Jaharis' Speech on Ecclesiastical Issues

Analysis By Theodore Kalmoukos

Special to The National Herald

Michael Jaharis, Vice Chairman of the Archdiocesan Council

Michael Jaharis, Vice Chairman of the Archdiocesan Council, raised some very important issues about the life of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America in his speech to the Council, which is published in this issue of TNH. He touched upon the problems that were created with the elevation of the local ecclesiastical districts to Metropolises. In essence, the current administrative structure refutes the unity and the coherence of the Church. Ecclesiologically speaking, it is a very strange ecclesiastical and administrative structure simply because the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is one unified Ecclesiastical Eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with only one ruling hierarch, the Archbishop of America, who should be commemorated in the Eucharist and in the Sacred Services as the shepherd (ruling bishop).

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December 13, 2012

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1. Yannis Armaou wrote on December 13, 2012 1:17 PM	"The cases of the Metropolises of Boston and Denver are very vocal. They are tragic situations." How TRUE Mr. Jaharis! Salt Lake City is a tragic example! Having Fr.Kouremetis claiming in a speech to a newly elected Parish Council that "you work for me" and claiming to workers of the church that he is the "Patron" the "boss",shows you the mentality of "absolute power". He tried with the technique of a FAKE MIRACLE to split our community with the blessings of the Metropolitan of Denver. The metropolitan Isaiah has openly disobeyed the Archdiocese and the Holy Synod(letter 24 March 2011). Isaiah went against the Archdiocese on the Katinas situation,he said: " I personally wanted a trial by jury". He defended Katinas till the bitter end.Didn't he know about Katina's doings when he was a chancellor in Chicago? Also as a Metropolitan did not know about Karambis or Gabriel Barrow either.Kouremetis insists that whatever he does in Salt Lake City is with the blessings of the Metropolitan.If this is true,then both of them should be REMOVED immediately.“Ephraimism" is the sick side of monasticism.

2. Yannis Armaou wrote on December 13, 2012 2:00 PM	http://takeourchurchback.blogs pot.com/

3. Niko Seretis wrote on December 13, 2012 11:46 PM	Again these metropolitans were put in these positions by the Patriarch after he dethroned the late Arch. Iakovos. This was to insure that autochephaly of the G.O, church in America would never be attained. By dividing he conquered. I wonder though if this was the patriarchs idea or that of his Turkish hosts. Having our patriarchs headquarters in turkey limits his powers and his ability to govern. Maybe if they were moved to NYC and he administered from there while still keeping Constantinople as his European office would workout better and the Turks would have no say in anything anymore. We can really use the help here. Our theological school in New England operates freely in the US but has become a joke. The archbishop and the metropolitans don't seem to care much about this .
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Saturday, May 25, 2013 Last Update: 9:03 AM ET