Archbishop Iakovos Made Everyone Feel Special

Published by The National Herald, May 30, 2005

Within a span of two short weeks, the world lost two giant religious leaders in Pope John Paul II and our own beloved Archbishop Iakovos. A pious and remarkable pope, John Paul II was the leader of millions of Catholic faithful across the globe, while the leadership of our beloved and revered Archbishop Iakovos elevated Orthodoxy to new heights of recognition as a major faith of the world.

His falling asleep in the Lord this past April 10 at the age of 93 leaves a profound legacy of 37 years of service, and a lifetime of deep faith. Archbishop Iakovos was a deeply respected world religious and ecumenical leader who inspired our Orthodox faithful. I was very blessed to have him as a spiritual father and dear personal friend.

My fellow Cincinnati Archons, including George Strike, Chris Demakes and Tom Zaferes, were also soldiers of Archbishop Iakovos. George describes his feelings when seeing Archbishop Iakovos march along side Martin Luther King in Selma, Alabama and on the cover of LIFE Magazine: "It was a defining moment for me personally, and for Greek Orthodox faithful throughout the world."

What courage it took to do the unpopular and openly demonstrate what is right and just. His Eminence himself described that fearful experience in Selma as "looking into the ugly face of hate."

Soon after the march in Selma, His Eminence came to Cincinnati to help resolve a major dispute which was threatening to split the church community. I was a young altar boy at the time, and so proud of him when he responded to a question at the church assembly. At that time, the church was located in Avondale, a predominately low-income African American neighborhood. There had been some incidents of violence (my own brother, the late Nicholas Perdikakis, was mugged one evening while waiting to take a bus home after choir practice). During the assembly, a parishioner asked His Eminence, "What would you do if some of the blacks in the neighborhood started coming into our church?"

Without a moment’s hesitation, and with a solemn, deep and penetrating look in his eyes, the Archbishop responded, "I would embrace them with open arms."

One of my early encounters with His Eminence was one we often laughed about for many years. We made a pilgrimage to Holy Cross seminary in Brookline, Massachusetts. With a letter of introduction in hand, we drove to Boston but encountered major car problems and delays which put us at the door of the seminary at 3 AM. By pounding on the door to get in, the greeting from the dean at that hour was not too welcoming. He informed us that we had managed to awaken the Archbishop, who was visiting that weekend. We spent the rest of the night in the car until 7 AM, protected by the Holy Cross. The Archbishop would humorously tell the story through our years of friendship: "Costa came to seminary to wake me up at three in the morning."

The Archbishop made many visits to Cincinnati, including our church consecration and 90th anniversary celebration.

One visit was in 1975, when Gregory Palioyas and the national AHEPA convention brought his Eminence to Cincinnati.

Father Mitsos and I traveled with the Archbishop and then-Archdeacon Methodios. I knew that Archbishop Iakovos was a passionate Red Sox fan from his years serving as dean of the Boston Cathedral.

In fact, when he moved to Manhattan to assume his duties as Archbishop, the Boston Red Sox team awarded His Eminence with an autographed ball presented by none other than the Splendid Splinter himself, Ted Williams.

With the Cincinnati Reds and Red Sox leading their respective divisions, I asked His Eminence, if both teams were to meet in the World Series, was he planning on going to any of the games? He smiled and said, in a very sincere tone, "If you invite me, I will come."

Imagine the excitement when, in fact, the Reds and Red Sox each won the National and American League Penants, respectively, and made it to the World Series to face each other, and the Archbishop accepted my invitation, and was our houseguest, as well. I frantically started making calls to get tickets, and networked to improve our seat location. They just had to be good seats worthy of my Archbishop.

A friend, Chief Bender of the Reds, got me tickets that put me in the park. I contacted the late Charles P. Taft, former mayor, and leveraged his friendship with the Archbishop from their days at the World Council of Churches. Mr. Taft agreed to a trade of tickets which put us next to him in prime blue seats along the first base line.

Upon arrival at the airport in Cincinnati, the Archbishop once again showed his true passion for the Bosox. The previous night, a controversial interference play at home plate gave the Reds a huge win and the series lead. Stepping off the plane and even before we could exchange "hello," The Archbishop’s first words were that it was interference and the umpire should have called the Reds player "out." Following a memorable dinner at Pigalls, we went to the game and greeted Charlie Taft. Sitting nearby were some Red Sox fans, who recognized His Eminence. With Boston accents, they became very vocal against the previous day’s home plate umpire, Larry Barnett, now at first base in front of our seats. They kept yelling, "The Charles River for you Barnett! Don't come back to Boston!"

I became a little uncomfortable and apologized about the remarks of the rowdy Boston fans. His Eminence responded, "Kala na pathi." The umpire deserved it, in other words. His Eminence described the evening as an "exhilarating night." His good friend, Luis Tiant, pitched the Red Sox to a 5-4 victory and evened up the series with two wins each.

His visit was so memorable for my wife, JoAnn and our children, Lynn and Mandie, who laughed and played with the Archbishop. It also meant a lot to my late father, George, who reminded us that the Archbishop’s and our family’s roots are both in Asia Minor. The Archbishop was from the small island of Imvros, and we are from the island of Moschonicion. My mother, Eftychia, had passed away suddenly only a few weeks before. It was a blessing that the Archbishop came to us, as he patiently spent time with my father, consoled and comforted him. It was from that time on that we became his family in Cincinnati.

I considered Archbishop Iakovos a spiritual father. In 1981, I was honored to be made an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the recommendation of His Eminence. The Archbishop placed the silver cross of Saint Andrew the Apostle on me for the first time and gave me the official title, "Depoutatos." At the Archons banquet, Lynn and Mandie each wrote a note and personally handed them to the Archbishop at the dais. Before he began his address, he recognized them and read each note to the audience, which reflected their expression of appreciation "for making our father an Archon."

His unique and eloquent style was vintage Archbishop Iakovos – to communicate in his typically penetrating, forceful and charismatic way. Simple words, yet with deep meaning.
He was also a very good listener.

On a visit to the community in Dayton, I expressed my concern over the financial condition of the seminary. He said nothing, only listened. A month later, he appointed me to the Hellenic College/Holy Cross board of trustees, and at my first board meeting, he nominated me Chairman of Development.

This began more than 20 years of HC/HC involvement and regular contact with the Archbishop both in Boston and New York. The seminary was the most important Archdiocesan institution, and the one closest to his heart. He was so proud to witness the construction of the new Archbishop Iakovos Library on the campus of HC/HC, and it is befitting that he has been laid to rest next to the chapel on the Holy Hill.

This was a man who moved mountains, yet was very personal and made you feel very special. Father Bill Cassis recalls one of those special moments while at the seminary, when he had broken his leg. His Eminence saw Father Bill on crutches, took him aside in a conference room and sat and talked with him at length to be sure he was well. And what of the special and spiritual relationship with hundreds of the priests he ordained, the archons he installed, and women of Philoptochos who he respected and revered?

We kept in contact during his later years, especially on mutual name days, Christmas and Easter. When the Red Sox won the World Series last year, I sent him some fresh fruit and a letter of congratulations and reminded him that it has been 30 years since our memorable 1975 World Series together. He responded with the following beautiful note which I cherish and happily share with the readers of this newspaper as we bless his eternal memory.

"My dear Gus, JoAnn and beloved Perdikakia, I thank your from the bottom of my heart for refreshing my memory of your gracious hospitality on the occasion of the unhappy ending of the 1975 World Series. I am once again visiting you, holding high the crown of the world championship, which the Red Sox fans have prayed for since 1918. May the Divine Child grant you all the gifts of His love for you and may you enjoy His Presence both now and forever more. With a loving and grateful heart – Archbishop Iakovos."



Volume 7 Number 22 - Tuesday, May 31st, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY