I just received word that Father Nektarios will remain with us at Saint Demetrios. This outcome belongs entirely to you because your persistence is what truly shifted the tide. I am still stunned by this news but mostly I am just deeply grateful to be part of such a faithful …
October 11, 2014
Final supporters
Your Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos,
We, Greek Orthodox Christian faithful of Saint Demetrios Church in Upper
Darby, Pennsylvania as well as faithful from the greater Philadelphia area,
write to you with respect yet at the same time with great concern.
We have been deeply saddened and troubled by the recent news of your decision to transfer the Very Reverend Archimandrite Nektarios Cottros from Saint Demetrios to Saints Peter and Paul Church in Frederick, Maryland. This decision has greatly shaken up the faithful at Saint Demetrios and many throughout Philadelphia area.
We understand that the different parishes of the New Jersey Metropolis have various needs and that you, Your Eminence, seek to ensure that those needs are met. Nevertheless, we kindly ask you to reconsider and reverse the decision to transfer Father Nektarios. This transfer would create many unnecessary problems for Saint Demetrios and the greater Philadelphia area.
Saint Demetrios has gone through its share of troubles in the recent past, but under Father Nektarios, the parish has been brought back to stability and has been progressing and growing. Father Nektarios has been a tremendous source of strength, inspiration, and guidance. He has become for the parishioners at Saint Demetrios a member of their families. He has become for so many families throughout Philadelphia, throughout his many years of ministry in the area among the Lord's flock, as one of their own. The bonds we share with him are deep and genuine.
Father Nektarios has been a wonderful role model and influence of living the life in Christ for the Philadelphia area. He has touched so many lives in such a positive way and has made the Church and its beauty accessible to us. Furthermore, Father Nektarios has done his best to ensure for the New Jersey Metropolis and for yourself, Your Eminence, a bedrock of support. The New Jersey Metropolis and you yourself, Your Eminence, have everything to gain by continuing to have Father Nektarios at Saint Demetrios.
Transferring Father Nektarios will cause many setbacks for the parishioners of Saint Demetrios. It will be damaging in particular to young people of the parish and the greater region. Father Nektarios has reached out to the youth of St. Demetrios since the parish was going through its troubles before his arrival. Yet, this is nothing new. Father has always been reaching out to our young people throughout Philadelphia and has brought the Church closer to them and, in turn, they have come closer to the Church. Furthermore, such a transfer will be damaging to your relationship with the faithful of Saint Demetrios and many of the Philadelphia area, we can see the repercussions that this transfer will create.
Having all this in mind and in our hearts, we send your our love, Your Eminence, and we beg you, humbly, to reconsider and reverse your decision and keep Father Nektarios at Saint Demetrios.
Reverencing Your Right Hand,
Faithful Orthodox Christians of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church & the Greater Philadelphia Area.
Updates
September 2, 2014
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many people have come together to support Father Nektarios. If you know someone who has not yet seen this, please show it to them so we can reach five hundred signatures before we present our request.
Reached 100 supporters
August 21, 2014
August 20, 2014
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many of you have stepped forward to protect Father Nektarios. If each of you could talk to just one other person who loves him we would hit our next milestone before the day is out.
16 Comments
FR NEKTARIOS HAS BEEN A FRIEND TO ME AND MY FAMILY FOR 31 YEARS. HE IS FAMILY. HE HAS BEEN THERE FOR US THROUGH EVERYTHING. IT SADDENS ME WHEN WE HAVE SUCH A NEED FOR PRIESTS LIKE HIM, HIS EMINENCE DECIDES TO JEOPARDIZE THE VIABILITY OF THE PARISH BY TAKING HIM FROM SAINT DEMETRIOS. FR. NEKTARIOS IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE WHAT EVERY PRIEST SHOULD STRIVE TO BE. GOD BLESS YOU FATHER.
The tie that binds our Hellenic-American community is and always will be our Church. That could not be any truer than in Upper Darby. We have regained stability these past couple of years under the leadership of Father Nektarios, a newfound faith that we still have a community worth preserving. While there is much work still to be done, transferring Father Nektarios is a step, if not leaps, in the wrong direction. It only puts cracks in the foundation this community has so desperately been trying to rebuild. Our community deserves better. Please reconsider.
I was baptized, married and 3 of my 4 children were also baptized at St. Demetrios. For years prior to Father Nektarios coming, I no longer felt comfortable at church. The priest prior to Father Nektarios had created an environment which may have been okay for many but for me was not somewhere I wished to come and pray. Since Father Nektarios joined the parish, I feel the same warm comfortable feeling when I visit my church. You see even though I have been gone for years, St. D's is still my church. Please reconsider this decision. The people of St. Demetrios need more time to heal and they deserve a priest who will lead them properly. Thank you.
I have been a life long member of Saint Demetrios Church but my husband and I baptized our first two children at another church. Since Father Nektarios has become our priest we had our third son baptized at St.Demetrios. We just had our forth child and were looking forward to having Father Nektarios baptize her as well! He has been a blessing to our church! They way he is involved with all the youth is fantastic. All the children of the Greek school love having him around. Father Nektarios belongs to Saint Demetrios Church!!!
Father Nektarios made my kids to love church and also helps them spiritually my kids are 5 and 4 and look forward to going to church to see Father Necktarios Father belong to St Demetrios.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAU33jYa-yE
He picked me up at my house and to help under the guise a of a church youth group thing for goya. He isolated I was drugged and raped. Later some person Kosta who might have been a Secrete Service member brought his nephew later. I was pretty confused what happened at the time 11 years old. Later at the party I saw Kostas and Nektarios discussing some important stuff along with 2 other government people they looked like analysts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAU33jYa-yE
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I just received word that Father Nektarios will remain with us at Saint Demetrios. This outcome belongs entirely to you because your persistence is what truly shifted the tide. I am still stunned by this news but mostly I am just deeply grateful to be part of such a faithful …
October 11, 2014
Final supporters
Your Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos,
We, Greek Orthodox Christian faithful of Saint Demetrios Church in Upper
Darby, Pennsylvania as well as faithful from the greater Philadelphia area,
write to you with respect yet at the same time with great concern.
We have been deeply saddened and troubled by the recent news of your decision to transfer the Very Reverend Archimandrite Nektarios Cottros from Saint Demetrios to Saints Peter and Paul Church in Frederick, Maryland. This decision has greatly shaken up the faithful at Saint Demetrios and many throughout Philadelphia area.
We understand that the different parishes of the New Jersey Metropolis have various needs and that you, Your Eminence, seek to ensure that those needs are met. Nevertheless, we kindly ask you to reconsider and reverse the decision to transfer Father Nektarios. This transfer would create many unnecessary problems for Saint Demetrios and the greater Philadelphia area.
Saint Demetrios has gone through its share of troubles in the recent past, but under Father Nektarios, the parish has been brought back to stability and has been progressing and growing. Father Nektarios has been a tremendous source of strength, inspiration, and guidance. He has become for the parishioners at Saint Demetrios a member of their families. He has become for so many families throughout Philadelphia, throughout his many years of ministry in the area among the Lord's flock, as one of their own. The bonds we share with him are deep and genuine.
Father Nektarios has been a wonderful role model and influence of living the life in Christ for the Philadelphia area. He has touched so many lives in such a positive way and has made the Church and its beauty accessible to us. Furthermore, Father Nektarios has done his best to ensure for the New Jersey Metropolis and for yourself, Your Eminence, a bedrock of support. The New Jersey Metropolis and you yourself, Your Eminence, have everything to gain by continuing to have Father Nektarios at Saint Demetrios.
Transferring Father Nektarios will cause many setbacks for the parishioners of Saint Demetrios. It will be damaging in particular to young people of the parish and the greater region. Father Nektarios has reached out to the youth of St. Demetrios since the parish was going through its troubles before his arrival. Yet, this is nothing new. Father has always been reaching out to our young people throughout Philadelphia and has brought the Church closer to them and, in turn, they have come closer to the Church. Furthermore, such a transfer will be damaging to your relationship with the faithful of Saint Demetrios and many of the Philadelphia area, we can see the repercussions that this transfer will create.
Having all this in mind and in our hearts, we send your our love, Your Eminence, and we beg you, humbly, to reconsider and reverse your decision and keep Father Nektarios at Saint Demetrios.
Reverencing Your Right Hand,
Faithful Orthodox Christians of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church & the Greater Philadelphia Area.
Updates
September 2, 2014
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many people have come together to support Father Nektarios. If you know someone who has not yet seen this, please show it to them so we can reach five hundred signatures before we present our request.
Reached 100 supporters
August 21, 2014
August 20, 2014
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many of you have stepped forward to protect Father Nektarios. If each of you could talk to just one other person who loves him we would hit our next milestone before the day is out.
16 Comments
Father Nektarios has changed Saint Demetrios for the better in more ways than one. He keeps our church steady and secure with his amazing personality, warmth but most importantly, his faith. Removing Father from our church will be devastating to all our members, but also to the children whose lives he's touched. He's inspired so many people to come closer to their faith. These children who love him and learn so much from him are Saint Demetrios' future. Please reconsider your decision on behalf of all of us from Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church.
FR NEKTARIOS HAS BEEN A FRIEND TO ME AND MY FAMILY FOR 31 YEARS. HE IS FAMILY. HE HAS BEEN THERE FOR US THROUGH EVERYTHING. IT SADDENS ME WHEN WE HAVE SUCH A NEED FOR PRIESTS LIKE HIM, HIS EMINENCE DECIDES TO JEOPARDIZE THE VIABILITY OF THE PARISH BY TAKING HIM FROM SAINT DEMETRIOS. FR. NEKTARIOS IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE WHAT EVERY PRIEST SHOULD STRIVE TO BE. GOD BLESS YOU FATHER.
The tie that binds our Hellenic-American community is and always will be our Church. That could not be any truer than in Upper Darby. We have regained stability these past couple of years under the leadership of Father Nektarios, a newfound faith that we still have a community worth preserving. While there is much work still to be done, transferring Father Nektarios is a step, if not leaps, in the wrong direction. It only puts cracks in the foundation this community has so desperately been trying to rebuild. Our community deserves better. Please reconsider.
I was baptized, married and 3 of my 4 children were also baptized at St. Demetrios. For years prior to Father Nektarios coming, I no longer felt comfortable at church. The priest prior to Father Nektarios had created an environment which may have been okay for many but for me was not somewhere I wished to come and pray. Since Father Nektarios joined the parish, I feel the same warm comfortable feeling when I visit my church. You see even though I have been gone for years, St. D's is still my church. Please reconsider this decision. The people of St. Demetrios need more time to heal and they deserve a priest who will lead them properly. Thank you.
I have been a life long member of Saint Demetrios Church but my husband and I baptized our first two children at another church. Since Father Nektarios has become our priest we had our third son baptized at St.Demetrios. We just had our forth child and were looking forward to having Father Nektarios baptize her as well! He has been a blessing to our church! They way he is involved with all the youth is fantastic. All the children of the Greek school love having him around. Father Nektarios belongs to Saint Demetrios Church!!!
Father Nektarios made my kids to love church and also helps them spiritually my kids are 5 and 4 and look forward to going to church to see Father Necktarios Father belong to St Demetrios.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAU33jYa-yE
He picked me up at my house and to help under the guise a of a church youth group thing for goya. He isolated I was drugged and raped. Later some person Kosta who might have been a Secrete Service member brought his nephew later. I was pretty confused what happened at the time 11 years old. Later at the party I saw Kostas and Nektarios discussing some important stuff along with 2 other government people they looked like analysts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAU33jYa-yE
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Father Nektarios has changed Saint Demetrios for the better in more ways than one. He keeps our church steady and secure with his amazing personality, warmth but most importantly, his faith. Removing Father from our church will be devastating to all our members, but also to the children whose lives he's touched. He's inspired so many people to come closer to their faith. These children who love him and learn so much from him are Saint Demetrios' future. Please reconsider your decision on behalf of all of us from Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church.