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 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 … [Read more...]
Report: Greek Orthodox bishops in U.S. may take Turkish citizenship
Theodore Kalmoukos of the National Herald is reporting 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.'” Kalmoukos said that no American bishop has yet to "express an opinion" on the matter: The issue was brought up at the meeting of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate and official letters were sent recently to hierarchs serving outside of Turkey urging them to file – if they so wish - their applications to become Turkish citizens. Patriarch Bartholomew brought the letters with him when he came to the U.S. on October 21 and gave them to Archbishop … [Read more...]
A Decade of Challenges & Achievements for Archbishop Demetrios
The headline is a misnomer. What will strike the careful reader are several important points, including: Total payments in the GOA since 2000 for sexual abuse related cases total $16 million; The GOA pays out $150,000 a month in sexual abuse settlements from one case alone; An implied relationship exists between the toleration of homosexuality and child abuse; The Greek Government is being asked to fund Hellenic College and Holy Cross Seminary; The Ecumenical Patriarch has final administrative authority over the GOA; Hellenism (as distinct from and parallel to Orthodox Christianity) remains the conceptual framework through which the evangelistic work of the GOA in America is filtered. The article, framed in laudatory tones, in fact uncovers very serious problems. It was published in The National Herald (Octobery 24, 2009); interviewer is Theodore Kalmoukos. H/T: Pokrov.org. ++++++++++++++++++++ The remarkable life of His Eminence includes distinguished work as … [Read more...]