LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The Editor
The National Herald
English Section

Dear Sir:

Week after week for the past several months The National Herald has had extensive and detailed reports and several editorials about the unseemly struggle between Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Christodoulos with respect to the Metropolises of the "New Lands" in Greece.

On the other hand there has been no mention whatsoever of the most momentous event of 2003 which so significantly impacts the future of Orthodox Christians in America. I refer of course to the October 9, 2003 resolution of the Patriarchate of Antioch granting self rule [autonomy] to the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America.

By virtue of that resolution, the Antiochian Archdiocese is self governing, elects its own Bishops, determines the number of Dioceses which constitute the Archdiocese and all future Primates of the Archdiocese must be elected from three nominees chosen by its Clergy and Laity. This is the event which will have the most lasting effect upon us as Orthodox Christians living in America. This is the event which you should be reporting to your readers and commenting upon in your editorials.

The confrontation between Bartholomew and Christodoulos is of no real interest to Orthodox Christians in America. It has no practical effect upon us except to the extent that it portrays but another example of the unrealistic ambitions and programs of Patriarch Bartholomew which unfortunately also have deleterious effects on our own Archdiocese.

Why, as a newspaper serving the people of America, do you choose to concentrate on a news item primarily of interest to the people of Greece and completely omit any mention of such an important newsworthy happening in the Orthodox community of America? Is it perhaps because, as Greek Orthodox Christians, you are embarrassed? The Patriarchate of Moscow many years ago granted autocephaly to its daughter Church, the Orthodox Church in America. The Patriarchate of Antioch has now granted self rule [autonomy] to its Archdiocese in America. Only the Ecumenical Patriarchate conceives of its Archdiocese in America as being too immature to be granted self governance and therefore must continue to be administered from abroad.

Very truly yours,

Evan Alevizatos Chriss