Anthony

Published by The National Herald, January 14, 2005

Search for Successor to Met. Anthony Now Underway

By Stavros Marmarinos
Special to The National Herald

BOSTON – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has initiated the process to fill the vacant metropolitical seat at the Metropolis of San Francisco after the sudden death of the late Metropolitan Anthony on Christmas Day.

According to sources at the Archdiocese, Archbishop Demetrios of America is trying very hard to promote Bishop Savas of Troas, Chancellor of the Archdiocese. The National Herald has learned that, shortly after notifying the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople that Metropolitan Anthony died, the Archbishop also requested that the Chancellor be elevated the metropolitical throne in San Francisco.

The Patriarchate’s response was reportedly that "the matter belongs to the discretion of the Eparchial Synod in America."

According to new Archdiocesan Charter, the Archbishop must convene the Holy Eparchial Synod within 40 days after a Metropolis becomes vacant in order to decide on the triprosopon (i.e., three-person ballot) from the list of potential hierarchical candidates for the high priesthood and submit it to the Patriarchate with recommendations. The Holy & Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate will select one of them. Traditionally, whoever receives the Eparchial Synod’s majority vote from the triprosopon is the candidate the Patriarchate chooses.

All celibate priests who fulfill the criteria set forth in the Charter comprise the list of the candidates.

The already-existing auxiliary Bishops are included in the list as candidates, as well: Bishops Demetrios of Xanthos, Savas of Troas, Gerasimos of Krateia and Andonios of Phasiane.

After the list of candidates is submitted to the Patriarchate for its final approval, it will be sent to the Archdiocesan Council, will also be released to members of the Press. The Archdiocesan Council has the right to make recommendations, observations, and even raise objections about specific candidates and send them in writing (with signatures) to the Archbishop, who is then supposed to inform his fellow members of the Holy Eparchial Synod.

The Archbishop has reportedly taken the list with him to the Ecumenical Patriarchate this past week in order to expedite the process. Members of the Holy Eparchial Synod also made it clear that they wish to stay within the 40-day timeframe provided by the new Charter.

Bishop Anthimos of Olympos, who is also officially listed among the retired Bishops of the Archdiocese and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, has signaled his interest for the Metropolis of San Francisco, where he had been assisting the late Metropolitan Anthony for the past almost nine years.

Bishop Anthimos recently sent a letter to Archbishop Demetrios and the members of the Eparchial Synod of America requesting that he be included on the list of candidates; to be elected for a period of three years; and then retire permanently.

When Archbishop Demetrios received Bishop Anthimos’ letter, he reportedly set up a teleconference with the other members of the Eparchial Synod on Tuesday, January 4, to discuss Anthimos’ prospects.

A number of opinions were reportedly expressed during the Synodal teleconference, the dominant one being a legal matter, due to what had transpired more than 20 years ago with reports in People magazine and other publications alleging that Anthimos, who was then Bishop of the Boston Diocese, had an erotic relationship with his then Chancellor’s daughter, Despina Gallas.

By the time the scandal broke out, Anthimos had been transferred by Archbishop Iakovos, then of North & South America, to the then Diocese of Denver, from which he ended up resigning because of immense public pressure generated by the controversy.

No spiritual or secular court ever found Bishop Anthimos guilty. On the contrary, the spiritual court acquitted him, and secular courts dismissed the case.

Archbishop Demetrios was reportedly going to bring the matter of Bishop Anthimos up with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and ask for its final opinion as to whether or not Bishop Anthimos could be a candidate for the San Francisco Metropolis.

Upon his return from Constantinople, the Archbishop Demetrios reportedly plans to send the list to the members of the Archdiocesan council, publish it and, after ten days, proceed with a special Synodal meeting to elect the new Metropolitan of San Francisco within the first ten days of February.

The Herald has learned that Metropolitans Tarasios of Buenos Aires and Nikitas of Hong Kong have expressed interest to be transferred to San Francisco. According to the Archdiocesan Charter, however, eligible candidates should have been served the Archdiocese for at least five years, so the selection process does not provide much room for Tarasios or Nikitas to maneuver.

Also, the name of Archimandrite John Heropoulos has also come into play. The Very Rev. Heropoloulos was a close associate of former Archbishop Spyridon, having served as Director of the Archbishop’s Office under Spyridon. In 2003, Rev. Heropoulos donated one of his kidneys to a 16-year-old Greek American boy and saved his life. He is currently pastor of Saint George Cathedral in Hartford, Connecticut.



Volume 7 Number 3 - Tuesday, January 18th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY