The administration changes have been officially confirmed and the transition process is now underway. I am moving to ensure these changes are implemented as promised while we monitor the next phase of leadership.
August 9, 2018
Final supporters
ATTENTION: EVERYONE OF NEW ENGLAND AND BEYOND.
It is time to replace or transfer the Metropolitan Methodios of Boston/New England and his Chancellor Father Ted Barbas. The Greek Orthodox Community of New England and beyond need to unite, and with one voice be heard at this year’s 44th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress, that will be held in Boston, July 1 to 5, 2018.
Metropolitan Methodios and Father Ted have bullied the parishes of New England for too long. They are stubborn, arrogant, and ignore the parishes of New England & beyond! So many parishes have been torn apart and destroyed over money and controversies that they have created:
- In 1994 Methodios was officially reprimanded by the Patriarchate through a synodal decision for his "unbecoming conduct"
- In 1995, Archbishop Iakovos removed him from the Presidency of Holy Cross Seminary due to numerous complaints from the Faculty of the school.
- In 2008 Methodios caused a scandal at the Lowell, MA parish when he ordered the Parish Council to give the Priest a $12,000 raise. When the Parish Council refused he excommunicated the parish council and forbade them from receiving communion.
- In 2011 - St. George in Lynn, MA. Metropolitan Methodios of Boston began a multiple rounds of sanctions against the parish and its priest, Rev. George Tsoukalas, over money.
- In 2016 - An international organization committed to exposing cases of sexual abuse by religious and church officials called for the immediate removal of Fr. Theodore J. Barbas, the Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston, who was responsible for the oversight of a Maine-based priest convicted in 2015 of four felony counts of sexual abuse of minor.
- In 2017 - St. Athanasius Greek Orthodox Church in Arlington MA. Methodios and Barbas remove Father Nicholas Kastanas from his duties ignoring the vast majority of cries from the community to bring him back.
People are starting to question their Greek Orthodox faith and this dictatorship needs to stop.
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, and Archbishop Demetrios of America. See our petition and hear our plea. The Greek Orthodox parishes of New England want a change! The Greek Orthodox Faith is being compromised and we are asking for you help!
Updates
May 12, 2018
The increase in support has provided the necessary leverage to finalize our formal correspondence to the Archdiocese. Legal counsel is now reviewing the documentation regarding these grievances before we submit the full file to the upcoming Clergy-Laity Congress.
38 Comments
Arlington and the rest of New England need to speak up. This regime stuff has to end, it is just wrong.
The bullying has gone on way too long. Our churches need peace not more sanctions and threats.
So many families got hurt by all this and nobody seems to listen. Time for change, plain and simple.
What happened in Lowell and Lynn should have never been allowed. This is not how church leaders should act.
Enough already. Methodios and Barbas have done real damage to the New England parishes, people are tired of the control and the money games.
Father Kastanas did not disobey anyone! The parish wishes to know what is going on with our beloved priest. He did not contact anyone at all! In fact I contacted him to ask about the rumors that he was being dismissed, and he told me not to concern myself. You are exactly right though! Why are we (St. Athanasius Parish) scandalized with mere insinuations? The premise here is that allegedly one person is better or more holy than the other. I have been a member of our church St. Athanasius since 1979. Father Nick has baptized 2 of my children, and blessed my brother Alexandros soul, my wife Sofia's soul, and my father George's soul at our church, and at the cemetery. He has stood by me, and my family in our hours (Not hour) of need. I can't imagine this vital and important human being taken out of our lives because of someone's feelings being hurt or whatever 5, 10, 25, years ago. He is the first to say that he is a mere soldier of Christ and that his presence is not important in the big picture only Christ is. Church parishes not only choose their priest the members also have a say. The actions of the Metropolis are not very Christian in their actions. Are we not taught to do the right thing, to help people in need, and to give the other person the benefit of doubt, to be Christian in our actions? These actions by the Metropolis are not what our Church preaches. It's a disgrace that we have gotten to this point. I would also like to say, when my wife Sofia was sick Father Nick was there every time we needed him. He helped get many doctors top in their fields together (which doctors present were shocked that 6 people doctors so talented were there, and considered it a miracle they were there all at the same time). He was there in all his strength, his suggestions, his love, and kind words. When Sofia my wife, Theia Spyridoula, and I landed at Logan Airport coming from Mexico in hopes of a treatment, I called Father Nick at 4AM. He picked up the
Bring back Father Nick!!
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The administration changes have been officially confirmed and the transition process is now underway. I am moving to ensure these changes are implemented as promised while we monitor the next phase of leadership.
August 9, 2018
Final supporters
ATTENTION: EVERYONE OF NEW ENGLAND AND BEYOND.
It is time to replace or transfer the Metropolitan Methodios of Boston/New England and his Chancellor Father Ted Barbas. The Greek Orthodox Community of New England and beyond need to unite, and with one voice be heard at this year’s 44th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress, that will be held in Boston, July 1 to 5, 2018.
Metropolitan Methodios and Father Ted have bullied the parishes of New England for too long. They are stubborn, arrogant, and ignore the parishes of New England & beyond! So many parishes have been torn apart and destroyed over money and controversies that they have created:
- In 1994 Methodios was officially reprimanded by the Patriarchate through a synodal decision for his "unbecoming conduct"
- In 1995, Archbishop Iakovos removed him from the Presidency of Holy Cross Seminary due to numerous complaints from the Faculty of the school.
- In 2008 Methodios caused a scandal at the Lowell, MA parish when he ordered the Parish Council to give the Priest a $12,000 raise. When the Parish Council refused he excommunicated the parish council and forbade them from receiving communion.
- In 2011 - St. George in Lynn, MA. Metropolitan Methodios of Boston began a multiple rounds of sanctions against the parish and its priest, Rev. George Tsoukalas, over money.
- In 2016 - An international organization committed to exposing cases of sexual abuse by religious and church officials called for the immediate removal of Fr. Theodore J. Barbas, the Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston, who was responsible for the oversight of a Maine-based priest convicted in 2015 of four felony counts of sexual abuse of minor.
- In 2017 - St. Athanasius Greek Orthodox Church in Arlington MA. Methodios and Barbas remove Father Nicholas Kastanas from his duties ignoring the vast majority of cries from the community to bring him back.
People are starting to question their Greek Orthodox faith and this dictatorship needs to stop.
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, and Archbishop Demetrios of America. See our petition and hear our plea. The Greek Orthodox parishes of New England want a change! The Greek Orthodox Faith is being compromised and we are asking for you help!
Updates
May 12, 2018
The increase in support has provided the necessary leverage to finalize our formal correspondence to the Archdiocese. Legal counsel is now reviewing the documentation regarding these grievances before we submit the full file to the upcoming Clergy-Laity Congress.
38 Comments
Καμία εμπιστοσύνη πια. Η στάση τους έχει κουράσει τον κόσμο και οι ενορίες υποφέρουν.
Arlington and the rest of New England need to speak up. This regime stuff has to end, it is just wrong.
The bullying has gone on way too long. Our churches need peace not more sanctions and threats.
So many families got hurt by all this and nobody seems to listen. Time for change, plain and simple.
What happened in Lowell and Lynn should have never been allowed. This is not how church leaders should act.
Enough already. Methodios and Barbas have done real damage to the New England parishes, people are tired of the control and the money games.
Father Kastanas did not disobey anyone! The parish wishes to know what is going on with our beloved priest. He did not contact anyone at all! In fact I contacted him to ask about the rumors that he was being dismissed, and he told me not to concern myself. You are exactly right though! Why are we (St. Athanasius Parish) scandalized with mere insinuations? The premise here is that allegedly one person is better or more holy than the other. I have been a member of our church St. Athanasius since 1979. Father Nick has baptized 2 of my children, and blessed my brother Alexandros soul, my wife Sofia's soul, and my father George's soul at our church, and at the cemetery. He has stood by me, and my family in our hours (Not hour) of need. I can't imagine this vital and important human being taken out of our lives because of someone's feelings being hurt or whatever 5, 10, 25, years ago. He is the first to say that he is a mere soldier of Christ and that his presence is not important in the big picture only Christ is. Church parishes not only choose their priest the members also have a say. The actions of the Metropolis are not very Christian in their actions. Are we not taught to do the right thing, to help people in need, and to give the other person the benefit of doubt, to be Christian in our actions? These actions by the Metropolis are not what our Church preaches. It's a disgrace that we have gotten to this point. I would also like to say, when my wife Sofia was sick Father Nick was there every time we needed him. He helped get many doctors top in their fields together (which doctors present were shocked that 6 people doctors so talented were there, and considered it a miracle they were there all at the same time). He was there in all his strength, his suggestions, his love, and kind words. When Sofia my wife, Theia Spyridoula, and I landed at Logan Airport coming from Mexico in hopes of a treatment, I called Father Nick at 4AM. He picked up the
Bring back Father Nick!!
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Καμία εμπιστοσύνη πια. Η στάση τους έχει κουράσει τον κόσμο και οι ενορίες υποφέρουν.