Published by The National Herald, November 4, 2005

AD Council Agrees Archbishop Iakovos’ Home Must be Sold

BOSTON – The Archdiocesan Council has decided to sell the late Archbishop Iakovos’ house. The decision was made by voice vote during the Council’s most recent meeting, which was held here last Saturday, October 29. The proceeds from the sale, which are anticipated to be around $3-4 million dollars, will be used to purchase another archiepiscopal residence in the future.

The house is located in an exclusive area of Rye, New York near the Westchester Country Club. The late Archbishop lived in an apartment at Archdiocesan headquarters in Manhattan during the first 11 years of his Archbishopric. He then bought the house in Rye at his own expense for $90 thousand. About 15 years later, he transferred the house to the Archdiocese for the same amount at which he purchased it, although its value by that time had skyrocketed due to its location.

At the recent Council meeting, Council Vice Chairman Michael Jaharis, referring to Archbishop Demetrios, noted that, "when His Eminence came here in 1999, he found a $6 million debt, divisions and law suits. His Eminence did not ask for a residence because he is a modest person," and thanked all those present for participating in the Council’s two-day proceedings.

Archbishop Demetrios told Council members that his apartment is within a 12-minute walk from the Archdiocese and that it is 800 square feet in size.

Since Archbishop Demetrios first assumed his archiepiscopal ministry in 1999, the Archdiocese has been paying an estimated annual rent of $82,607 for the apartment in Manhattan. The apartment has been rented for him despite the fact that there are two other apartments available for the Archbishop, one at Archdiocesan headquarters, and another in the Holy Trinity Cathedral Tower.
The current Archdiocesan debt was reduced from more than $10 million to $7.4 million due to a $2.2 million donation made by an anonymous benefactor, and also because of an adjustment in expenses incurred from services rendered by the Archdiocese’s law firm of $1.3 million. According to the financial report distributed at the meeting, "the total legal fee obligation was $2.3 million. The law firm accepted $1 million in full settlement of the outstanding fees of $2.3 million, therefore $1.3 million of legal bills were written off."

According to the financial report, the Archdiocese debt is described as follows: "$5.3 million relates to bank debt; $1.2 is owed to Hellenic College/Holy Cross; 300,000 is owed to the Ecumenical Patriarchate; $370,000 is owed for legal settlements. Payments are made on a monthly basis, and are scheduled to expire in 2009. $100,000 is owed in legal fees; $841,000 is owed in other operating accounts payable; $785,000 is owed to the Archdiocese from certain affiliates."

UNDER BUDGET
The financial report also states that, "although actual collections for 2005 are ahead of 2004 collections by $387 thousand, total commitment is under budget for nine months ended September 30, 2005. The 2005 Total Commitment budget is $14 million; therefore the pro rata budget amount at September 30, 2005 is $10.5 million. Since we have collected $9,457 million at September 30, 2005, we are under budget by over $1 million. Current Total Commitment projections indicate that we will receive approximately $13 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. Therefore, there will be a carryover balance of nearly $1 million into 2006. At the present time, there are no incentive programs in place to reduce the potential carryover balance into 2006."

The report makes reference to the Ionian Village in Greece: "2005 was the most successful year for the camp in many years. Actual revenue for 2005 exceeded budget amount by $567,000. Budget amounts were calculated based on approximately 100 campers. Total campers in 2005 were 222. Total expenses at September 30, 2005 were $837,000. The 2005 budget for Ionian Village anticipated a $410,000 deficit. Current 2005 projections indicate a debt of less than $100 thousand."
At the meeting, a report was also presented on the upcoming visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States for the annual Epiphany celebrations in Tarpon Springs, Florida this coming January. Anticipated costs for the upcoming Patriarchal visit are estimated at approximately $980 thousand. Bill Planes, chairman of the Patriarchal visit’s organizing committee, told Council members that "the Patriarch’s visit is not only a local event that concerns the Metropolis of Atlanta and Tarpon Springs, but the whole of Orthodoxy."

Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, Director of Religious Education and in charge of the Archdiocese SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) Survey, said "1,194 questionnaires were sent out. Only 10-12 percent have been returned thus far. If the returns do not reach 32 percent, the poll can not be considered statistically valid." For more information on SWOT, visit the web at www.goarch.org.

Archbishop Demetrios expressed his wish for the Orthodox Observer to be published at least once a month.

The Council meeting had a quorum. Out of approximately 120 members, 73 were present including Metropolitans Iakovos of Chicago, Methodios of Boston, Alexios of Atlanta, Nicholas of Detroit and Gerasimos of San Francisco. Archdiocesan Chancellor Bishop Savas of Troas, his assistant Rev. Michael Kontogeorge, Dr. Ioannis Ethymiopoulos, Director of Greek Education, Maria Macedon for the Archdiocesan District Schools, Archdiocese Chief Administrator Jerry Demitriou and many Archdiocesan employees were also present.

The text of the "Disclosure Policy for Members of the Archdiocesan, Metropolis and Parish Councils" was discussed; corrected at the respective committee; and approved. The Council’s various committees presented their reports on the Archdiocese’s National Ministries, including those of the Hellenic Paideia (education), communications, finance, legal, religious education, parish ministry and missions.

In his introductory remarks, Archbishop Demetrios spoke about the recent conference in Constantinople, held with the participation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and members of the Christian-Democratic European party, and during which the ecumenicity and the legal status of the Patriarchate, the properties of Constantinople’s Greek community, and the reopening of the Patriarchal seminary on the island of Chalki were discussed.

The Archbishop also spoke about the clergy and presvyteres retreats in Texas and Illinois, respectively, as well as the recent honoring of Mikhail Gorbachev with the Athenagoras Humanitarian Award and the conferral of the offikion (title of honorary associated with a privileged obligation) of Archon Megas Rhetor (Grand Orator) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the annual Archons banquet in Manhattan on October 22. The Archbishop also said that the Archdiocese’s appeal for donations to its Tsunami relief fund produced $500,000 and for Hurricane "Katrina" $720,000 (not including funds sent directly by parishes to the International orthodox Christian Charities – IOCC).



Volume 7 Number 44 - Saturday, November 5, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY