Chicago

Published by The National Herald, February 11, 2005

Archimandrite's Mess Started in Chicago

BOSTON – While Archimandrite Iakovos Yiosakis, who is at the center of a huge ecclesiastical and judicial scandal in Greece, was on his way to the Korydallos Prison, new information surfaced about his ministry in Chicago.

The Very Rev. Yiosakis was temporarily appointed priest at the St. Athanasios Metochion in Chicago, a dependency of the St. Irene Chrysovalantou Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monastery in Astoria.

Chicago Police searched his home and confiscated church documents and bank statement, as well as two passports, thus prohibiting him from leaving the country.

In a confidential report to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople (dated September 19, 2001), Metropolitan Paisios of Tyana, abbot of the St. Irene Chrysovalantou Monastery, states that Metropolitan Athenagoras of Panama & Central America assisted Rev. Yiosakis in leaving the United States.

In his confidential report to the Patriarch, Paisios stated, "the Authorities, in a surprise move at his residence, confiscated everything – the archive of the Metochion and the rest of the church documents, as well as two passports which he used for his travels. And so the Authorities prohibited his departure from the country until the situation becomes clear. He (Rev. Yiosakis) predicted that the investigation would be against him and attempted, with the help of the Metropolitan of Panama (as it is believed), to leave the country in a skulking manner because his case would have ended up in the courts."

At press time, Metropolitan Athenagoras had not yet returned the National Herald’s calls.

According to Metropolitan Paisios’ report to the Patriarch, which was obtained by the Herald, Rev. Yiosakis "was spending the sacred monies of the church."

Paisios also wrote that Yiosakis had taken administrative control of St. Athanasios Church, keeping the Monastery and its leadership in the dark and "presenting everything in a beatifying manner."

Metropolitan Paisios told the Patriarch that Rev. Yiosakis was "using the church’s money as he pleased and managed to extort large amounts of money from individuals. The parish council was functioning only in an atypical way, except for four very honorable persons who reported him to the Monastery."

According to Paisios’ letter to the Patriarch, the result of Rev. Yiosaki’s ministry in Chicago was "to lead the parish of St. Athanasios to an almost bankrupt stage. The Monastery is trying so very hard to salvage the financial and ethical existence of the Metochion."

Paisios also wrote that, even after Rev. Yiosakis had departed from Chicago, "he discouraged, by telephone calls and through some of his friends, parishioners from participating in services, claiming that the church will be closing soon."

Paisios appointed Rev. Yiosakis as priest at St. Athanasios at the urging of Metropolitan Athenagoras, who took Rev. Yiosakis in his Metropolis with the provision that Rev. Yiosakis performed missionary activities in Mexico.

But Rev. Yiosakis wanted to stay in the United States, so Athenagoras convinced Paisios to take Rev. Yiosakis on a temporary basis.

When asked by the Herald, Metropolitan Paisios declined to make any comment on his report to the Patriarch. He verified its authenticity, however, and expressed surprise as to how the report had ended up in the Herald’s possession.

After the scandals he was allegedly involved with on the island of Kythira, Archimandrite Cyril Markopoulos, Pastor of St. Demetrios Church in Jersey City, New Jersey, offered Rev. Yiosakis hospitality.

After the Patriarch received Paisios’ report, he requested that Metropolitan Athenagoras provide the Patriarchate with an explanation.

The Patriarch ordered Metropolitan Athenagoras to send Rev. Yiosaki’s file to the Phanar, since Bartholomew was evidently preparing the process to defrock him.

Metropolitan Panteleimon of Attica (Church of Greece) interceded, however, and requested Rev. Yiosaki’s release from the Patriarchate’s jurisdiction and took him into his Metropolis.

A few days ago, the Holy Synod of Church of Greece placed Panteleimon on six months leave due to the accusations of alleged parajudiciary activities, as well as for ethical reasons.



Volume 7 Number 7 - Tuesday, February 15th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY