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The National Herald - February 3-9, 2018

        ANALYSIS

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Archdiocesan Civil War

By Theodore Kalmoukos

In writing a letter to the archbishop, Jerry Dimitriou, ousted from the powerful position of Executive Director of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, stated many interesting things.

He uncovered the way his former boss and spiritual father Archbishop Demetrios threw him under the bus not once, not twice, time and again claiming that he knew nothing about the finances.

So, Dimitriou dared to pull off the archbishop’s mask, in writing. He did so after he received a note from the Archdiocese to return the monies from, shall we call them “overdrafts,” and also after installments of this $300,000 severance pay – which Demetrios insisted on giving him – stopped.

I wonder if it ever even crossed the archbishop’s mind how many candles, souvlakia, and loukoumades the parishes have to sell to collect the $300,000 which he promised Dimitriou in severance pay.

When Dimitriou realized that the overdrafts, etc., found their way to the New York State Attorney General’s Office, he wrote the letter, essentially taking the position that he and Demetrios did everything together, and so they are going down together.

Rather courageously, or angrily, Dimitriou asks: “were you not the archbishop of America for the past 17 years?” It is really a powerful question that leaves no room for misunderstanding, mealymouthing, or spin. It is a very clear-cut question.

Moreover, Dimitriou further unmasked Demetrios by asking: “were you not told, before [St. Nicholas National Shrine architect Santiago] Calatrava was chosen, that if you chose him as the design architect the budget would surely be at least double what was originally estimated?”

Dimitriou continued: “If you were not aware of these financial situations of our Archdiocese as you claim, then who was the archbishop I was working very close with these past 17 years? Who was the archbishop that I considered a spiritual father and leader these past 17 years? Who was I serving, taking personal attacks for and standing up for these past 17 years? Who was the archbishop I met with and spoke to thousands of times when we made these, sometimes very difficult, decisions?

“The answer, as you know Your Eminence, is yes you were aware, you did make decisions, you knew the facts of what we were doing and where our Archdiocese was headed. You are the archbishop and you are responsible for these decisions; many of which are documented in letters and memos.”

After receiving such a truly shocking letter from his closest confidant, how does archbishop insist on continuing to shepherd the People of God? Where is the Eparchial Synod in all of this? Are there not at least two or three members among it bold enough to call on the archbishop to stand up and do the right thing, or will they continue to hide behind the smallminded statements of Archdiocesan Chancellor Bishop Andonios of Phasiane?

It has become well-known that the Archdiocese had morphed into an uncontrollable wide-open field in which some agile fellows set up Greek festivals in the name of Christ and the Church. Demetriou should undoubtedly return the overdrafts, as should ousted Finance Committee Chairman George Vourvoulias his “travel expenses,” particularly since he claimed to have been a volunteer.

Who was establishing the criteria for setting the salaries of Archdiocesan personnel such as Dimitriou?

The Church, by which I mean the Body of the Laity, the members of the parishes who pay everything, should know the salaries, benefits, and credit card expenses of all of the Archdiocese’s department heads. That information should all be made public.

Near the end of his letter to Demetrios, Dimitriou warned: “What I am not prepared to do is to remain silent and permit myself to be the scapegoat.”

Does anyone doubt that in 17-years of amassing information, Dimitriou has a great deal to say?

The Archdiocesan Civil War has just begun.

[ The National Herald - February 3-9, 2018 - p. 12 ]

[ The National Herald
  www.thenationalherald.com/189228/archdiocesan-civil-war/
  January 31, 2018 ]