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From the Macedonian Press Agency (http://www.mpa.gr/article.html?doc_id=513127)

Resignation of the Metropolitan bishop of Thessalotis Theoklitos (Koumarianos), spiritual son of Archbishop Christodoulos.

Interviw of Archbishop Christodoulos on TV.

The Metropolitan bishop of Thessaloniki Anthimos call faithful to take part in the all night vigils that will take place next Monday in all the Parish Churches of the Metropolis.

ΠΡΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΙΤΗΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΤΗ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΙΩΤΙΔΟΣ ΘΕΟΚΛΗΤΟΥ
Αθήνα, 25 Φεβρουαρίου 2005 (18:11 UTC+2)


Κορυφώνεται η κρίση στην Εκκλησία, με την - ανεπιβεβαίωτη μέχρι στιγμής - παραίτηση του Μητροπολίτη Θεσσαλιώτιδος, Θεόκλητου, κι ενώ ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος κ. Χριστόδουλος, είχε από το πρωί της Παρασκευής συνεχείς συσκέψεις με στενούς συνεργάτες του και μητροπολίτες, μέλη της Διαρκούς ιεράς Συνόδου.

Σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες που μετέδωσε ο ΑΝΤ1, ο μητροπολίτης Θεόκλητος Κουμαριανός υπέβαλε την παραίτηση του στον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Χριστόδουλο, ο οποίος και την έκανε αποδεκτή, ενώ θα υποβληθεί και τυπικά την ερχόμενη Τρίτη από τον ίδιο το Μητροπολίτη Θεσσαλιώτιδος κατά την προσέλευσή του στη Διαρκή Ιερά Σύνοδο.

Ο Μητροπολίτης Θεσσαλιώτιδος, τις τελευταίες ημέρες δεχόταν έντονες πιέσεις από το περιβάλλον του Αρχιεπισκόπου προκειμένου να υποβάλλει την παραίτησή του, ενώ ακύρωσε την εκδήλωση που θα έκανε για την ονομαστική του εορτή, στην οποία, σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες, δεν επρόκειτο να παρευρεθεί κανένας Μητροπολίτης.

Την παραίτηση του Μητροπολίτη Θεσσαλιώτιδος είχε προαναγγείλει νωρίτερα ο Μητροπολίτης Καλαβρύτων. Ο κ. Αμβρόσιος σε δηλώσεις του κάλεσε τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο να αλλάξει τα πρόσωπα του περιβάλλοντός του.

Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος κ. Χριστόδουλος, βρίσκεται σε δυσχερή θέση, τόσο μετά τις αποκαλύψεις για τα σκάνδαλα που συγκλονίζουν το σκάφος της Εκκλησίας, όσο και από την ραγδαία πτώση της δημοτικότητας του Αρχιεπισκόπου.

Στο μεταξύ, το Πατριαρχείο Ιεροσολύμων αναδιπλώνεται σχετικά με το κατά πόσο οι Βαβύλης και Τριανταφυλλάκης εστάλησαν από τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο, ενώ ο κ. Χριστόδουλος μελετά εφ' όλης της ύλης απάντησή του με τηλεοπτική συνέντευξη του.

Συνέντευξη Χριστόδουλου

Μετά τις αλλεπάλληλες συσκέψεις που είχε την Παρασκευή ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Χριστόδουλος αποφάσισε να δώσει απαντήσεις σε όσα βλέπουν τις τελευταίες ημέρες το φως της δημοσιότητας, δίνοντας συνέντευξη στο κεντρικό δελτίο ειδήσεων του τηλεοπτικού σταθμού Alpha.

�Προχωρούμε ασυμβίβαστα στην εφαρμογή των αποφάσεων της Ιεραρχίας�, δήλωσε ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος αργά το βράδυ της Πέμπτης, ενώ νωρίς το πρωί της Παρασκευής, προσερχόμενος στην Αρχιεπισκοπή, περιορίστηκε να πει ότι προσεύχεται.

Ο κ. Χριστόδουλος έρχεται αντιμέτωπος με φωνές από το χώρο της Εκκλησίας και της πολιτικής που του ζητούν να παραιτηθεί, καθώς και με την άποψη που διαμορφώνουν οι πολίτες για το πρόσωπό του. Σύμφωνα με δημοσκόπηση της Metron Analysis, η δημοτικότητά του παρουσιάζει κάμψη από το 65,5% τον περασμένο Οκτώβριο, στο 41,7%.

Σημειώνεται ότι συνεργάτες του Αρχιεπισκόπου αποδίδουν την κρίση σε καλά οργανωμένο σχέδιο �που έχει προετοιμαστεί εδώ και πολύ καιρό από ξένες μυστικές υπηρεσίες και πολιτικούς�.

Σχετικά, ο μητροπολίτης Καλαβρύτων και Αιγιαλείας κ. Αμβρόσιος δήλωσε: �Δεν είναι στόχος ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος κ. Χριστόδουλος, αλλά τα εθνικά θέματα. Απλά κτυπούν τον Χριστόδουλο για να λύσουν τα εθνικά προβλήματα της Ελλάδος, που είναι μία μικρή χώρα�. Παράλληλα, ανέφερε ότι ο ίδιος δεν επιθυμεί την ανατροπή του Αρχιεπισκόπου, προσθέτοντας ότι �αυτός θα πάρει τις αποφάσεις του, όταν περάσει η μπόρα�.

Σε αγρυπνία καλεί ο Μητροπολίτης Θεσσαλονίκης

Εν τω μεταξύ, σε αγρυπνία την προσεχή Δευτέρα καλεί τους πιστούς η Ιερά Μητρόπολη Θεσσαλονίκης διευκρινίζοντας, σε σχετική ανακοίνωση, ότι στο τέλος της αγρυπνίας �θα αναπεμφθεί ειδική προσευχή για να ξεπεράσουμε όλοι την πρωτοφανή κρίση που μαστίζει την εκκλησία μας και την ελληνική κοινωνία�.

Όπως αναφέρεται στην ανακοίνωση, �το προσευχητικό αίτημα της Δευτέρας δεν αποβλέπει στην συγκάλυψη σκανδάλων και ανόμων πράξεων, αλλά στην αναγνώριση των αμαρτιών και των σφαλμάτων όλων μας αδιακρίτως, στην αναζήτηση του δρόμου της μετανοίας και στην αποφασιστικότητά μας, με τη βοήθεια του Θεού, να περιθριγκώσουμε τη ζωή μας και την υπόστασή μας με τις ευαγγελικές αρετές και το παράδειγμα των αγίων�.

Από πλευράς κυβέρνησης, επαναλαμβάνεται ότι η κάθαρση, την οποία υποστηρίζει η κυβέρνηση, είναι θέμα της Εκκλησίας. Ειδικότερα, για το θέμα παραίτησης του Αρχιεπισκόπου, ο αναπληρωτής κυβερνητικός εκπρόσωπος Ευάγγελος Αντώναρος δήλωσε: �ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος εκλέγεται από την Εκκλησία της Ελλάδας και άρα δεν μπορεί να εκμαιευθεί από την κυβέρνηση δήλωση για έναν τομέα, όπου δεν έχει επεμβατική δυνατότητα�.

Dear Myles,

I did notice that France referred to us as an Empire. It was just recently that I wondered what the difference was between a king and an emporor. I came to the conclusion that a king reigned over one 'people', while an emporor reigned over many different people, (nations, etc.).

In that sense, how can we be considered an empire? We are basically one people.

As for our government, the fear is not in our president acquiring too much power, it is that we might become an oligarchy. That is the one thing that Thomas Jefferson was fearful of, and it is comming about.

It is our Supreme Court that has too much power. Judges are not elected and are in office for life. Lately, the liberal one's have been making the law, rather than merely interpreting them. That is why one judge took it upon himself to accept homosexual marriages and another, to have the Ten Commandments removed from state capitols, etc.

President Bush is going to have a big battle on his hands in order to get the conservative judges he appoints on the bench, especially for the Supreme Court, since a few of them will retire during these next three years.

This was the main issue in our recent elections, because it can form the character of our nation for the next forty years. The conservatives know it and the liberals know it.

In our country, when someone in the Senate doesn't want a bill passed he starts a filibuster. What he does is start talking, and talking, and talking, until the session ends and the bill did not get a chance to be brought to a vote.

Well, during the past four years, the Senate decided in order not to have filibusters, they will have a committee decide what should be brought to a vote and what should not be.

Well certain judges appointed by Pres. Bush were considered too conservative by some on the committee and were never given the chance to be voted on. Had they been given the chance, they certainly would have acquired the position. The fear of the liberals is that they might stop abortion.

Now they are deciding in the Senate to eliminate the committee, so we'll be back to filibustering. Yet filibustering has never been done to stop the appointment of a judge.

The fighting between our president (and the people), and those few extreme liberals in the Senate such as Ted Kennedy, will be starting soon.

Zenovia

I didnt mean to say America was an Imperium just thats how its viewed by the Dutch and French. You must take into account that France helped you guys defeat us in war and must of American constituionalism finds its roots in French enlightenment revolutionary political theory. They probably see America much like they saw their own Imperiums under the Napoleon's. I'm not saying its a correct parallel but you know...

Anyways, yes your system has major problems but so do all poltical systems. Like Britain, the judiciary, legislature and executive are all under the control of the King whose powers basically fall into the lap of his prime minister. Hence, Lord Hailsham called our system an 'elective dictatorship' in the 70's. Still, I prefer it. Government has more freedom without a written constitution and a troublesome supreme court to deal with when you want to change the law.

Parliamentary sovereignty forever! Down with the EU Constitution.

God save the Queen!!!

Dear Francisco,

It is doubtful that any cleric exists in Greece today with the appeal and charism of Arch. Christodoulos. Frankly, he is Mr.'Greece'. I love his provincial mixture of patriotism and religion.

Look, he managed to survive the conflict with the Patriarch last year.

Zenovia

From Kathimerini (http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100010_26/02/2005_53448)

Bishop resigns, boss stays
Theoklitos stands down while Christodoulos says he will remain archbishop

After several weeks of scandal, the crisis in the Church of Greece claimed its first victim yesterday as the Bishop of Thessaliotis tendered his resignation but Archbishop Christodoulos maintained he would not stand down, despite some calls for him to do so.

�Every idea imaginable has passed through my mind and I have studied and weighed everything up. Of course I thought about resigning but I finally rejected the idea. I am determined to lead the effort to clean up the Church,� said Christodoulos in an interview shown on private television channel, Alpha, last night.

The head of the Church came under pressure to quit from Chrysostomos, Bishop of Zakynthos, following claims linking him closely with fugitive drug smuggler Apostolos Vavilis and Archimandrite Iakovos Yiossakis, the priest alleged to be at the center of a trial-fixing ring.

Yesterday, Christodoulos again denied sending Vavilis and a retired policeman to oversee the election of Patriarch Irenaios four years ago in Jerusalem. �We did not send them to Jerusalem. That is the truth,� said the archbishop, who admitted seeing Vavilis dressed as a security guard at the Patriarchate. Christodoulos said he did not talk to him at the time and could not recall meeting him again since.

He also said that he had turned down requests from other clergymen for Yiossakis to be promoted. �I do not want to expose anyone but I was approached many times and always rejected the idea,� said the archbishop.

Meanwhile Theoklitos, Bishop of Thessaliotis, who was under investigation by the Holy Synod over allegations he was involved in drug dealing, resigned yesterday. Sources indicate that the bishop had come under intense pressure from the archbishop's aides in recent days to stand down. It is thought that Panteleimon, Bishop of Attica, who has been suspended for six months pending an investigation into claims he tried to influence judges, and Stefanos, Bishop of Trifyllia, who has been linked to a sex scandal, are also under pressure to resign.

Christodoulos found an ally in Amvrosios, Bishop of Kalavryta, who had been critical of the archbishop until yesterday. �There is an invisible finger targeting not the archbishop but our national safety,� said Amvrosios, alleging the involvement of Israeli secret service Mossad in a process to destabilize the Church and influence the Jerusalem Patriarchate, a considerable property owner in the city.

Dear Francisco,

A person would have to be quite naive to believe that Israel would not try everything in it's power, to destabilize the Jerusalem Patriarchate, considering all the state property that it owns in Israel...not to mention it's sympathy with the Palestinians. But what this has to do with the scandals in the Church in Greece, is beyond me. Oh Well, leave it to the Greek 'paranoia'.

It seems to me I'd be more wary of the Turks, the socialist party, and the Patriarch, because of Arch. Christodoulos' antipathy towards their entrance into the EU. But again, what gain would they have in causing a scandal. You know the Greeks, for all their 'smarts', have an over abundant imagination.

Zenovia

From the Athens News Agency (http://www.ana.gr/anaweb/user/showplain?maindoc=2644297&service=8)

Archbishop Christodoulos counters critics, allegations in prime-time interview; says he will not resign



Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos on Friday emphasized that he will not resign from his post as the powerful head of the Church of Greece, as an ongoing furor over corruption and inappropriate behavior continues to plague a handful of top ecclesiastical leaders, including some of Christodoulos� closest allies.

Christodoulos made the statement to reporters as he entered the archbishopric in downtown Athens, where he characteristically said the "Archbishop does not resign, he is annihilated."

The influential and outspoken Archbishop also appeared in a closely watched taped television interview aired by the private "Alpha" station during its prime-time newscast on Friday evening. The exclusive interview was broadcast almost simultaneously with the resignation of Thessaliotidos (Karditsa area of central Greece) Metropolitan Theocletos had already informed him in the morning that he intended to resign.

From the Athens News Agency (http://www.ana.gr/anaweb/user/showplain?maindoc=2648078&maindocimg=2621376&service=5), this time aviable onlyy in Greek

Δεν παραιτούμαι�, επαναλαμβάνει από άμβωνος ο Χριστόδουλος

"Εάν νομίζουν όσοι μας πολεμούν ότι θα παραιτηθώ, ή ότι θα πάψω να ομιλώ είναι βαθιά νυχτωμένοι", τόνισε το πρωί ο αρχιεπίσκοπος Χριστόδουλος, μιλώντας από τον άμβωνα του ναού των Αγίων Πάντων στην Καλλιθέα, στην Αθήνα. Ο αρχιεπίσκοπος ανέφερε ότι ο λαός μας είναι ο πιο πιστός στην Ευρώπη και αυτό ενοχλεί. "Πρέπει να λείψουν", είπε, "εκείνοι που σηκώνουν τη σημαία, για να γίνει η παγκοσμιοποίηση", ενώ επισήμανε ότι "οι σκανδαλοποιοί έρχονται και παρέρχονται". Μάλιστα τόνισε ότι τα σκάνδαλα "είναι αναγκαία να υπάρχουν για να δοκιμάζονται οι άνθρωποι, αλλά δεν πρέπει να πάψουμε να σεβόμαστε την Εκκλησία". Μέσα σε ένα ακροατήριο το οποίο ξεσπούσε συνεχώς σε κραυγές "άξιος, άξιος" και χειροκροτήματα ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος έκανε επίθεση εναντίον των Μέσων Ενημέρωσης λέγοντας ότι η υπόθεση απασχολεί τα ΜΜΕ πάνω από ένα μήνα λες και ήταν πρωτοφανή εγκλήματα αυτά τα οποία δείχνουν.

Στο πλευρό του αρχιεπίσκοπου Χριστόδουλου τάχθηκε και επίσημα σήμερα από άμβωνος ο μητροπολίτης Θεσσαλονίκης Άνθιμος, καλώντας παράλληλα τους πιστούς να λάβουν τις αποφάσεις τους και να σταθούν στο πλευρό της βαλλόμενης εσχάτως Εκκλησίας. Τόνισε ότι υπάρχει κίνδυνος "συρόμενοι, πίσω από έναν φυγόδικο, να χάσουμε το Γολγοθά του Κυρίου, τον Πανάγιο Τάφο. Η Εκκλησία της Ελλάδος είναι η ισχυρότερη στα Ιεροσόλυμα. Δεν πρέπει να χάσουμε τη θέση μας�, επισήμανε. Κάλεσε επίσης, τους πιστούς σε αγρυπνίες που θα τελεσθούν αύριο σε όλους τους ενοριακούς ναούς της πόλης με απόφαση της Μητρόπολης Θεσσαλονίκης.

Το Πατριαρχείο Ιεροσολύμων με ανακοίνωση που εξέδωσε χθες, αναφέρει ότι τον Απόστολο Βαβύλη έστειλε στα Ιεροσόλυμα ως Απόστολο Φωκά ο αρχιεπίσκοπος Χριστόδουλος. Επίσης, το Πατριαρχείο κάλεσε όλους τους εμπλεκόμενους να αποφεύγουν δηλώσεις που συγχέουν τα εκκλησιαστικά με τα εθνικά ζητήματα. Απαντώντας ο κ.Χριστόδουλος τόνισε ότι στη νέα πρόκληση θα σιωπήσει ενσυνείδητα έστω κι αν πρόκειται να αδικηθεί. Οι εξαιρετικά επικίνδυνες περιστάσεις, ανέφερε, επιβάλουν αυτή την κρίσιμη ώρα αυστηρή αυτοσυγκράτηση και περισυλλογή ευθύνης. Στο μεταξύ, την Τρίτη αναμένεται να υποβάλει την παραίτησή του στη συνεδρίαση της Διαρκούς Ιεράς Συνόδου ο μητροπολίτης Θεσσαλιώτιδος Θεόκλητος, μετά την εμπλοκή του ονόματός του στην υπόθεση του πρώην αρχιμανδρίτη Ιάκωβου Γιοσάκη.

Thank You God---that this is in Greek!

In Jesus' holy name,
+Fr. Gregory

From the website of the Church of Greece (http://www.ecclesia.gr/English/EnHolySynod/deltia_typou/new_chief.html)Thank You God---that this is also in English!

THE HOLY SYNOD


Press Bulletin of the Holy Synod


Additional measures for the crisis in the Church
New Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece


Athens, February 21, 2005

The Standing Holy Synod of the Church of Greece of the 148th Synodal Period convened on Monday, February 21, 2005, under the Presidency of His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, in Its ninth session for February.

At first, after a proposal of His Beatitude the President and given that the post of Chief Secretary was now vacant after the election and ordination of the Most Rev. Archimandrite Chryssostomos Sklephas, until recently Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, as the new Metropolitan of Patras, the Standing Holy Synod appointed His Grace the Bishop of Christianoupolis Serapheim Mentzelopoulos Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, since he has all the qualifications provided by Article 15 of Law No. 2817/2000 for occupying this post.

Subsequently, the Standing Holy Synod studied the result of the ballot, which was carried out on each of the measures proposed by His Beatitude the President to the Extraordinary Session of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy. It was ascertained that, out of 71 Hierarchs present, all measures were adopted by a majority of 60 or more votes. Indeed, the proposal for the establishment of a Supreme Board of Control received 61 votes, the proposal for the participation of a lay defense attorney in Ecclesiastical Courts received 65 votes and the proposal for the submission of tax return as regards the provenance of income and property received 61 votes.

Thereafter, the Standing Holy Synod made the following decisions:

1. To dispatch to the Minister of Justice a separate document, which will also be communicated to His Excellency the Prime Minister, so that a law may be passed as soon as possible regarding the proposed establishment of the Supreme Board of Control for charges against Hierarchs. This Supreme Body will be chaired by the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece and will be constituted by one of the Vice-Presidents of the Supreme Court (Areios Pagos, in Greek), one of the Vice-Presidents of the Supreme Administrative Court, the Vice-President of the Audit Court and the Vice-President of the Legal Council of the State as its standing members. The duration of the term of the Board shall be of one year, with the possibility of extension.

2. To dispatch to the Government for legislative regulation all the proposals adopted by the Hierarchy, once these will have been elaborated from a legal point of view, that is:

(a) the establishment of the institution of judicial councilors, who shall be 3 authoritative jurists, clergymen or laymen, academics or high-standing magistrates, shall assist the work of ecclesiastical judges as a greater guarantee of the authority of ecclesiastical judicial decisions and shall be appointed every 3 years by the Standing Holy Synod. These shall not be members of the Courts nor shall they have voting rights. They shall have a consultative function on specific issues of a legal nature which may arise during a hearing;

(b) the acceleration of investigation procedures and the trial of cases within one month from their introduction to the relevant Ecclesiastical Court. The Chief Associate (Protosynghellos, in Greek) or the General High-Priestly Guardian of each Holy Metropolitanate will coordinate the course of the investigation for its speedy completion;

(c) the election, by the priests of the relevant Holy Metropolitanate, of two Presbyters, who shall act as assistant judges with voting rights in the Episcopal Courts and shall subsequently be appointed members thereof by the Standing Holy Synod. The qualifications required for anyone to be an eligible member of an Episcopal Court shall be stipulated by a regulation of the Standing Holy Synod;

(d) the shortening to a half of the juridical deadlines provided with a view to a speedier administration of Ecclesiastical Justice;

(e) the submission of a copy of the tax return and E9 forms of the Most Rev. Hierarchs to the Holy Synod every year for Its information, as well as the provision for the submission of a declaration regarding the provenance of their income and property;

(f) likewise, the submission of a copy of the tax return and E9 forms of the Heads of Ecclesiastical Organisations, foundations and NGOs and of the Accountants of Ecclesiastical Management to the Holy Synod every year;

(g) the establishment by law of a School of Further Training of the Officials of the Church, the attendance of which will be compulsory for all officials of the Church, whether clergy or laity, and up to the age of 55;

(h) the abolition of the exemption from military service for monks and clergymen.

3. To declare that, given that the Church has taken the appropriate steps for dealing with the crisis and measures are already being implemented, any further participation of clergymen in discussions through the media does not help under these circumstances.

4. To send out an Encyclical to the Most Rev. Metropolitans by which It will request the immediate application of the measures which were adopted by the Hierarchy and for which no legislative regulation is needed.

5. To announce that the List of Clergymen Eligible for the Office of Bishop has been purged from all clergymen either convicted for different offences at various times or departed.

6. To summon the Most Rev. Metropolitan Panteleimon of Attica immediately so that he may provide, before the three-member Committee of Hierarchs, further explanation for what was publicised in the media today regarding an offshore company of which he is allegedly the owner.

7. To ask of the Most Rev. Metropolitan Kallinikos of Piraeus additional explanation for the new evidence which has been publicised and regards the Archimandrite Nikephoros Pharmakis.

8. To announce that, as regards the issue of the Most Rev. Metropolitan Stephanos of Triphylia, the Most Rev. Metropolitan filed a charge dated 15.2.2005 before the Public Prosecutor for Misdemeanours in Athens, through the Office of the Public Prosecutor for Misdemeanours in Kyparissia, against the newspaper that wrote against him.


From the Press Office of the Holy Synod

Shucks Francisco!

From Orthodox News(http://www.orthodoxnews.netfirms.com/160/Significant.htm)

Published by The National Herald, February 18, 2005

Church of Greece to Undergo a Significant Overhaul

By Demetri Chriss
Special to The National Herald




ATHENS � Although the flood of allegations and accusations appears to have subsided for the time being, the true extent of the damage to the Church of Greece remains to be seen.

The shocking revelations of widespread corruption and scandalous behavior within the Church�s ranks have presented Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens with the greatest challenge of his seven-year ministry. The Archbishop of Athens has appeared stressed out in recent days, and the burden of the scandal is obviously taking its toll.

There has even been frenzied speculation that the customarily popular Archbishop of Athens might lose his archiepiscopal seat, although it must be noted much of that speculation is being generated by the Archbishop�s usual critics and opponents.

In any case, Greece�s public and political establishments now anxiously await his response to a near universal call for far-reaching reforms and greater transparency in Church affairs. The Archbishop�s handling of the crisis, as well as the severity with which he deals with all those found guilty of any wrongdoing, will undoubtedly weigh heavily on Church�s future standing in Greek society.

An emergency meeting of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece has been called by the Holy Synod (the Church�s governing body) for this weekend, when all 81 of its members will meet in Athens in order to assess how to best cope with a crisis which has severely damaged the Church�s reputation in Greece and abroad.

In an effort to bolster his position and secure support for severe measures which are probably required to restore order in the Church�s ranks, Archbishop Christodoulos has already met privately with several key members of the Hierarchy. Perhaps most telling of the severity of the corruption-plagued situation is the fact that a private meeting was also held between Archbishop Christodoulos and one of his most outspoken critics (and candidate for the archiepiscopal throne in 1998), Metropolitan Ieronymos of Thebes.

Several drastic measures are reportedly being considered by the Archbishop, including personal income verification and mandatory military service for members of the clergy prior to their ordination.

PERMANENT DISMISSAL?

The Holy Synod also announced that Metropolitan Panteleimon of Attica�s six-month suspension might lead to his permanent dismissal if any of the allegations for embezzlement and sexual misconduct are proven to be true, pending the outcome of the investigation currently underway. Metropolitan Panteleimon has already been suspended from his managerial and ecclesiastical duties, and it is public knowledge that he has been asked to move out of the metropolitan�s official residence.

In the case of the Metropolitan Stefanos of Trifyllia, who was allegedly photographed in a compromising position at a nightclub, the Holy Synod has accepted the elderly bishop�s written explanation, and now awaits the outcome of his lawsuit against the newspaper which originally published the photos of his alleged misconduct.

As far as Metropolitan Nikiforos of Didymoteiho and his alleged improprieties are concerned, the Holy Synod has called upon his accusers to provide their sworn testimony, as well as any other evidence they might have at their disposal, to the appropriate Church authorities. Meanwhile, an official audit of the Metropolis of Keffalinia will commence in coming days, subsequent to a request submitted by its Metropolitan, Spyridon.

Thus far, only Metropolitan Theoklitos of Thessaliotida has been cleared of allegations that he had been detained by police as a suspected drug dealer while wearing civilian garb at a Trikala bar. Nonetheless, the Holy Synod complied with Theoklitos� request to further investigate the case.

INTERNATIONAL MYSTERY MAN COMPLICATES MATTERS

In recent days, revelations regarding the activities of Apostolos Vavylis (a.k.a., Apostolos Fokas or Rev. Rafael Apostolos Anagnostakis) provided yet another twist to the scandal saga afflicting the Church of Greece. Vavylis, a convicted drug dealer who is currently a fugitive with an outstanding Interpol arrest warrant, was allegedly involved in a wide variety of criminal activities both in Greece and abroad. This man of many faces apparently gained privileged access to Patriarch Eirineos of Jerusalem prior to his enthronement in 2001, and has since been sighted masquerading as a Greek Orthodox priest in Greece and southern Italy.

In 1991, Vavylis was convicted of trying to import 1.5 kilos of heroin to Greece from Italy and received a 13-year prison sentence. Two years later, the sentence was suspended for 15 years, after Vavylis allegedly offered crucial information to Hellenic authorities leading to the arrest of other drug dealers.

Although he managed to secure his conditional release from prison in Greece, Vavylis has remained on Interpol�s wanted list, since Italian authorities have also charged him with drug trafficking. This did not stop the intrepid Vavylis from procuring a contract to sell armored cars and bulletproof vests to Greece�s Ministry of Public Order and Postal Savings Bank in the 1990�s, however. The Athens prosecutor�s office has ordered an immediate investigation into how Vavylis was able to cross borders and conduct business transactions with state agencies while on Interpol�s wanted list.

Subsequent to his conditional release from prison, Vavylis also managed to resume his international activities and frequently traveled to Israel, where he was occasionally accompanied by a retired Greek police lieutenant, Yannis Triantafyllakis.

During one of his visits to Jerusalem, Vavylis was summoned by Israeli authorities for questioning relevant to the purpose of his visits, and in a sworn affidavit, the convicted drug dealer claimed that Archbishop Christodoulos had sent him as an envoy to help secure the election of Eirineos as Patriarch of Jerusalem in 2001. There has been widespread speculation in the Greek press that Vavylis may have been in the employ of the Greek or Israeli secret service, or that he was working as a double agent.

When asked about Archbishop Christodoulos� relationship with Vavylis, Church of Greece Spokesman Rev. Epiphanios Economou stated that "the Archbishop has not seen Vavylis since 1987," and that his recommendation for Vavylis had been authored subsequent to a request received from the latter�s parents, who are "respectable citizens of Volos, as part of (then Metropolitan of Demetrias) Christodoulos� pastoral duties." The Church of Greece also emphatically denied that Archbishop Christodoulos had ever sent anyone to help elect Patriarch Eirineos.

SUPPORT GROWING FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

The public uproar created by the recent series of scandals has led to mounting calls for the separation of Church and State. Politicians ranging from PASOK Party Chairman George Papandreou, leader of the main opposition, and Coalition of the Left Party Chairman Alekos Alavanos to prominent conservative politicians such as Ioannis Varvitsiotes, Member of the European Union Parliament, have called for an end to the Church of Greece�s constitutionally sanctioned position of privilege.

The Greek Government has thus far categorically rejected any such prospect, however.

A poll conducted by VPRC for the Eleftherotypia daily shows that 48 percent of Greeks now support the separation of Church and State, while 72 percent consider drastic reforms, such as the election of Metropolitans by the people rather than the Hierarchy, as the only way to salvage the Church of Greece�s standing in society. Furthermore, 73 percent of those polled believe that the prohibition on the marriage of high-ranking clerics should be lifted.

Government Spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos stated that the relationship between the Greek Government and the Church remains "strong," and that it "hasn�t been affected in the least" by the ongoing crisis. But he went onto emphasize that the Church "is obliged to proceed with the efforts currently underway to effectively deal with its problems," essentially reiterating Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis� position on the matter.

As far as the prospect of the Government imposing remedial measures in the event that the Church Hierarchy proves unwilling to take the required steps, Mr. Roussopoulos stated that "Church officials appear to be proceeding in the right direction," adding that "we are all hoping for satisfactory results that will benefit Greek society."

However, certain circles within the Government have clearly indicated that the Prime Minister is displeased with the way ecclesiastical authorities have handled the crisis so far, citing "unnecessary delays and a lack of decisiveness" on the Church�s part as the root of the problem.

Moreover, several MP�s and Government ministers, who had been ardent supporters of the Archbishop in the past, have apprehensively kept their distance in anticipation of the outcome.

In a recent interview, New Democracy Party Spokesman Vangelis Meimarakis called on Church officials to "take the courageous decisions that are warranted by the current situation," and cited New Democracy�s "zero-tolerance" policy with regard to corruption in public life.

From the Service Orthodoxe de Presse (http://www.orthodoxpress.com/nouvelles.php3?page=2)This time in French
FLASH-INFO : ATHENES : Christos YANNARAS commente la crise dans l'�glise de Gr�ce

Dans son �dition dominicale dat�e du 13 f�vrier dernier, le quotidien ath�nien Eleftherotypia publie un entretien avec le philosophe et th�ologien orthodoxe grec Christos YANNARAS sur la grave crise qui secoue aujourd'hui l'�glise de Gr�ce. Ce dernier met en cause directement l'archev�que CHRISTODOULOS d'Ath�nes, dont il d�nonce le "comportement h�g�monique" et l'incapacit� � exercer sa primaut� comme une v�ritable "diaconie" au service de �glise. Il critique �galement la fa�on dont l'archev�que CHRISTODOULOS d'Ath�nes g�re la crise actuelle, en cherchant � r�soudre les diff�rents scandales apparus r�cemment au grand jour et insiste pour la convocation d'une assembl�e pl�ni�re de l'�piscopat et l'intervention du patriarche oecum�nique.

"Toutes les 'r�v�lations' de ces derniers jours renvoient � l'incapacit� de l'archev�que d'Ath�nes [�] d'exercer ses fonctions selon des crit�res de serviteur ("diakonos") de l'�glise", affirme Christos YANNARAS. "Il est clair que [l'archev�que CHRISTODOULOS] con�oit sa fonction comme celle d'un chef religieux � dans le genre d'un ayatollah qui recherche les performances t�l�vis�es, � l'am�ricaine � et pas comme celle d'un pasteur de l'�glise", poursuit-il. Le th�ologien grec d�nonce chez l'archev�que d'Ath�nes "son go�t manifeste pour la publicit�, le style h�g�monique de ses discours patriotiques, sa mani�re de parler sans rapport avec l'exp�rience eccl�siale et en se focalisant sur des enfantillages religieux ou moraux, ses choix concernant les �lections aux si�ges �piscopaux, la composition de son entourage et, enfin, l'orgueil et le culot de ses repr�sentants".

Selon Christos YANNARAS, "c'est l'assembl�e pl�ni�re de l'�piscopat qui est le seul organe comp�tent pour faire face � la crise institutionnelle dramatique que traverse �glise de Gr�ce". Mais, ajoute-t-il, "cet organe est en r�alit� sans volont� ni pouvoir d'action r�elle". Il propose donc "la convocation par le patriarcat oecum�nique d'un synode endemoussa [litt�ralement 'synode �largi', auquel participent des �v�ques d'�glises territoriales proches] qui devra juger ce qui constitue aujourd'hui un v�ritable syst�me, mis en place par un groupe de clercs dans le but d'occuper des si�ges �piscopaux et notamment celui de l'archev�ch� [d'Ath�nes]". Une telle proc�dure d'appel au patriarcat oecum�nique est justifi�e, selon Christos YANNARAS, du fait de la mani�re dont l'archev�que CHRISTODOULOS a �t� �lu, en 1998 (SOP 229.1), apr�s avoir men� une campagne de d�sinformation et de discr�dit � l'encontre de son principal rival, le m�tropolite JEROME de Th�bes, que la presse accusait � l'�poque de malversations financi�res. Ces attaques, affirme encore Christos YANNARAS, auraient �t� lanc�es par les membres de la communaut� monastique de Chrysopigi, pr�s d'Ath�nes, dont le guide spirituel est le vieux m�tropolite CALLINIQUE du Pir�e, et qui compte parmi ses proches l'archev�que CHRISTODOULOS.

Par ailleurs, dans la m�me �dition, le journal Eleftherotypia publie �galement les r�sultats d'un sondage sur les r�actions de l'opinion publique grecque face � la s�rie de scandales �thiques et juridiques qui touchent l'�piscopat de l'�glise de Gr�ce : 53 % des personnes interrog�es pensent que "la corruption a progress� ces derni�res ann�es au sein des institutions eccl�siales" (38 % sont d'un avis contraire) ; 49 % d�clarent que "[leur] confiance dans l'�glise est �branl�e" (contre 40 % qui gardent la m�me confiance qu'avant ces r�v�lations) ; 68 % estiment que l'archev�que CHRISTODOULOS doit �tre tenu "en partie responsable de la crise actuelle" (18 % pensent qu'il n'est pas responsable) ; 78 % d�clarent qu'"il serait bon de lever l'interdiction d'ordonner � l'�piscopat des pr�tres mari�s" (seuls 20 % disent que les �v�ques doivent �tre choisi exclusivement parmi les moines, comme le veut la pratique actuelle dans �glise orthodoxe). Enfin, 48% des sond�s sont "plut�t pour" la s�paration de l'�glise et de l'�tat contre 35% qui sont "plut�t contre", 2% n'�tant "ni pour ni contre" tandis que 15% se sont abstenus de r�pondre � la question. Cette derni�re question faisait l'objet d'un autre sondage, publi� le m�me jour par le quotidien Vima, selon lequel 64,7% des Grecs sont actuellement en faveur d'une telle s�paration tandis que 29,6% ont indiqu� �tre contre et 5,7% n'ont pas r�pondu.

Philosophe et th�ologien largement connu en Occident, Christos YANNARAS est professeur �m�rite � l'Institut des sciences politiques d'Ath�nes et membre de l'Acad�mie de Gr�ce. Il a contribu� au renouveau de la th�ologie orthodoxe au cours de ces quarante derni�res ann�es, notamment par ses livres traduits en plusieurs langues, dont en fran�ais : De l'absence et de l'inconnaissance de Dieu d'apr�s les �crits ar�opagitiques et Martin Heidegger (Cerf, 1971), La libert� de la morale (Labor et Fides, 1983, collection "Perspective orthodoxe"), Philosophie sans rupture (Labor et Fides, 1986, collection "Perspective orthodoxe"), La Foi vivante de l'�glise. Introduction � la th�ologie orthodoxe (Cerf 1989). Christos YANNARAS est attendu en France dans la semaine du 14 au 20 mars 2005, o� il donnera une s�rie de conf�rences, � l'invitation de l'Institut de th�ologie orthodoxe de Paris (Institut Saint-Serge) et de la m�tropole orthodoxe roumaine en Europe occidentale et m�ridionale.

Mon Dieu, j'ai un tr�s grand regret de t'avoir offens� parce que tu es infiniment bon et infiniment aimable et que le p�ch� te d�pla�t, c'est pourquoi je prends la ferme r�solution, avec le secours de ta sainte gr�ce, de ne plus t'offenser et de faire p�nitence..



+Fr. Gregory

Dear Francisco,

I am hearing through the Greek Orthodox grapevine that this is a shocking situation.

Can you please share with us the sentiments of people you know there instead of just articles. PLEASE...(Se parakalo! )

You have shown us that you are quite articulate in English, (I say this incase for some deluded reason you don't think so), and I would really like to hear your thoughts and opinions as we have in the past.

What affects one part of the Body of Christ, affects us all. Do you think that Arch. Christodoulos, (who I don't always agree with on his nationalistic issues--but who I do admire and respect--as he has great charisma, commitment, spiritual feeling and heart) will be able to handle this sordid mess?

Thanks in Advance,
kai i Panayia na einai mazi sou--

Me agape en Hristo,
Alice

P.S. Pour Francisco et Pere Gregory, Je comprende Francais, mais je ne parle pas!