c. 1999 Religion News Service

UNDATED _ The embattled head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America emerged Tuesday (Jan. 12) from a showdown meeting in Istanbul called to deal with demands he be removed from office with the strong backing of the only man who can force him out.

During a five-hour, closed-door meeting at the Phanar, the Orthodox Christian compound in Istanbul that’s home to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the international Orthodox Christian leader, the five presiding bishops of the American Greek Orthodox church reportedly called for Spyridon’s removal _ and were soundly rebuffed.

Greek-American sources said the ecumenical patriarch _ who appointed Spyridon to head the American church in 1996 _ pointedly told the bishops, known in the church as metropolitans, that Spyridon is”the archbishop forever. This is the archbishop until his death.” Spyridon loyalist John Catsimatidis, a New York businessman who is vice chairman of the Archdiocesan Council, an advisory body to the archbishop, said the meeting”affirmed that Archbishop Spyridon is in charge. I thought it went very well. Now we can proceed with healing, I hope.” But those calling for Spyridon’s ouster said they were disappointed by Bartholomew’s decision and would continue to oppose the archbishop. One dissident who declined to be identified said”this is a black Tuesday for us.” Dean Popps, a spokesman for Greek Orthodox American Leaders, Inc. (GOAL) a lay dissident group, said Tuesday’s developments raise the specter of schism within the archdiocese.

He noted that two parishes in Maine and Vermont have decided to withhold their scheduled contributions to the archdiocese’s national treasury. Other dissident parishes are now likely to follow suit, he said.”I know that in many parishes and in many quarters in the Greek Orthodox church, discussion about leaving the archdiocese is being had reluctantly,”Popps said.”We’ve been told take it or leave it, and we won’t just take it.” Virtually since his arrival in the United States, Spyridon has been at odds with elements within his church, which claims 1.5-million members. Critics call him an autocrat unwilling to consider the desires of those who want a more democratic American church in which laymen and priests have a stronger say.

Although born in Warren, Ohio, Spyridon has spent most of his 54 years in Europe. His critics say his traditionalist views about hierarchical authority are common to Orthodox churches abroad, but are unsuitable for independently minded Americans who have outgrown their immigrant beginnings.”It’s east versus west,”said Popps.

Spyridon’s supporters have argued that those opposing him are a disgruntled minority angry over having lost their power in the church with his arrival. However, as the dispute has festered, the opposition has grown.

Archbishop Iakovos, Spyridon’s predecessor, charged the church”is in the process of being torn apart”by Spyridon’s actions, which have included an unprecedented lawsuit against church dissidents to prevent them from using the archdiocese’s mailing list.”We are losing the church,”the five metropolitans said in their own statement opposing the lawsuit. In yet another open letter, more than 100 archdiocesan priests criticized Spyridon _ who was not named directly _ for ignoring church procedures, engaging in”autocratic and abusive treatment of people of all ranks”within the church, and acting”by means of authoritarianism, intimidation and refusal of responsible discussion.” Tuesday’s meeting marked the second time in recent months that Bartholomew has met with Spyridon on the issue at the Phanar. Following a late summer meeting, there were reports the Phanar’s 12-member bishops’ synod had urged Spyridon’s removal, only to be overruled by Bartholomew.

At the latest meeting, Bartholomew reportedly reprimanded both Spyridon and the metropolitans for allowing the dispute in the archdiocese to escalate publicly.

Bartholomew reportedly told both sides to return to the United States and work out their differences.”We demand love, cooperation and synonoesis (mutual understanding),”the Greek-American newspaper National Herald reported him as saying.

The ecumenical patriarch also directed that bishops be speedily appointed to fill vacancies in the dioceses of Detroit, Atlanta and New Jersey. Spyridon was told to draw up a list of possible appointees for Bartholomew from which he will choose.

The effect will be to dilute opposition to Spyridon within the archdiocese’s Holy Synod of Bishops _ which at this point is in an unprecedented state of open revolt by all five current metropolitans against the archbishop.

In what Popps described as”a bone,”Bartholomew also said proposed additions to the archdiocese’s charter that address increased lay participation should be reviewed.

In a statement released after the meeting, which was also attended by the Phanar’s synod of bishops, Spyridon said the session”reaffirmed the commitment and dedication that all of us have for the Archdiocese of America.”

DEA END RIFKIN