Parishioners Say Their Priest Cruised Truck Stops for Sex Acts Greek
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
O C V ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek Americans c v A wEEkly GrEEk AmEriCAN PuBliCATiON www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 14, ISSUE 714 June 18-24, 2011 $1.50 Parishioners Say Their Greek Government in Disarray, Crisis Deepens Priest Cruised Truck Riots, Defections, Faltering Economy, Stops for Sex Acts Push Papandreou By Theodore Kalmoukos was. They said they hired a ATHENS – Beset by a seemingly TNH Staff lawyer, Harold Pickerstein, who endless series of protests, employed private investigators strikes, riots and rising anger BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The to follow Recachinas and that against planned new austerity priest of the Holy Trinity Greek they had confirmed he was measures a year after deep pay Orthodox Church here who re - cruising the area for sex con - cuts for public workers, big tax signed abruptly after 29 years tacts. Pickerstein sent a letter to hikes and reduced pensions of service for “personal and Fr. Recachinas on February 22 failed to slow Greece’s slide to - health reasons” was caught by stating that, “Not only have our ward economic collapse, Prime many of his parishioners solicit - clients observed these activities, Minister George Papandreou ing truck drivers for sex at rest but investigators, retained by has engaged in a risky move of areas of an interstate highway, this office, have independently brinksmanship to keep his Ad - they have alleged. Father verified your activities.” The ministration in power by nam - Demetrios Recachinas an - lawyer gave him one week to ing a new Cabinet. As pitched nounced his departure in March resign. On March 6, Fr. Recachi - battles between a strange brew but refused to provide details, nas, at the end of the Liturgy of protesters and riot police nor did the Archdiocese or announced suddenly his resig - waged outside the Parliament, Parish Council President George nation for “reasons of health.” Papandreou first announced he Mourizakis. But the parishioners He is considered one of the most offered to form a coalition gov - who charged Recachinas with prominent and successful priests ernment between his ruling PA - what they called inappropriate of the Archdiocese. He did not SOK Socialists and their bitter conduct unbecoming a priest return telephone calls from The rivals, the main opposition New told The National Herald that National Herald, nor did Pick - Democracy party headed by his many of them had seen him in erstein. Archbishop Demetrios one-time Amherst College the rest stop areas of I-95 seek - was left a telephone message roommate Antonis Samaras - ing truck drivers and other men with one of his secretaries and only to withdraw if after Sama - for sexual purposes. They did sent a written message but he ras said he would not go along not want their names (TNH has did not respond either. Mour - with Papandreou’s demand that their names on file) used but izakis initially granted an inter - New Democracy support all his one said, “I have seen him in view discussing the situation but AP PHOTO/THANASSiS STAvrAkiS austerity measures and the con - the car doing the act with quickly changed his mind and Demonstrators confront riot police at Syntagma square in front of the Greek Parliament in ditions set by the so-called men…” and another said the said not to publish it. Bishop An - central Athens, during a rally against plans for new austerity measures, on June 15. A 24-hour Troika of the European Union- priest unwittingly tried to solicit strike by Greece's largest labor unions crippled public services, as the Socialist government de - International Monetary Fund- him before realizing who he Continued on page 7 liberated last-ditch cost cutting reforms that will exceed its own term in office. European Central Bank in re - turn for $155 billion in a series of emergency rescue loans to keep Greece from going bank - rupt. The political disarray led Does Oscar Speak Greek? Metropolitan Isaiah Splits Utah Church Papandreou to say that he would instead form a new Cab - inet after burgeoning disagree - Ask HBO’s Kary Antholis By Theodore Kalmoukos Eparchial Synod. The Salt Lake Trinity Cathedral and Fr. ment within over his polices and TNH Staff Writer Parish was established by Greek Kouremetis to Prophet Elias. a near-mutiny of some PASOK pioneer immigrants in 1905 and Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver Members of Parliament who By Constantine S. Sirigos Oscars, Emmys and Golden SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Met - now has approximately 1,300 did not return phone calls left were ordered to support him. TNH Staff Writer Globe awards, but those are not ropolitan Isaiah of Denver has families. To better serve its in his personal voice mail box Those who did not previously laurels he chooses to rest on. gone ahead with his plan to split members, in 1969 the parish at the Denver Metropolis. Of the were ousted from the party, NEW YORK – Filmmakers are With a Master’s degree in his - the Greek Orthodox Church of built a nave (church) in the eight members of the current leaving Papandreou with only a essentially storytellers. Whether tory and a law degree from Greater Salt Lake in Utah into name of Prophet Elias in the parish council only two were six-vote majority in the 300- they are directors, producers or Georgetown University to his two parishes, disregarding the area of Holladay, just as it was elected by the parish members, member Parliament, from which writers they have a gift for rec - credit, he is clearly one of those wish of the majority of the with the Cathedral parish of St. while the rest were appointed he said he would seek a vote of ognizing and bringing to life people who could excel in many membership who oppose the Demetrios in Astoria, N.Y., by the priest. In March 2010, confidence in the body he still people and circumstances the fields, but what drew him to move, defying the decision of which has two naves, St. Prophet Elias was organized as controls, although two of his audience will never forget. Hollywood, the desire to do cre - the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Demetrios and St. Catherine. a separate religious corporation MP’s, George Florides, and Ek - Greek American Kary (Kyriakos) atively fulfilling work – to tell Archdiocese and Archbishop The parish has two priests, the and registered in Utah without toras Masiokas resigned, caus - Antholis is President of HBO great stories - might never be Demetrios who “agreed the Salt initial chief priest Rev. Michael informing the membership of ing further confusion in the Miniseries, which has told some sated, no matter how crowded Lake community will remain as Kouremetis, and Fr. Matthew the Greek Orthodox Church of party. Technically, the resigna - of the best stories on TV. The with statuettes his mantle be - one united parish” as Arch - Gilbert. With the split, Metro - Greater Salt Lake. At that time, tions do not affect his majority, films and series he has devel - bishop Demetrios wrote him on politan Isaiah has assigned Fr. oped and produced have yielded Continued on page 12 March 24 on behalf of the Gilbert chief priest at the Holy Continued on page 4 Continued on page 9 Mellon Foundation’s New Metropoulos Named HABA Executive of the Year Institute at Rangos Center NEW YORK – On a warm Man - hattan night, the Officers and Directors of The Hellenic Amer - By Evan C. Lambrou Rangos Research Center, a state- ican Bankers Association and Special to The National Herald of-the-art facility complex which guests set aside thoughts of the began operations in the fall of rain outside and financial PITTSBURGH– The Richard 2008 to help doctors and scien - storms threatening Greece and King Mellon Foundation has tists make bold new advances Cyprus to celebrate HABA’s 29th given $23 million to create a pe - in treating some of the world’s Anniversary of service to the diatric research institute at Chil - most debilitating childhood ill - Greek American community and dren’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. nesses. The Mellon Foundation’s to honor C. Dean Metropoulos The Hospital’s new Rangos Re - generous gift to CHP was first Chairman & CEO of the invest - search Center in the Pittsburgh announced back in the fall of ment and management firm suburb of Lawrenceville will 2007, but has re-attracted at - CDM & Co. as its Executive of serve as the new Mellon Insti - tention because the Hospital re - the Year for 2011. Television’s tute’s home. The groundbreak - cently announced that the new John Metaxas returned to the ing gift will help establish the Mellon Institute’s first director podium in the elegant dining Mellon Foundation Institute for will be assuming his duties in room of the historic Union Club Pediatric Research, and aug - September, and that offices for for another turn as Master or ments an already formidable the new Institute, its director Ceremonies. He introduced Rev. joining of forces: the University and additional Mellon scholars Mark Arey, who offered the of Pittsburgh Medical Center would be housed in the new benediction, and conveyed and CHP, which merged with Rangos building, named after Archbishop Demetrios’ “special UPMC in 2000, and the new Greek American philanthropist … best and warmest congratu - and business magnate John G. lations” – both Metropoulos and Rangos Sr., whose commitment his wife Marianne are members For subscription: to CHP has helped the Hospital of Leadership 100. Metaxas in - 718.784.5255 become one of the foremost cen - troduced HABA President Geor - [email protected] ters for pediatric research and gia Mouzakis Tavlarios, who care in the country.