Oath

Published by The National Herald, January 21, 2005

Corona Board Takes Oath, Ignores Archdiocese

NEW YORK – Basil Livanos, President-Elect of the Transfiguration Church community in Corona, was sworn in along with the community’s board of directors last Sunday, January 16, despite having been ordered not to by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, which refuses to recognize the board.

Mr. Livanos said he does not intend to appear before the Spiritual Court, risking excommunication, and his fellow board members, who are now also in violation of Archdiocesan orders, say they are also prepared to be excommunicated along with him.

In an official letter dated January 10, signed by Archdiocesan Chancellor Bishop Savas of Troas, Mr. Livanos was summoned to appear in a Spiritual Court.

The Spiritual Court maintains the right to impose sanctions, including but not limited to Mr. Livanos’ suspension from Holy Sacraments (i.e., excommunication). Consequently, Mr. Livanos would not be considered a member with good standing with the Orthodox Church, and all Greek Orthodox Churches everywhere would be expected to respect such a decision.

Among the reasons for Mr. Livanos’ summons, the letter alleges his refusal to comply with a letter from the Archdiocese dated 12 May 2004; his continued violation of his oath; his calling for meetings of the parish in violation of the Archbishop’s directive; his holding of elections against the Archbishop’s orders; his collection of funds from members of the parish "with no accounting to any properly recognized person of authority"; his continued possession of parish keys, books and records, despite instructions to turn them over; and his continued "disrespect of hierarchical authority and order."

According to Transfiguration board member Stavros Michael, current parish priest Rev. Mikail Dobre told him last Sunday, inside the Church altar, to prepare for the swearing-in ceremony, and that that Rev. Dobre would officiate it after the conclusion of services.

Mr. Livanos stated that members of the board began to approach a small table in front of the altar after the Liturgy, in order to be sworn in by Rev. Dobre, when George Georgiades, who has been appointed by the Archdiocese as president, intervened in order to halt the ceremony.

Mr. Livanos added that Rev. Dobre approached him immediately and told him that he was in a "difficult position" and could not officiate the ceremony. At that point, board members opted for "Plan B," an "alternative solution" which was in place ahead of time, and the ceremony was conducted without a priest, as former community president Demetrios Psaltakis read the oath from the Archdiocesan Uniform Parish Regulations, (Article IX, Paragraph 4), and the elected members of the board repeated the oath, their hands on the Bible.

After the conclusion of the ceremony, members of the board demanded explanations from Mr. Georgiades for his intervention.

Asked by the Herald about the incident, Mr. Georgiades denied that he had asked Rev. Dobre to abstain from the ceremony, adding that Rev. Dobre had told him earlier in the day that he had already warned Mr. Livanos and members of the board that he would not be able to officiate the ceremony, since it was forbidden by the Archdiocese.

Mr. Georgiades said that he simply made it known to the priest that he had in his possession Bishop Savas’ letter summoning Mr. Livanos to Spiritual Court.

Mr. Livanos stated that he has no intention of appearing in front of the Court. As for the conduction of the swearing-in ceremony, in spite of Archdiocesan orders to the contrary, Mr. Livanos said that it was done "for the good of the community, inside the holy premises. I will work hard together with all the members of the board and the school, to which the Archdiocese has not contributed a single dollar in the past four to five years."

Board Secretary Kathy Damalas said that, "despite Archdiocesan orders, we took our oath on our faith with our hands on the Bible. If the Archdiocese wants to excommunicate Mr. Livanos, we are on his side, and we are prepared to be excommunicated with him."

"The Board is sworn in, and is ready to exercise its duties. We fully support Mr. Livanos. It’s not him. It’s others who should have been summoned to Spiritual Court earlier on," he said, without identifying whom he was referring to.

The newly elected board’s 1st Vice President, Demetrios Spanos, pointed out that its president "has proven his love to this Church and its School. We are on his side."

Demetrios Kakavas added that he was "ashamed of the Church’s official position. There will come a time when they will understand that what they are doing is divisive."

Constantine Lourdas said that the board’s aim is to "promote education and culture. We are on Mr. Livanos’ side, which is the side of light and not the side of darkness."

Evan Tziazas agreed: "The Archdiocese’s letter hurt me. The swearing-in ceremony was a good thing," he said.

Treasurer Fotis Mavrides said it is wrong for the Archdiocese to threaten Mr. Livanos with excommunication since "he has actively helped our community."

Mike Papadopoulos agreed that it is the Archdiocese which is in error, while Assistant Treasurer Eleni Kilton said, "Everyone loves Mr. Livanos for his love and support of the community."



Volume 7 Number 4 - Tuesday, January 25th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY