Jerry Dimitriou Breaks His Silence

The National Herald - July 7-13, 2018

Talks to TNH about CLC, Methodios, and Marriott

By Theodore Kalmoukos

BOSTON, MA – Former Executive Director of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America for 17 years Jerry Dimitriou broke his silence about the 44th Clergy Laity Congress in Boston, and the choice of venue, the Copley Marriott Hotel with the following message to the National Herald:

I have read the many stories, articles and editorials you have published in the National Herald about the 2018 Clergy-Laity Congress being held in Boston and how Boston was selected as the host city of the congress.

Unfortunately, I have to tell you with regret, you have been given a story with a tremendous amount of “fake news” by our beloved Hierarch from Boston. Since this story is about my actions in my capacity as Executive Director and, His Eminence our Archbishop nor any other Hierarch of our blessed Archdiocese of America has “set the record straight” let me now correct the story with the TRUTH of what transpired.

The 2018 Clergy Laity Congress in Boston was set, in a meeting with the ENTIRE Holy Eparchial Synod present, as well as myself and the Chief Secretary, in the spring meeting of the Synod in 2015.

The 2016 Clergy-Laity Congress, which was held in Nashville, TN, was originally schedule to be in Boston Massachusetts. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios and I had discussed this location for the congress at length before it was discussed at the Synod in the spring of 2015. It was determined that since the Congress had not been in the Metropolis of Boston since 1988, it was time for the Boston Metropolis to host the congress once again.

Jerry Dimitriou at the 2014 Clergy Laity Congress in Philadelphia.

During that Synod meeting, which I was asked to appear at, we discussed the 2016 Congress in Boston. His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios was not in favor of accepting the Congress for 2016 and a lengthy discussion took place at the Synod meeting. It was then decided, and Metropolitan Methodios accepted, that the Congress would be held in Boston, MA in 2018, on the 30th anniversary of the last time it was held there. The 2016 Congress was then scheduled for the Metropolis of Detroit and Nashville, TN was ultimately selected.

Every Metropolitan was present at the meeting and ALL knew, including the Archbishop, that Metropolitan Methodios had accepted the 2018 Congress. Metropolitan Methodios had almost 3 years to prepare for this Congress and it was certainly no surprise to him.

Apparently, the condition of memory loss or dementia has spread to some other members of our Synod as it surprises me that when the issue was discussed at the Archdiocesan Council meeting last year, not one of the Metropolitans spoke the truth about what transpired at that meeting and that Methodios had accepted the Congress for 2018.

Many of the Synod members have discussed this issue with me since then and they DO recall the meeting and what took place. They are just trying to protect their brother Hierarch from the embarrassment of not remembering or just being obstinate.

As far as a “large deposit” being given to the hotel, I would also like to clarify your reporting on this issue as well. NO DEPOSIT at all was given to the hotel when we signed the contract. In fact, because of our relationship with the hotel chain, we have NEVER given a deposit when signing a contract for the congress. We only provide a deposit when we are less than six months before the congress. I’m sure the Archbishop or Chancellor can verify that if you ask them directly.

Thank you for your time and I hope you can share this CORRECTED information with your readership to clarify the unfortunate FAKE NEWS you have been given by Metropolitan Methodios of Boston.

[ The National Herald - July 7-13, 2018 - pp. 1 and 9 ]

[ The National Herald
  www.thenationalherald.com/206108/jerry-dimitriou-breaks-his-silence-
  about-the-clergy-laity-congress/
  July 1, 2018 ]