniscope.com

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ΕΔΩ ΤΟ ΕMAIL ΤΟΥ ΠΡΩΤΟΣΥΓΓΕΛΟΥ Π.ΑΝΔΡΕΑ ΒΥΘΟΥΛΚΑ
———- Forwarded message ———
From: Archdiocese Chancellor <chancellor@goarch.org>
Date: Mon, Feb 14, 2022 at 12:50 PM
Subject: ***URGENT***
To:

 

Reverend Fathers,

I hope this mail finds you well and strengthened in your holy ministry.

The IRS is requesting a complete list of all our Parish, legal names, and Tax ID. We need this information for the GOA’s Group Exemption to be reinstated. The Group Exemption is a mechanism that many parishes utilize to demonstrate their tax exemption and ability to receive charitable contributions that are tax deductible to donors and to vendors providing preferential pricing to the parishes.

Therefore, we need the following information by February 18th:
 

 

  • Legal Name of your Parish (Name incorporated under) 
  • Federal Tax ID Number 
  • Latest By-Laws  
  •  

Please email your responses to both email addresses provided below: 

chancellor@goarch.org and mariak@goarch.org 


Thanking you in advance, 

Rev. Protopresbyter Andreas Vithoulkas

Chancellor

 

27 COMMENTS

  1. 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.

  2. 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).

    • Thanks Margaret – nobody says it better than you! We can visit other churches to hear about Jesus instead of being bombarded by GOA’s relentless glorifying Elpi & his crooked gang.

      And yes, George also sheds light on how grateful we should be for Athonite monasteries we can always retreat to.
      Thank Heavens!

  3. 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.

    • It’s time to S T A N D!

      We cannot pray away the armies of Satan just like we cannot pray away the weeds in our garden. We pray so that God will give us the courage and the strength to rise in the day and meet the needs of our calling. So that when the time comes to fight our armor is strong and our sword is sharp. Christian nihilism is the same as any other nihilism, it’s a sin. Waiting for the enemies of God to kill you and your fellow man is not how we show his power to the nations.

  4. 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!

  5. 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.

    • Thank you, Margaret, for words I needed to hear today. The GOA leadership is of the devil. Many tears…✝️ And the flock is obedience to satanic overlords.

  6. “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.

  7. 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

  8. 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.

  9. 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 continue to stand your ground. The priests they actually defrock are not ones who are homosexual. They are the ones who are made an example of for not being homosexual! Look at what was done to Metropolitan Evangelos of NJ.. Did he deserve to be defrocked/forced to resign because he was outspoken and was not in agreement with Archbishop Elpidoforos?
        Who does the Archbishop think he is?
        He is nothing but a unqualified CEO! He poses as Archbishop but he is just a front man for the Patriarchate. He has no business sense, no HR skills only when it concerns BLACK LIVES MATTER. Go home, run back to Turkey where you can still preserve some self respect vs staying in the US and destroying communities by banishing esteemed clergy who vigorously believe in the Lord. Stop inserting your snitches into our parishes only to use them and then forget their names.. Stop overpowering parishes and their proIstsmeni when they don’t tell you what you want to hear. These things are belittling you. Have discussions, vs sending poorly written letters to your parishes and the public. Learn how to communicate and admit that your priests are not perfect and neither are you! You tried to damage the reputation of the Metropolitan Evangelos but he in the end had more class and the respect and support of more people then you ever will. Oh and let’s not forget the Treasurer who you twice relieved of his duties at St Demetrios.. why did you remove him? Was he too honest for your ears? Because from what we know he and his parish came to you for guidance so they do not become insolvent and your offered no tangible suggestions! Or is this part of the plan to bring the community to its knees so that community is then forced to hand over the assets??

        • Sotiris, feel bad for Met. Evangelos; did you know Elpi once again blocked another Orthodox who dared to speak up?
          Not only should Elpi be defrocked for being a practicing fairy, & FYI that alone is grounds to be kicked out but the Turk has no skills whatsoever to be Archbishop –
          AB Spyridon was far more dignified & Orthodox yet kicked out in 3 years!
          SMH, the entire squad at GOA is too corrupt to take action & Bart is too feeble to care.

          • Evangelos was an unmitigated disaster. Just ask any priest who served in his diocese. He barely passed his classes and purchased his position as a bishop.

  10. 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.

    • GOARCH & Elpidophoros/crew blocked me from Twitter b/c I questioned why father Vassilios was forcibly retired from the priesthood at St. John the Baptist in NYC. To date this issue has been swept under the rug. No explanation/transparency. All while church attendance dwindles & they prepare to extinguish another Greek Orthodox church community. Sad!

  11. 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

    • Sir Gatanas thank you for introducing Lawrence Wheeler. He is spot on with his writings. We need to educate as many as possible. We have to be courageous and not be subdued. We need an independent church. No more funding a diocese who is trying to turn us into heretics without faithful even realising that is what’s happening.. and this because people not in touch with any spirituality. All Christian Orthodox lives matter!!

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