National Herald Editor: Bartholomew Himself to Blame for State of GOARCH

Theodore Kalmoukos speaks at the Maliotis Cultural Center in 2024. Photo: Maliotis Cultural Center

NEW YORK — Theodore Kalmoukos, religion editor for the National Herald, has written a scathing editorial for the nation's only daily Greek-language publication in which he reflects on the current state of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and those who, in his estimation, caused it.

In a piece titled, "The Uprising of the Greek-American Community in Astoria," Kalmoukos starts by mentioning the recent developments at St. Demetrios Cathedral in New York, which UOJ has previously reported on. Parishioners protested outside of the church last month after what they saw as an archdiocesan takeover of their historic community.

"Elpidophoros himself returned to the 'scene of the crime' for the feast of St. Demetrios and once again repeated the same myths about 'fake news,' seemingly unaware that he was insulting the intelligence of the people of the parish and the broader Greek-American community, and proving once again the narrow mindset he brings to the proud and unyielding Hellenism of America, a mindset that brings shame to both the Church and the community," Kalmoukos writes.

He continued to say that the "dark and decaying condition in which our ecclesiastical life has fallen" is not solely on the shoulders of Abp. Elpidophoros, who is "what he is," but that the chief person responsible for the state of GOARCH is Pat. Bartholomew himself.

"He knows everything, sees, hears, and is informed, even by Archon orders, yet chooses to feign ignorance," Kalmoukos writes. "What truly seems to matter is not the well-being of the Church or the Greek-American community, but money. Yes, money above all. For years, the Archdiocese of America has been regarded as Orthodoxy’s 'goldfish,' or, if you prefer, its 'picky bag,' serving 'the needs of the Mother Church, philanthropic and otherwise.' Meanwhile, our own parishes, schools, and institutions are left to crumble."

Furthermore, Abp. Elpidophoros is not to blame for finding the money and growing comfortable, he said, but the people themselves for accommodating this mode of function for the Archdiocese.

"The blame lies with us, the faithful, the parish members who keep giving instead of tending first to our own household," Kalmoukos states. "At the most recent meeting of the Archdiocesan Council, it was reported that the Archdiocese’s finances are so strong that a multimillion-dollar surplus has accumulated. It is therefore time for the parishes to cut in half their mandatory financial contributions to the Archdiocese, or better yet, to decide for themselves how much they can afford to give, rather than being dictated to from above."

While people sweat over the grill at their local Greek festival, Kalmoukos writes, their money is funding trips to Constantinople for Abp. Elpidophoros and his entourage. While on these trips, they "flatter the aging Patriarch with claims that all is well in America."

"But the uprising of Astoria pulverizes all such pitiful excuses and proclaims clearly that a famine is coming," Kalmoukos concludes. "Do you understand?"

Previously, UOJ reported on a National Herald article which stated that Pat. Bartholomew had asked GOARCH to fund the papal visit of Pope Leo to the Phanar.

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