To the Editor:

I commend my good friend Nicholas Gage for his inspiring article Saving St. Nicholas Shrine Church (TNH Feb. 8.)

We are all encouraged, optimistic, and have confidence in the new leadership of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidiphoros. It is true that the Greek Orthodox faithful were never given any consideration or included as an integral part of rebuilding the St. Nicholas Shrine. We always relied on the very rich Greek Americans for help and there is nothing wrong with that. But it reminds of some very wise words from then-Archbishop Athenagoras who went on to become Patriarch. He once said (translated), “If the Church needs one thousand dollars, I do not want one donor to give me one thousand dollars. I want one thousand faithful people to give one dollar each.”

That’s where the glory and the strength of our church is.

Since one dollar today does not go very far, I propose that every Greek-American contributes ten dollars towards the St. Nicholas Shrine Project, and on behalf of my family of eleven, I will start this drive with $110.

Menelaos G. Tzelios

Whitestone, NY