Emergency Meeting of the Archdiocesan Executive Committee on St. Demetrios of Astoria

BOSTON – On the afternoon of Holy Monday, April 6, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America convened an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee of the Archdiocesan Council, during which the financial situation of the community of the Cathedral of St. Demetrios in Astoria was once again discussed.

The focus centered on a $1,250,000 line of credit the community secured with Alma Bank to meet its operating expenses, and which was guaranteed by the Archdiocese. The loan was due on April 1, 2026; however, due to the community’s financial constraints, an extension until July was requested. This extension required approval by the Archdiocese—specifically its Executive Committee—and was granted.

In response to a question by Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago regarding the community’s financial condition, Archdiocesan Treasurer Elaine Allen reportedly replied that “things are not going well,” clarifying that the churches of St. Demetrios and St. Catherine can be self-sustaining, excluding the School. It is noted that this is the only Greek high school in all of America.

Elaine Allen serves as a volunteer treasurer of the Archdiocese and is present in the Archdiocesan building on an almost daily basis, where she maintains an office and attends to additional matters. Archbishop Elpidophoros has also appointed her as a member of the Parish Council of St. Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria.

The Executive Committee, appointed by the Archbishop, consists—according to the published list in its official organ, The Orthodox Observer—of Archbishop Elpidophoros (Chairman), and the Metropolitans Methodios of Boston, Nicholas of Detroit, Savas of Pittsburgh, Gerasimos of San Francisco, Sevastianos of Atlanta, Apostolos of New Jersey, Nathanael of Chicago, and Constantine of Denver.

Also included are John Catsimatidis (Vice Chairman), Nicholas Karacostas, Elaine Allen, Stephanie Clark, George Demos, Lazaros Kirkos, Michael Psaros, Maria Stefani, and Theodore Theophilos.

Metropolitans Methodios of Boston and Gerasimos of San Francisco were absent due to pastoral obligations, as they were visiting communities for the Service of the Bridegroom. There was full participation from the lay members.

During the meeting, it was stated that the State of New York approved the purchase agreement between the community and the Archdiocese, whereby the latter will acquire 39% ownership of the building for three million dollars, as previously reported in detail by The National Herald.

The Archdiocese has already paid $700,000 to the community to cover its expenses and must still pay the remaining $2.3 million to complete the acquisition of the 39% ownership. Meanwhile, a key question remains unanswered: from which budget or fund will the Archdiocese draw the three million dollars for this purchase?

The Archdiocese had also requested that Greek-American legislators in the State of New York amend the law so that communities may proceed with any purchase or sale without requiring approval from the Attorney General. A leading role in this effort was played by State Senator Michael Gianaris, who faced strong criticism from a significant portion of the Greek-American community in New York. Mr. Gianaris has since announced that he will not seek re-election.

An LLC has been established to which the building of St. Demetrios and its management will be transferred, opening the possibility even for its sale.

It is emphasized that the Archdiocese did not inform the Parish Council of St. Demetrios about the convening of the Executive Committee on Holy Monday, despite the fact that the matter directly concerned the community.

In addition to the presiding priest, Fr. Anargyros Stavropoulos, the Archdiocese has appointed Fr. Gregory Stamkopoulos as School Superintendent and Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos as Archiepiscopal Vicar.

At the beginning of the meeting, which was held electronically, Archbishop Elpidophoros reportedly apologized for convening it on Holy Monday, stating that “the Archdiocese is open and we are working.” He also mentioned his visit to the White House for the Greek national celebration, noting that it was a pleasant event and that the President spoke very positively about “us.”

An amount of $500,000 was approved to be held in reserve in case the Archdiocese is called upon to pay compensation to a victim or victims of misconduct. Metropolitan Sevastianos of Atlanta referred to the existence of a case within his Metropolis.

Months ago, the community of St. Demetrios compensated the former school principal, who had filed a lawsuit over discriminatory remarks made against him by Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos during a radio interview in New York, as well as comments by School Superintendent Fr. Gregory Stamkopoulos. The total amount, including legal fees, reached $200,000, of which $100,000 was covered by insurance and the remaining $100,000 paid by the community.

Fr. Gregory Stamkopoulos is among the close and confidential associates of Archbishop Elpidophoros and holds multiple positions both in the United States and in Greece, with corresponding compensation.

As reported by The National Herald in June 2023, according to his curriculum vitae posted on the official website of the Faculty of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Fr. Stamkopoulos has, since 2022, served as Associate Professor in the Department of Social Theology and Christian Culture, specializing in Applications of Informatics, where he continues to serve. It is also noted that in 2019 he joined the Archdiocese of America, serving as Deputy Director of the Department of Greek Education and as administrator of its database information systems, which he redesigned from the ground up. On January 24, 2021, he received the title of Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne from His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Since 2021, he has also served as a visiting professor at Hellenic College Holy Cross in Boston.

He is also Director of the Archdiocesan Cultural Center in Astoria. Furthermore, in January 2022, he was appointed presiding priest of the community of St. Spyridon in New York. Archbishop Elpidophoros required that the community not pay his salary directly—as is customary in other communities—but instead send it to the Archdiocese, which then pays him.

In communication with The National Herald, Lydia Kallimani-Vangelou, President of the Parish Council of St. Spyridon in New York, when asked why the community does not pay Fr. Stamkopoulos directly, responded: “I’m sorry, Mr. Kalmoukos, I cannot comment at this time. I do not wish to enter into this discussion; please ask the Archdiocese.”

Fr. Stamkopoulos resides in an apartment within an Archdiocesan institution and travels frequently to Greece—usually once a month—where his wife and children reside, while also maintaining his positions there, as even his office hours (“Tuesday 10–12”) remain publicly listed. He is also assigned to a parish in Thessaloniki, specifically St. Nicholas, from which he has been seconded to America.

It is clarified that Fr. Stamkopoulos currently serves as Director of the Department of Greek Education of the Archdiocese and as Superintendent of the School of St. Demetrios. For the latter position, he does not receive a salary from the St. Demetrios community.

A phone message left with the President of the Parish Council of St. Demetrios, Nicholas Papaioannou, remained unanswered by the time of publication.

Similarly, a message left by The National Herald on the office voicemail of Elaine Allen at the Archdiocese also went unanswered.

It is recalled that years ago, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation had approved a grant of $25 million for the School, which was declined by the community during the tenure of then-Archimandrite Nektarios Papazafeiropoulos, now Bishop of Diokleia and Chancellor of the Archdiocese.

Source: https://www.thenationalherald.com/emergency-meeting-of-the-archdiocesan-executive-committee-on-st-demetrios-of-astoria/

FOTO: Left to right: Stratos Safioleas, Elaine Allen, Fr. Elias Villis, Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos, Fr. Anargyros Stavropoulos, George Tsougarakis, and Fr. Gregory Stamkopoulos. Photo: TNHArchive/ Christodoulos Athanasatos