Iakovos the Great, a Wise Visionary Leader

Published by The National Herald, April 21, 2005

CLEVELAND – Your Excellency Bishop Pilla, Reverend Fathers, guests, and friends. My wife, Helen, and I wish to thank Father Stephen; we are grateful to be here with all of you this evening. We are here to commemorate our beloved Archbishop Iakovos, who served his church with honor and distinction. Just imagine, he served as our Archbishop for nearly 40 years.

After serving as a priest in Boston, the late Patriarch Athenagoras selected him for the position of Archbishop of North and South America. I shall now describe highlights of his distinguished career, and it will be presented from my perspective.

1. When he assumed the position of Archbishop, his annual budget was a few thousand dollars per year, whereas at his retirement, it was $10-12 million per year.

2. He saw the needs for an undergraduate school to compliment our seminary. He initiated and supported Hellenic College.

3. He loved the seminary, Holy Cross. He initiated and completed the new library.

4. He saw the need for improvements in his many churches and institutions here in this country. He initiated Leadership 100. Leadership 100 is undoubtedly the most successful financial effort that our church has ever undertaken. The original idea was from one of our parishioners, right here at St. Constantine and Helen, George Chimples. Archbishop Iakovos dearly loved George Chimples.

5. He saw the need for charitable work abroad. He initiated IOCC (Inter-Orthodox Christian Charities). This institution distributes millions of dollars annually to thousands of people over the world.

7. He brought together the leaders of Orthodox churches in America. He instituted SCCOBA (Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in America).

8. He was one of the first and foremost defenders of civil right. He supported the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King. All Greek Americans were proud of his stance at Selma, Alabama. Archbishop Iakovos defended civil rights before most recognized the great injustices here in America.

9. Archbishop Iakovos met with many United States Presidents. He met with Popes. He met with world leaders. Many called for his advice. He helped with issues in Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. The list goes on and on.

Yes, he was comfortable with world leaders. Similarly, he was comfortable even with those in a small Bible class. For example, several years ago he came to Cleveland, for a retreat. I must say everyone, but everyone, was mesmerized.

Yesterday our former priest, Father Robert Stephanopoulos from the New York Cathedral phoned me. He stated that many and varied people, from all over the country, not just New York City, showed their respect with attendance in large numbers. These were not only Orthodox Christians, but also Protestants, Catholics, Jews… people from all walks of life.

His Eminence was an avid Boston Red Sox fan. I called him frequently regarding the Red Sox, especially when the Cleveland Indians had beaten them. Last year, Boston won the World Series. My recollection is, that I did not call His Eminence very frequently last year.

I am proud to have served under Archbishop Iakovos on our Archdiocesan Council. I am also pleased that I served as one of his physicians.

He suffered from a condition of his spine called "stenosis." This is a condition that compresses nerves. I had instructed him on the appropriate exercise. In order to monitor his strength, he was merely to walk on his toes daily. He was somewhat annoyed that every time I saw him, I would say, "Your Eminence, I would like to watch you toe walk." He would subsequently greet me by walking up to me, standing high on his toes, more or less playfully seeking my approval. On another occasion, while he was about to deliver an address from the stage, he saw me in the audience, waved, and then pointed to his feet, as he tiptoed up to the podium.

Some years ago, his faithful and diligent secretary, Paulette Poulos, called Helen and I and informed us that, although we were scheduled for a Leadership 100 meeting in Phoenix, he was having pain. Helen and I flew up to New York, and after an examination, I informed him that he was not to attend that meeting. He told me that he would stay in New York, as I had advised, but only if Helen and I would "keep a close eye on him." Now what he had in mind was Scrabble. Helen, do you recall ever winning a game in those three days (Helen answered from her seat in the audience, by shaking her head negatively)?

Approximately 20 years ago, while at an annual church meeting in Florida, he developed leg pains. After the hospital examination, I explained that he did not have blood clots. We then returned to his room. There he sat on his bed, and began to put on one of his socks. I said to him, "Your Eminence, you must stay in bed; you do not have blood clots, but you do have inflammation."

He ignored me and started to put on his other sock. I then stood up and shouted, "You have to stay in bed. I’m the doctor!" At that, he dropped his shoe, stood up, and shouted back at me, "I am the Archbishop." That slowed me down for a moment, but then I shouted back, "I’m a Sunday school teacher!" He burst into laughter, hugged me, and then returned to bed.

Fourteen years ago, our families were struck by a life-threatening tragedy. Our wonderful, one-year-old granddaughter had developed severe weakness of her arms and legs. She had contracted leukemia. I went to his Eminence and told him of our plight. Our Archbishop listened with tears in his eyes, then said, "John, you manage the medicine, and I will pray." Over the next five years, we talked and prayed frequently. Andrea was cured. We thanked God, her doctors and His Eminence.

Several years after the completion of her treatment, my granddaughter, Andrea, and our entire family vacationed in Athens. We boarded the plane in Athens to return to New York, and guess who we met as we entered the plane? It was His Eminence, Archbishop Iakovos. He was delighted to see all of us. He hugged us, and then looked down and saw "a little girl." His eyes opened with delight when he learned that this was Andrea. He took Andrea to his seat, placed his large, warm hands on her head and blessed her. As we parted company with His Eminence, I noticed that the small airline stewardess approached him, and I overheard her say, "Sir, I’m not a Greek, but could I have one of those blessings?" He then proceeded to bless her with his warm, loving hands. You can be assured that after his blessing the stewardess was flying higher than our plane.

In closing, I know Archbishop Iakovos was a great person. He served and loved his Lord and Savior with all his strength; with all his heart; and with all his soul. He was a uniquely outstanding leader. He was an engaging teacher. He was a trusted adviser. He was a visionary… a wise visionary.

Archbishop Iakovos spent a lifetime of love and service to his church, and for his people. Tonight, Archbishop Iakovos is with our Lord and Savior. Archbishop Iakovos will be missed. However, Archbishop Iakovos will be remembered.

I will remember my Archbishop, and my friend. I will remember him not just as Iakovos. I will remember him as Iakovos the Great.

Dr. Collis has served on the Archdiocesan Council for 17 of the past 20 years. He delivered the above as a eulogy at Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Cleveland, Ohio on April 14, the day of Archbishop Iakovos’ funeral.



Volume 7 Number 17 - Tuesday, April 26th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY