Archbishop Spyridon, we hardly knew you

[Joseph D]

So the chronology is:

1) Archbishop Spyridon, American born, retired

2) Archbishop Iakovos, Greek born, retired

3) Archbishop DEMETRIOS? Current?

How long was Archbishop Iakovos archepiscopal ministry? Three years? Four?

Please forgive my utter ignorance on this. I converted to Orthodoxy while Archbishop Spyridon was head of the GOA. He was removed amidst some unlcear circumstances and I, coincidentally, went turned to ROCOR about that time. Is my chronology above actually correct? It does not seem possible, somehow.

Sincerely:
Joseph

[Anastasios]

Joseph,

It's a confusing subject so don't be too worried.

The correct chronology is:

Archbishop Athenagoras 1930's-1940 (the same one who went on to be patriarch)
Archbishop Michael 1950's
Archbishop Iakovos (for almost 30 years) 1960's-1996
Archbishop Spyridon 1996-1999
Archbishop Demetrios 1999-present

Spyridon was the only one born in America.

anastasios

[romiosini]

Lord Have Mercy!

[Anastasios]

Sorry, though; I was meaning retired... But yes, the Spyridon issue is far greater than just the wanting of Father Ephraim to come in America. He wrote a book actually, (If I am correct his spiritual daughter wrote it, Justina Fragoulis) which is his biography and the reasons why he was made to retire and leave the Archdiocese.

I am sure he omits certain things though. Either way, the situation was bad.

anastasios

[romiosini]

Lord Have Mercy!

[Gregory2]

My dad told me once how much archbishop athenagoras was revered back in his time. Indeed, President Harry Truman loaned him Air Force One to fly to Turkey when he was being installed as Patriarch of Constantinople! (Greeks love Harry Truman..... his policies back in the late '40's largely helped Greece from being overrun by the communists. There's a statue of Harry Truman in Athens to this day.)

i remember it being exciting back in 1996 when archbp spyridon was being installed, since he was the first "american-born" greek archbishop in the americas, one who grew up in florida and played american high-school football! I grew up with archbp. iakovos as primate, and could never really relate to him. whenever I heard him speak, it was always in Greek! (discouraging for me, since i consider myself american). it's sad how things turned out, but God is in charge. most of the time now, i worship with the OCA.

[Joseph D]

http://www.tganews.com/modules.php?name ... e&sid=2776

Archbishop Spyridon from Portugal is having statements for the Patriarchal Synod. This might interest whoever is interested in knowing about Archbishop Spyridon.

I am not sure I understand what "statements" Archbishop Spyridon has made since no effort was extended by the author of the above article to quote him, and thus the very title of the piece is more than a little misleading. The irregularities of the Patriarchal Synod, which are listed in the article, seem like problems enough and wanting of correction, however.

Yet, I am still confused as to why Archbishop Spyridon was forcibly retired. The inpenetrability of the topic smacks of petty intrigue. On the other hand, the people most concerned with it seem happy enough with Archbiship Demetrios, or whomever their new elective master may be if they did not stay in the GOA Church. Either way, it seems apparent if only to me that not many cried their eyes out when Archbiship Spyridon was ousted [which on its face seems strange, but perhaps just to me].

For some reason, and it may just be me inasmuch as I am not Greek myself, but I felt at the time it was happening that it was almost as though by being born in America, Archbishop Spyridon was somehow just not Greek enough for the post. But that would be a truly insane reason to have forced him from his throne! So, I began to wonder about it recently, hoping to find a genuine explanation. I nearly detect that whatever the pivotal conflict(s) may have been, it was not meant to be published for public scrutiny at any rate.

Thank you all.

Sincerely:
Joseph