ΕΑΝ ΠΡΟΤΙΜΑΤΕ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΠΑΤΗΣΤΕ ΤΗ ΣΗΜΑΙΑ ΣΤΟ ΚΑΤΩ ΜΕΡΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΟΘΟΝΗΣ
Following our initial June 19 article on the GOA budget to be voted on next week at the Clergy-Laity Congress, this report expands on clergy listed as GOARCH staff and identifies multiple cases in which individuals appear to serve in both parish and Archdiocesan roles simultaneously – and some elsewhere. The findings raise questions that Clergy-Laity Congress delegates may wish to have answered before voting on the 2027 budget, particularly regarding the $8.3 million “National Church Operations” allocation. Ultimately, what skills would qualify many GOA priests to earn salaries in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, when we know that in regular life, many are unable to run even a small shop? Is it time to consider a “line item veto” for the budget, given the lack of transparency, appearance of double-serving/double-dipping, and other issues that make voting quite problematic?
Priests served in dual roles under previous Archbishops, especially during AB Iakovos, but according to our research, they volunteered to help the Church and its headquarters. Why is the word “volunteer” missing now? Priests cannot appear as “executives” on special missions!! Finally, somebody please confirm or deny what was alleged to us – that either St. Nicholas WTC or GOARCH pays the lease of a Manhattan apartment for Fr. Vythoulkas and his presvytera at $15,000 a month!!
By Helleniscope’s Editorial Team
In our June 19th article “Five Questions Every Clergy-Laity Delegate Should Ask Before Voting on the Budget”, there was an addendum that highlighted what appears to be an instance of “double-serving”...One of the priests on the “GOARCH staff” list was clearly assigned to a parish in Brooklyn as well, so the question Helleniscope posed to the Archdiocese is if this “double-serving” priest was also “double-dipping” into both parish AND that $8.3 million line item that the Archdiocese vaguely calls “National Church Operations”…
Let’s refer to some cases one by one:
“Exhibit A”: Fr. Evagoras Constantinides
https://www.goarch.org/staff (64 names appeared on this list as of 6/19/2026)
https://stconstantinecathedral.org/about/our-leadership/member-detail/1686626/
The natural subsequent question is if there are any more examples like this from that list of 64 names belonging to the team called “GOARCH staff”…(and of course, what that really means with respect to the $8.3 million line item that the Clergy-Laity Congress is about to vote on)
A quick sampling exercise yielded the following interesting results:
EXHIBIT B: Fr. Vassilios Drossos
Can the Delegates examine all of the sub-line items under the $8.3 million “National Church Operations” line item that the “staff” page has just not been updated in the past 3 years, and that this individual is no longer on the payroll (for the past 3 years at that), even though he is still listed as “GOARCH staff”?
Specifically, is Fr. Vassilios Drossos, who resigned from his position in GOARCH in 2023 and went to Greece, still being paid? Is he on the payroll?
EXHIBIT C: Archimandrite Michael Giavris
https://sbm.goarch.org/michael-giavris/ (accessed on 6/23):
“Simultaneously serves“…does that mean “simultaneously funded by” as well? The delegates would probably like to know…
The note is also interesting: The SBM is financed “IN PART” by the generous support of Leadership 100…Is any part of the “Not Funded” by L-100 amount being allocated to a priest that already has a parish (“presiding priest” usually means “Full time” (whatever that means these days)? Can the delegates determine what exactly is embedded within the $8.3 million line item that the CL Congress is being asked to vote on?
EXHIBIT D: Fr. Flavianos Katerinakis
Maybe they don’t pay him much at the parish because he’s brand new, so perhaps there is good reason if that is the case to allow a “second ministry”, but proper due diligence requires that the Delegates understand the details in this case, too (i.e. what’s the parish salary, who is actually paying for benefits, how much of the $8.3 million is being allocated to this individual, if that is the case, etc.):
EXHIBIT E: Fr. Nicholas Kazarian
Another example of “dual ministry”…The Delegates attending the Congress should be informed by GOARCH…is any of the $8.3 million “National Church Operations” allocated to this individual?
https://steleftherios.ny.goarch.org/about-us/father-nicholas-kazarian.html
EXHIBIT F: Fr. Steven Klund
And here is another clergyman who is a proistamenos in a parish, but also simultaneously listed under “GOARCH Staff”
https://stnicholaswilmington.org/about-us/our-staff/member-detail/1599495/?group=church-staff
EXHIBIT G: Fr. Jim Kordaris
And another example of a clergyman assigned to both a parish and the GOARCH “staff”, for MANY years in a row…
https://l100.org/news/pv2wfuzfg32d4reogpi55xa80o114d
EXHIBIT H: Fr. Panagiotis Papazafiropoulos
Another clear example of a “proistamenos” at a parish, but this time also serving as a “director” at the office of the Archbishop?
https://www.stgnyc.org/about/clergy-staff (accessed June 23, 2026)
And a few months ago was also appointed Executive Director of Leadership 100″
https://l100.org/news/leadership-100-appoints-new-executive-director-1
How many salaries will Fr. Panagiotis is being compensated with? From how many sources?
Although very recently, this happened (so it may not affect the 2027 budget):
EXHIBIT I: Two Deacons at the Archbishop’s Office
There appear to be 2 deacons listed in the office of the Archbishop…but not clearly assigned to parishes…perhaps the Delegates can request further clarification on this matter from the “Office of the Archbishop” where they appear to be both assigned:
EXHIBIT J: Fr. Gregory Stamkopoulos
Another example of a priest assigned to both a parish and the GOARCH “staff”, in “multiple roles” :
https://www.saintspyridon.net/welcome-to-st.-spyridon/fr-gregory
https://www.goarch.org/departments/infotech
https://www.goarch.org/departments/greekeducation
https://www.goarch.org/-/fr-gregory-telemachos-stamkopoulos
We have already reported that Fr. Gregory has retained his academic position in Greece and is being paid a sizable salary by the bankrupt Greek State, while he is “Αποσπασμένος” in New York. Based on the information above, he receives a very sizable salary from the wealthy parish of St. Spyridon in Manhattan (at least six figures annually), including at least $100,000 as an Education Director. Also, it is about to bring light to his compensation for his main skills (IT specialist), and the same for the Hellenic Cultural Center in Astoria, where he lives for free!!
Recently, Fr. Gregory held a special party to celebrate receiving his “Green Card”. Until now, somehow all his salaries were allegedly delivered either here or in Greece (nobody knows exactly how he was paid – in cash?)… Why such a profound lack of transparency? We are not in Istanbul – or maybe for Elpidophoros we are!!!
EXHIBIT K: Fr. Sophronios Vomend
And yet another example that needs clarification…
https://www.goarch.org/-/st-george-9-15
There also appear to be a couple of clergy in roles whose value is not exactly understood at first pass, and at a time when it is understood that parishes need priests, the Delegates of the Clergy-Laity convention will need some explanation for the following roles:
EXHIBIT L: Bishop Nektarios of Diokleias, General Chancellor
Question for clarification: How many administrative assistants does the office of the Chancellor need?
https://www.goarch.org/administration/chancellor
EXHIBIT M: Fr. Elias Villis
Another member of the clergy with “multiple roles” who was also on the “Archdiocese Staff” list previously… Fr. Villis is the District Chancellor, the presiding priest in Rye, and the Executive of Camp St. Paul. Is he compensated for all these positions?
https://www.gocoos.org/about/clergy-staff
https://ny.goarch.org/about/chancellor/
EXHIBIT N: Bishop Athinagoras
Question for Delegates to request clarification for: Is the role of “Chief Secretary, Holy Eparchial Synod” a position that dispenses monetary compensation? If yes, from which budget line item?
https://www.goarch.org/departments/religioused
EXHIBIT O: Fr. Nicholas Anton
Question: What exactly is the value gained by parishes that contribute to funding this position?… If we really even need a director for the Assembly of Canonical Bishops (can’t bishops self-organize? Do they need to be “directed” by a “director”?), why don’t all Orthodox jurisdictions chip in the cost (what is that cost, by the way)…or do they already? GOARCH should clarify:
https://www.goarch.org/-/nicholas-anton
EXHIBIT P: “FREEDOM Ministry for Human Trafficking Awareness”
Is this REALLY a necessary program for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese? Can the delegates find out if any of the $8.3 million “National Church Organization” budget line item is allocated to this type of activity? GOA provided ministries for all other problems, and now it will contribute to human trafficking?!
INITIAL CONCLUSIONS:
The above qualifies as a “statistical sampling” from a list of 64 “GOARCH staff”. However, in the interest of accuracy and transparency, it must be noted that this initial sampling focused primarily on Clergy listed as “GOARCH Staff” (mostly from that list of 64 individuals). Also in the interest of fairness, it is noted that the examiners did not identify any cause for question for any clergy members from that list who were not mentioned, as there was no evidence they were either “double-serving”, nor serving in a capacity/role that raised questions of “necessity for continued funding” in the opinion of the examiners.
The following editorial conclusions are drawn from the cases and publicly available information identified in the “exhibits” above:
Conclusion 1) Based on what can be determined today, the overwhelming majority of clergy assigned to “GOARCH staff” also seems to be officially “double-serving” in a different ministry, even in what appears to be a “full-time” capacity. This observation raises a cause for question and clarification by GOARCH.
Conclusion 2) While the examination stopped short of examining the status of the laity assigned to “GOARCH staff” positions, the statistical sampling results of “conclusion 1” warrant further examination of the status of laity who are also listed as “GOARCH staff” to determine if any are “double-serving”, and to audit if there are any conflicts of interest present.
Conclusion 3) There is an urgent need for GOARCH to explain in detail to the Delegates of the Clergy-Laity Congress what the obligations of a “full-time” parish priest entail, so that the Delegates can rationalize whether or not any individual assuming a time-consuming role outside of the “parish ministry” is a detriment to the parish. (For example, if the phrase “I can’t do a funeral or visit a terminally ill patient tomorrow… postpone it until I get back from this important trip”, etc., has been heard before in a parish that has a “full-time priest” that gets pulled away frequently by “other obligations”)
Conclusion 4) There is an urgent need, based on the above, for parishes to compare GOARCH’s explanation in “conclusion 3”, and proceed with their own conclusions on whether or not the priest in question has “fully stood up” to his expected obligations to the parish that in turn “fully funds him“.
Conclusion 5) In some instances, the value or purpose of a “GOARCH staff” position is not entirely clear (e.g., “Freedom ministry for human trafficking awareness”). GOARCH should clearly explain to the delegates why funding of such initiatives is critical to the parishes that are requested to fund them (if, in fact, it is proven that some of that $8.3 million is going to be allocated to such initiatives).
Conclusion 6) The inability to align all of the above examples with specific portions and percentages of the $8,3 million proposed budget line item called “National Church Operations” is unacceptable, and should be remedied by GOARCH in a manner that makes it clear enough to the Delegates of the Clergy-Laity Congress to determine if they will support or reject the proposed budget with their vote.
Note: it is a good time to remember that in the corporate world, the practice of “double-dipping” during the “same business hours” is frequently considered grounds for termination, and when legal proceedings are invoked, it can further involve paying restitution whenever the legal thresholds of “financial fraud” have been met… We all pray that this sort of outcome will NEVER be the case within GOARCH, and that all requested explanations to the Delegates of the Clergy-Laity Congress will be convincing enough to clear up the seemingly “financial grey areas” that need clarification. In the meantime, any ethical and moral concerns will propagate among the Delegates of the Clergy-Laity Congress until they are convincingly addressed by GOARCH leadership, with “facts and figures”…(if GOARCH desires the delegates to vote “in favor” of the proposed budget on the last day of the Congress).
June 25, 2026, www.helleniscope.com
DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author.
These revelations are extremely disturbing.
If the delegates roll over and play stupid, they will give our Church a death sentence.
The individuals who are identified as double-dealers — pulling salaries from each “full-time position” they hold — must be exposed and expelled.
Elpidoktonos operates our Church like a Turkish harem!
When Elpidoforos assumed his archbishopric throne, he promised us Total Transparency. I still have his promise on file. Nothing has changed. We still have so many questions that will not be answered. Why will they not be answered? Because the double dipping is part of this sinful archdiocese’s culture. Once you get used to making four to five times more than the average American’s salary, you’re hooked. You’re not going to give it up.
The Buffalo priest that stole almost half a million dollars, plus the Holy Trinity priest that passed his time by visiting gay websites is the visible part of an iceberg. The Greeks have a saying–as we always do_. The fish rots from the head. The archdiocese is leading the way in self-serving, hypocritical actions. Christ was crucified because of His pulling the mask from the religious establishment of His day. He called them hypocrites 57 times. He compared them to graves that are clean on the outside and full of bones and rot on the inside. There is no improvement in these modern day hypocrites. They would crucify Christ quicker than the archpriests of His time.
Really, how can they live with themselves? Another Greek saying “The rassa do not a priest make”.
There you go, you can see now where a part of the money you pay at your parish go! Another part goes to AHEPA under the table and what is left goes to the priest and the parish expenses…
What can you do? Simply stop paying! These “holy people” are not holy at all and they have no «τσίπα» as we say in Greece! If we keep paying, they will just keep laughing behind our back…
Simply stop contributing to the corruption. It’s so easy. Refuse to pay.
Jane, I find the quit giving slogan interesting. Two questions for you, have you ever given and what would motivate you to give. I have found that many of the quit givers never gave in the first place. I don’t think starving the church will facilitate change.
JK, before you ask any questions you have to offer to us your opinion about transparency and accountability. Are you happy with the GOARCH hierarchy and the headquarters acting like a well-paid “band of thieves”? Do you have any requests or other questions for them? Jane and all of us who are asking to stop giving are not the problem. The problem is the bunch of mostly faithless incompetents (there are exceptions but they verify the rule) who pretend to be leaders. And in the process they “skim” the proceeds of the donations exploiting the many issues with the American legal system about non-profit organizations.
Does the fact that GOA fell from a membership of 500,000 twenty years ago to about 100,000 now tells you anything? Please comment. This cannot be explained by demographics alone. People vote with their feet.
And what did GOA do? It suggests increasing the membership/stewardship to 1,000/yr!! Good luck attracting those converts!!
Nick, there are grave problems with the AD some are financial and most are spiritual. Is the GOA a Greek club or the Body of Christ and it can’t be both. As Jesus said you can’t serve 2 masters because you will love one and hate the other. My people perish because of lack of vision, says the palmist. I don’t think the leadership we currently have is capable of creating a godly vision for the church. Nevertheless, I don’t think starving the church is the answer. My local parish is growing exponentially so there is hope.
Yes there is hope that the large numbers of the newcomers will force the “Turks” to quit and go back home. As you saw Apostolos and now Elpidophoros pretend they “love” baseball to show they are Americanized… They try to fool people one more time… I don’t know if anyone is buying their theater – I am hoping not. But somebody – preferably a group of wealthy donors – need to rise up in the Clergy-Laity and show some spine…
JK. When you’re saying your parish is growing exponentially, can you elaborate on that? Do you have any numbers of PAYING stewards and not just visitors or catechumens? Can you compare those numbers to, let’s say, 30 years ago? My parish has been baptizing and Christmating people.
Most of the newly converted are spouses of Greek Orthodox, who contribute a lot to the church. My wife, a convert herself, directed the Sunday school for 30 years. However, many of the converts abandon the church after their kids are done with GOYA. I have see this occur in a great percentage of people. Go to church on a religious holiday, other than Christmas or Pascha, such as psychosabato, or salutations, and you’ll see only born-into- the faith Greeks. And of course, those Greeks are dying off. Do you think that the second generation will be attending such services? Of course not. They’ll probably attend once or twice a year or hold their wedding and baptism there and then, not see them again.
The other demographic, the strict converts, the “manosphere” ones, the admirers of Russia and her anti-LGBTQ culture, are going to Russian or even Antiochian or OCA churches. Those are conservative and alligns with their outlook. In my church, many converts are disappearing after a year or so, going to an OCA church.
JK. I certainly did GIVE!
I worked “for free” full time for the priest of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Raleigh.I paid for my own gas and a dog sitter because I lived far from the church. I spent thousands of my own limited funds and gave it to the church. Today, I live on SS and get help from my daughter.
God bless you. You are a wonderful example. However, I still don’t think starving the church is the answer.
JK – yes it is the right answer!… They are addicted to money in the same way the drug addicts are addicted to drugs… Should I take it a step further and suggest that – since many among them are gay -we all know the tendencies of homosexuals towards material luxuries… I could go on giving specific examples but allow me to stop here… Enough said.
JK you don’t think starving the church of donations is the answer. Why do you willingly donate to a corrupted hierarchal structure?
If you do not pay your mortgage, they take your house away. There are consequences when you do not act in accordance with laws and rules.
Share your solution on how you would offer a consequence to hierarchal sticky fingers?
I do not need your God Bless me. You were quick to accuse me of not donating. One year “free” administrative full time service to my church priest.. And now you say God bless? Wow.
And if you have deep pockets it’s no big deal when you donate. But when you have very small pockets…it’s hard. You’re quick to judge. Church is not doing much for your heart.
Bob, because of the influx of people our parish is no longer composed of Greek cradle Orthodox. The liturgy is full at the beginning. We are a second parish in the city. Liturgy is conducted in the language people understand, English .We pray the Lord’s prayer in 5 languages, other than the Lord’s prayer the entire liturgy is in English. At the end of May we had already reached our stewardship goal. We do not prostitute our parish to festivals and have no fundraisers, except a golf tournament. As our parish grows, the other parish in town, which embraces a very different paradigm, continues do decline exponentially. Many other parishes are experiencing this kind of growth but GOA does not support a growth paradigm.
JK,
Helleniscope readers all know you have a “talent” and history of asking diversionary questions on several topics (without suggesting any solutions to the problem presented)…However, this is a very serious topic, and it’s really your turn to answer some equally serious questions instead of asking diversionary ones:
1) Do you believe that the above research warrants that the Archdiocese break up the $8.3 million into line items for the Delegates at the Congress so that each Delegate can make an informed decision on whether to pass the “REQUESTED” budget proposal? (Simple YES or NO)
2) What was the exact salary that Christ offered the first Apostles when he told them “drop your nets and follow Me”?
3) How does the Biblical phrase “The Son of Man doesn’t have anywhere to rest his head” compare to the well-known story of former Archbishop Demetrios renting that super-expensive apartment in mid-town Manhattan (on the backs of the donors), simply because he didn’t like the commute from the FREE, DONATED accommodations 1 hour north? (and similarly can you assist with clarifying the related question Helleniscope is asking about Fr. Vithoulkas and the rumored Manhattan apartment in the introductory statement above)?
4) Do you believe that faithful are “stupid sheep”, or “logical human beings”?
5) Do you believe that the Archdiocese and the Metropolises have a historically proven-track record and can be trusted to “spend responsibly” and in a “Christ-like manner” at all times?
6) Do you believe there is an ethical and moral dilemma if in fact parish General Assemblies are being “withheld material information” about “secondary sources of income from the Archdiocese” when they are asked to raise a priest’s “full-time” salary, housing/car allowance, and insurance benefits?
7) Do you believe there is an ethical and moral dilemma when a “full-time” proistamenos is only available “part-time” for his parish?
8) Do you believe that any Delegates who vote in favor of an excessive GOARCH budget CONTRARY to the EXPRESSED collective conscience of the parishioners they represent have a legal and moral obligation to come up with the funds themselves if the $32 million budget has a shortfall in the future? (That would be a great solution, wouldn’t it? Mortgage your own homes responsibly, Delegates…)
8) Do you believe “passing the budget” with blind Trust/Faith in the “integrity of GOARCH leadership”, without asking questions or challenging line items is the responsible thing to do?
9) What is your actual solution / proposal to the ethical and moral dilemmas presented in this article? We are all curious.
Until you answer these questions and actually elect to “join this discussion” in a serious manner, you probably shouldn’t continue wasting the readers’ time asking any diversional ones…
Markos, excellent questions.
Marcos , apparently since you propose a litany of questions you suppose that I am required to answer . I don’t comment on things that I know nothing about. Starving the church seems to be your response to the challenges the church faces, I don’t prescribe to you solution. Also, you suggest that I present diversionary tactics. Please let me know what I have said is diversionary.
Jk,
Just cut the BS. Living a simple Christian life is not starving!
You say “I know nothing” but then you start asking tangential (diversionary) questions that are clearly intended to divert the discussion from the actual questions the article is raising…This serpentine tactic proves you “understand plenty”. Please refrain from insulting our intelligence with hypocritical assertions that “you don’t understand enough to answer simple questions. Anyway, you just admitted what we already saw…you don’t WANT to focus on the actual questions raised by the publicly available information that helleniscope organized and exposed above….The only material opinion you have supplied so far is that you don’t feel financial strangulation could produce results, even though that was the precise tactic employed that accelerated Archbishop Spyridon’s removal….that’s your answer…the rest of what you asked was diversionary…
Clapping for the Helleniscope team for cracking wide open the lying, cheating mafioso GOA holy ones gaming the church members. Let the sun shine in!!
Nick, how will starving the church create change? Do you think the Bishops will modify their behavior because chucn revenue has declined? I don’t think so. Most importantly, though Jesus had serious misgivings about Jewish leadership he never once encouraged people to stop giving. Your, starve the church attitude, is a secular approach to a spiritual problem.
You cannot feed a corrupt leadership/structure of whatever kind – not only religious – with money. Period. Don’t confuse Jesus with this issue. Jesus meant to keep giving to the needy – not to give to the PHARISEES!!
Nick, no Jesus was talking about support of the temple. Jesus is part of every issue. Jane when should people start to give if they have stopped. The church is a divine /human institution so there will always be corruption. Read church history and you will see discord, conflict and corruption that existed. Never was there a halcionic period in the life of the church. Again , what needs to change for you to give. Jane, my heart is in need of change and again God bless you.
JK, you asked “When should people start to,give when they have stopped?
Your question is not in keeping with finding a solution for the problems at hand. Reread the 7 points brought to our attention in the article. We are very concerned how donations are being used by the “ holy” hierarchs.
Nick, do you pay taxes?
JK – please don’t go down the road of comparing the state’s authority with the church’s. They are two totally different things. If you mean something else then explain.
Taxes feed a corrupt institution – the government. You said you can not feed any corrupt institution.
JK – I thought you were more intelligent than that. You leave me speechless… First, yes, I hold mostly libertarian views and I am for limiting taxation as much as possible. I remind you that before the introduction of the FED in 1913 there were no taxes in America.
But the Church does not have the power to put you to jail if you do not pay them “taxes”, right? So why do you compare the two? Unbelievable!…
JK,
Are you so quick to forget the final “nail in the coffin” of Archbishop Spyridon’s tenure in GOARCH? When the “wealthy donors” started threatening the Patriarchate with a “donation haircut”, that threat accelerated the process for his removal and replacement… “money talks” even in the “mighty Patriarchate”…
Markos, money talks. Yes. Especially to money hungry people money talks.
When your salary is decreased you modify your behavior.
Regrettably, a chronic reflection of Corruptive Historical Byzantine Culture that we inherited . Helleniscope ,Thanks for the Spotlight !
Vassilis,
Justifying this type of “conflict of interest” is far more Ottoman cultural residue than Byzantine, actually…
Just wow …….and yet NOT ONE of these men supported the employed faithful who lost their city jobs as they were terminated, losing their homes, spouses, friends, during convid. NO support for those who went to work and put their lives on the line for others every single day, especially during the horror of convid. They showed up to work as others wanted permission to work remotely from home. NO support from the patriarch, bishops nor the clergy for a simple letter of support for their religious exemptions from the lethal injections (Elpi refused to have them write one), I wonder why?? NO support as most clergy used multiple spoons during holy communion which is a blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. NO support for those whose families paid thousands of dollars per year at their parishes for decades, as their children grew. They ALL threw us under the city bus for fame, fortune and comfort. These men have a lot to answer when they meet Christ. Will they meet Christ?
Shameful, truly shameful ….😥
“Fr. Vassilios Drossos”??
Wasn’t he somehow “involved” with the Maharaj Elpi?
After enough scandals regarding him & fact he held no theological background enough to make church vomit?
Hi,
I glad you researched this alleged “ Double dipping” by some priests of our GOA for all CL members to check it out and ask for an explanation. Maybe it is proper, maybe they will be corrections. But transparency is key.
Now your comments regarding the Human Trafficking office, I am happy that our GOA is branching out to network with other agencies on an issue that is plaguing our society. Our church, Leadership 100, AHEPA and local syllogoi need to engage into the social fabric of a modern society. Yes, list the amount, but promote program
Now regarding Father V. I am so proud he was assigned to St N. Shrine in Manhattan. He has done a phenomenal job there encompassing a more inclusive Orthodoxy and embracing the local community. If his contract included housing, that what it is. If fact, it might be a good idea, easier for the church/parish and priests to be close to the church they serve, given the horrific traffic we have. So, transparency is key, and becoming more frugal with our finances is a prudent thing to Do.
Regards,
Frederica
Frederica,
You cannot be a Greek Orthodox Christian and at the same time member of a Masonic organization like AHEPA! You cannot be a Greek Orthodox priest if you have given oath to AHEPA and their Masonic God. You cannot serve 2 masters!
Freemasonry has been condemned multiple times by multiple Orthodox churches. The Patriarchate of Constantinople has condemned freemasonry very early, since 1744 and 1793!
Letting AHEPA trespassing in our churches is a clear violation of all these previous condemnations and the clergy that does that are traitors!
Maybe Helleniscope team can have the initiative of a petition for the condemnation of freemasonry by GOA and the ousting of AHEPA from our churches!
Frederica, if you are happy, maybe you are so happy that we can send you the bill for the cost of the entire ministry and you’ll happily fund it from your personal bank account, correct? There are MANY others who don’t believe that the Church has the resources or luxury to expand its footprint into “non-core” missions. The problem here is that nobody asks those donating if they approve of the way the donations are spent… Even worse, we now witness sales / liquidation of assets that were donated by prior generations, without asking the descendants of those benefactors what their opinion is…. And that is the beginning of the slippery slope…loss of trust, and then people start donating elsewhere…(see what Bob K wrote earlier about that)
Frederica, the problem is much worse than you think.
The source of the cancer in the Archdiocese is the Bartholomew-Elpidoktonos duo. They spend our money as they wish with no accountability.
Upon coming to the U.S. seven years ago, Elpidoktonos brought with him his herd of corrupt friends to suck on the church Treasury. He uses his power of the purse, his power to distribute rents, like the head of a criminal enterprise. The closer one comes to the Mafia chief, the more money he sucks. That guarantees “loyalty” for the chief, and money for his friends.
You mention the great work Fr. Vasilis Vrossos did at the WTC shrine. Really? What work?
Newspapers in Greece have reported that Vrossos was expelled from Istanbul when he got into physical altercations with Bart’s staff. He knew too much about the corruption there, so they assigned him to a posh parish in Kolonaki. After his involvement in a financial scandal there, he was expelled again. Elpidoktoros brought him to the U.S., naming him his closest “advisor”, reportedly over Bart’s objections. (What could Vrossos possibly advise about our American church? We soon found out.)
At the GOA headquarters, he was in charge of ordering lunch. He got into another physical altercation there with staff, and was quickly removed to Greece, keeping his GOA salary.
An American news blog reported the above. Vrossos gave a general denial and sued the journalist in Greece (not in the U.S. where the rules of evidence govern trials.)
He is only one of them. There is a lot on the others too.
If you want to know how to kill a Church in less than a decade, follow these monsters’ methods.
Priests in Greece used to support themselves with lay professions until
the government coopted them after WW2. Now on both sides of the Atlantic,
the dumbest students pass the entrance exams to become teachers and clergy
because at least it is a degree not to mention the comfy hours. No wonder
youth flee. As Paul made tents, priests need day jobs, not yiayialand. When Fr
Bob Stephanopoulos retired, Frank Marangos, who had been director of
Communications demanded he be given the rectory to compensate for his pay
cut. GOA Department Directors get $150,000 but the dean of the Cathedral got
$125,000. Most “Priest with Lay Professions” are paid part-time $63,000. I
like priests with lay professions, because they actually have real life
experience and don’t pontificate about things they know not. But the biggest
burden to parishes and GOA is benefits and pensions, which got raided. Mind
you, the auto companies went bankrupt when the market tanked, because they,
too, raided the pension funds when the market was high. GOA, Greece, A&P and
GM all went broke over pensions. What does a parish do when a priest is
seriously ill? They have to pay two priests. Why doesn’t GOA take over the
salary of the sick priest? But our parishes are increasingly old people on a
tight budget who can’t afford dues, but at the same time chase away tithing
converts.
Apart from financial corruption risk angle, the bigger advantage to priests with lay professions is that they don’t need to “compromise the faith” for a buck, either because the parish council or worse ( a local vicar / chancellor / bishop) exert pressure to do so…
No they are not. They receive a portion of their salary from the parish and a portion from the Archdiocese to equal a full-time salary.
Then GOA should publish their salaries. Why don’t they? Because your statement is NOT true. And the case of Fr. Gregory Stamkopoulos proves it. He receives multiple salaries.
The name I know on the list is the same thing where the salary is divided to equal 1 full time salary.
You people refuse to touch the main issue: WHY ARE THE SALARIES NOT PUBLIC?
https://spzh.eu/en/news/94171-patriarch-of-bulgaria-spoke-about-the-permissibility-of-luxury-for-the-clergy