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Athens News Agency - August 19, 1999

Archbishop Spyridon confirms his resignation

Archbishop of America Spyridon on Thursday confirmed his resignation following a long period of tension among the Orthodox faithful in the Archdiocese of America, according to an ANA despatch from Montreal.

In a laconic statement to the ANA, Spyridon said he hoped "the future decisions of the Mother Church will prove to be for the good of Orthodoxy and Hellenism of America".

He said he was grateful for having been given the opportunity to contribute "to this holy cause" from his position as Archbishop of America.

Spyridon declined to comment on the reasons for his resignation, but circles in the Greek-American community said the second change in just three years of the prelate holding the post would create further problems for the ethnic Greek community in America.

The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul had for some time been receiving reports from Greek-American groups condemning Spyridon's handling of affairs and claiming that he was "allied" with a particular section of the ethnic Greek community.

Earlier this year, Spyridon attributed the tension to "defamation" by a small group of his "enemies".

The Ecumenical Patriarchate's Holy Synod unanimously elected Spyridon as Archbishop of America on July 30, 1996.

The Synod is due to convene in Istanbul this eveninng to name Spyridon's replacement.

[ Athens News Agency - www.ana.gr - August 19, 1999 ]