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The GreekAmerican - July 16, 1999

  EDITORIAL  

The Patriarch And The Archbishop

Since the resignation of Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America three years ago, the Patriarchate has acted in ways that have effectively weakened the office of the Archbishop and have cultivated uncertainty, and ultimately division.

Archbishop Spyridon, who had publicly defended many of these Patriarchal moves, now appears to be suffering from their effects. It is remarkable to see that now both those who have supported and those who have opposed the Archbishop's administration are turning a critical eye toward Istanbul.

No matter what one thinks of the reign of Archbishop Iakovos, that he was forced to resign weakened the power of all subsequent Archbishops. The enthronement of his successor, Archbishop Spyridon, was coupled with the restriction of the Archdiocese's jurisdiction. Whereas Iakovos administered the Church in North and South America, Spyridon was given authority only over the United States. At the time, the Archbishop said the move was intended to improve the administration of the Church in South America and Canada by providing those two regions with their own administrators. In retrospect, the redrawing of the Archdiocese's map paved the way for what was to come next: the elevation of bishops to metropolitans.

That move took place in November 1997, just before the Patriarch was getting set to return to Turkey from a visit to the United States. The decision was announced with little fanfare and attracted little attention. But in essence, the elevation created five U.S. hierarchs who technically have equal authority with the Archbishop. The change also opened the way for the transformation of the dioceses to metropoles - administrative regions of the Church that would report directly to the Patriarchate, bypassing the Archdiocese. The transformation has not happened yet, but it would be a natural next step.

The effect of such administrative changes on the office of the Archbishop pale in comparison to the damage that has been done by the crisis of the last three years. Church leaders, both clergy and laity, have polarized into camps, often forgetting the Christian principles they espouse. Throughout this time, the Patriarchate has missed opportunities to issue a strong, clear, and direct statement in support of the Archbishop. Instead the Phanar has contributed to a climate of uncertainty that has undermined Archbishop Spyridon. That he was summoned to Istanbul earlier this week, with his job on the line, speaks of how bad things have gotten.

It is important to recognize that these events have consequences and create precedents that go beyond the individuals involved. The office of the Archbishop is being weakened and that will ultimately be to the detriment of the Greek American community.

[ The GreekAmerican - July 16, 1999 - p. 17 ]