Associated Press - July 12, 1999

US Orthodox Archbishop May Be Ousted

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Archbishop Spyridon, the embattled head of the Greek Orthodox in the United States, has been summoned to the headquarters of his church for consultations by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.

A church official confirmed Monday that Spyridon was in Istanbul for talks with the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians. Bartholomew has reportedly been considering replacing Spyridon as head of the American church after the oldest and largest Greek Orthodox diocese in the United States, located in Boston, voted last month in favor of his ouster.

The official spoke on customary condition of anonymity.

Clergy and laity from 63 parishes in the United States voted to adopt a report calling for the removal of Spyridon, whom they say tries to keep the church inaccessible to faithful, who feel more American than Greek.

Bartholomew has direct jurisdiction over the U.S. church, the Patriarchate's main financial supporter with its estimated 2 million followers.

Spyridon -- the first American-born leader of the U.S. church appointed by the patriarch in 1996 -- claims he works to protect the church's Byzantine and Greek traditions.

The 54-year-old archbishop was born in Warren, Ohio, but spent most of his life in Europe.

Bartholomew had extended his support to Spyridon, who visited Istanbul with five dissenting bishops from Boston, Chicago, Denver, Pittsburgh and San Francisco amid calls for his dismissal in January.

Bartholomew said at the time it was out of the question to remove Spyridon.

According to news reports, names of possible successors for Spyridon are already circulating. They include Archbishop Stylianos of Australia, Metropolitan Nikitas of Hong Kong and the Far East, and Metropolitan Demetrios of Vresthena, Greece.

[ Associated Press - July 12, 1999 ]