From the new Calendar magazine “O STAVROS"
Vol. 509 (Feb. 2006)
Athens, Greece
http://esphigmenou.com/Bartholomew/Bart ... 0visit.pdf
http://esphigmenou.com/Bartholomew/Bart ... %20USA.htm
During the recent visit of His All Holiness to Florida in the United States the prices of the Patriarchal Treasury were pushed to the sky. According to the program of the organizing Committee of the community of St. Nicholas in the city of Tarpon Springs, there was to be no free contact of the faithful with the Patriarch.
Contact with him demanded the following sums of money from all those who were interested in meeting with His All Holiness:
For turning over the sum of $75,000 our “Orthodox people” would be able to buy a "Certificate of Christian Virtue”; to receive the Title of “Whitegold Benefactor”; to have their name written in the Program Book; to have an opportunity to personally speak with the Patriarch and to have their picture taken with him; to participate in a luncheon and dinner given in his honor; and to receive 30 commemorative coins with the Icon … of the Patriarch! (What a coincidence! The thirty pieces of silver Judas received for his betrayal!)
By giving the sum of $50,000 people would be able to receive the Title “Gold Benefactor” with the same benefits, but with only 20 Commemorative Coins.
With $25,000 , the donor would receive, the simple Title of “Benefactor” and 10 Coins!
With $10,000 one would only get the Title “ Donor”!
The ticket to have lunch with the Patriarch cost $75.00
The ticket to have diner with His All Holiness was $200 while the song concert ticket price depended upon the row of where you would be sitting; their price, $150, 100, 75, 50, 35, and $30.
The local newspapers also reported this unbelievable, insane and extremely scandalous and antichristian item: “All parents who want to have the opportunity for their children to kiss the hand of the Patriarch, must each pay $200, because this is going to be a unique experience in their life, to kiss the hand of His All Holiness.”
“Let the children draw near me, as long as they show that their parents' paid for the ticket!...
Where are you Holy Apostle and Fathers!
Where are you Martyrs and Confessors of the Faith?
Where are you Lord Jesus Christ, to come and once again raise up the whip against these Christ-merchants, who have turned your House, not the Jewish Temple, but your Church, which you built with your blood, into a “house of merchants” and a “den of thieves.”!
