Archbishop Responds to Iakovos

By Theodore Kalmoukos

The National Herald - May 12, 2006

BOSTON - Archbishop Demetrios of America sent a four-page letter to Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, in response to the Metropolitan's strong accusations expressed in a five-page letter to the Archbishop shortly before Easter, accusing him of organizing a "dirty strategy" blocking the election of the Chicago Metropolis Chancellor Archimandrite Demetrios Kantzavelos to the Episcopate.

In that letter, Metropolitan Iakovos, the senior bishop on the Holy Eparchial Synod after the Archbishop, Metropolitan Iakovos had gone as far as to call Archbishop Demetrios "a sycophant."

In his reply letter, dated April 13, the Archbishop expresses annoyance with Metropolitan Iakovos for sending an accusatory letter. In the letter, which he marked as a "confidential letter," the Archbishop rejects the Metropolitan Iakovos' accusations; argues that proper canonical process was followed; and states that the Metropolitan "misunderstood the process."

In a telephone conversation with the Archbishop, Demetrios declined to make any comment on his letter to Metropolitan Iakovos: "I have nothing else to add besides the letter itself," although he pleaded not to disclose the contents of his letter, saying that "the public discussion of a subject which has not been closed does not benefit the Church."

Metropolitan Iakovos also told the Herald, "I do not wish to make any comment. The correspondence was confidential."

Metropolitan Iakovos had accused the Archbishop of not following the canonical process in the elevation of the three hierarchs some three years ago: Gerasimos of Krateia (now Metropolitan of San Francisco), Savas of Troas (Chancellor of the Archdiocese) and Andonios of Fasiane. The Archbishop did not employ the proper and canonical method of a synodal vote on the triprosopon (three-person ballot), but only recommended them to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople through a letter.

In his letter, the Archbishop told Metropolitan Iakovos he regrets that the situation concerning the Very Rev. Kantzavelos and the tension it has created.

"I would have wanted to communicate with you in a happier spirit, but instead, I reply to your letter with deep sadness, while at the same time, I am informed of your sorrow," the Archbishop wrote.

The Archbishop also calls Metropolitan Iakovos' letter "insulting," and said it caught him off-guard: "I was surprised to see that your grief had lead you to pen a text with such insulting wording, the structure and context of which do not coincide, at all, with the way of writing of a brother hierarch whom I have known for many years."

The Archbishop also dismisses the accusations that he blocked the election of Father Kantzavelos to the Episcopate, and implies that the Eparchial Synod made decisions in accordance with proper canonical procedures: "I was saddened by the fact that you let your disappointment, due to the continuation of the process, to express unacceptable characterizations of my decisions, as well as the decisions of the Holy Eparchial Synod," he wrote, adding that he does not want to discuss the Metropolitan's accusation that he tried to block Father Kantzavelos' proposed Episcopal elevation.

"I do not wish to comment on your opinion that I had raised obstacles in the past in order to not satisfy your request which you insisted upon; that is, the promotion of Father Demetrios," the Archbishop wrote.

The Archbishop also defended the process: "Along with our holy brothers, we tried to adhere to the exactness and accuracy of the election of the bishops, as it is provided by the Charter and the Special Regulations on the election of the auxiliary bishops of the Holy Archdiocese of America. That is why I became extremely saddened when I observed that you had misunderstood the process," he wrote.

The Archbishop reminded Metropolitan Iakovos that the Patriarchate has rectified the process: "You have called this process anti-canonical and unprecedented, but holy brother, the above process has been officially ratified by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and that is why, with the help of God, it will be fully implemented," he wrote.

"The preliminary report and the relevant investigation aimed to protect the candidate, the Metropolis of Chicago and the Holy Archdiocese from possible serious consequences," he added.

The process was delayed due to a letter presented to the Holy Synod, which raised certain questions and expressed reservations about Father Kantzavelos, but the letter was not new. It was sent a year ago, but it was neither presented to the Synod, nor had Father Kantzavelos been invited to see it and respond accordingly.

The Archbishop had held onto the letter, and he presented it the day of the election. The Archbishop also promised Iakovos that, when the investigation is over within two months, the candidate will be granted the opportunity to see the filed comments and be allowed to reply to any alleged accusations.