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GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
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Email: communications@goarch.org

For Immediate Release
November 2, 2005

ARCHDIOCESAN COUNCIL HOLDS FALL MEETING IN BOSTON

Boston, MA - The Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of
America held itâ??s Fall Meeting in Boston, MA at the Marriott Long Wharf on
Friday, October 27 and Saturday, October 28, 2005.His Eminence Archbishop
Demetrios of America presided at the Council Meeting which was preceded by
the Executive Committee Meeting on Thursday, October 26.

The Archdiocesan Council Meeting began with prayer in which recognition was
made of the heroic day of October 28, as OXI Day for Greece, the day in
1940 when the people of Greece said â??NO!â?? to the fascist army of Italy
which wanted to conquer Greece.

The service was followed by the Opening Address to the Council by
Archbishop Demetrios, reporting on some of the significant events since the
last meeting, which was held in May, including the recent edifying retreat
gatherings of the National Presbytersâ?? Retreat and the National Sisterhood
of the Presvyterasâ??.  He continued by stating that two recent important
Conferences were held at Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School
of Theology, â??Poverty in the Ancient Church and Todayâ??	and â??Christian
Spirituality and Violence in the Contemporary Worldâ??.  He also spoke
enthusiastically about the recent Clergy Laity Conference of the Metropolis
of Detroit in Southgate,  MI which he attended.

Archbishop Demetrios continued his Keynote Address with a report on a
recent Conference he attended at the Ecumenical Patriarchate that was
organized by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the
members of the European Parliament who belong to the Peopleâ??s Party
(Christian Democrats).	This Conference, with participants from a number of
European countries, offered an opportunity to remind the Government of
Turkey of the deplorable way the Ecumenical Patriarch is treated in and to
encourage correction of four major items that are points of conflict and
torment for the Patriarchate â?? namely recognizing the title Ecumenical for
the Ecumenical Patriarchate,  affirming the legal status for the
Patriarchate, stopping and reversing the confiscation of properties and the
reopening of the Halki School.

He continued by announcing that the Order of St. Andrew of America recently
awarded the Athenagoras Human Rights Award to former USSR President Mikhail
Gorbachev, and, on behalf of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, bestowed the
title of Archon, noting that Mr. Gorbachev was extremely moved for this
honor by the Greek Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Archbishop also spoke on the de-Christianization of society and the
responsibility Orthodox Christians have to offer our faith to the world.
He stated, â??We are in conditions that place us in a necessary course to
produce and to offer, in the strongest way, our Orthodox faith and our
universal Hellenic inheritance to the world.â??

He informed the Council that the Holy and Eparchial Synod has approved a
standard version in Greek and English of The Lordâ??s Prayer and The Creed
that will be distributed to our parishes nationwide and closed his remarks
by reminding the Council Members to be vigilant and alert to the attacks on
our faith, so that we will be able to offer to our children the rich legacy
of the Greek Orthodox faith.

Mr. Michael Jaharis, Vice Chairman of the Archdiocese Council offered his
remarks to the group, stating that the outlook of the Archdiocese has
improved since the last meeting in response to a number of new initiatives
including the current SWOT Survey (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and
Threats Survey), the restructuring of Communications to better communicate
the message of the Church, and the improving of our Information Technology
to reach out to others.  He continued by stating that the financial outlook
of the Archdiocese has also improved considerably.  He closed by thanking
the members for their commitment to the life of the Church.

The Friday session of the Council was then recessed to allow the Standing
Committees of the Council to meet and discuss future goals and recent
progress of the institutions and ministries of the Archdiocese.

Saturdayâ??s session of the Council Meeting began with a joint report by
Youth Ministry, Outreach and Evangelism and Marriage and Family.  The
Meeting continued with the Report of the Finance and Administration
Committee.  The Committee reported that the financial status of the
Archdiocese has improved due to the increase in Total Commitment Revenue, a
contribution towards legal fees and settlements, and a reduction in
operating expenses.  With these efforts the Committee reported that the
debt of the Archdiocese has decreased from $9.9 million in December 2004 to
$7.4 million as of September 30, 2005.	The Committee also stated that
despite the tremendous financial constraints, the Archdiocese has been able
to develop new programs and initiatives and continue to offer ministry to
our faithful and parishes nationwide.  Also affirmed by the Council was the
sale of former Archbishop Iakovosâ?? home, with proceeds being designated for
the enhancement of programs and ministries of the Archdiocese, not for
reduction of debt.

The Meeting continued with a report by William Planes on the upcoming visit
of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Tarpon Springs, FL
in January 2006 and an invitation to attend this celebration.

The Administration Committee presented a final draft of the Disclosure
Policy and Disclosure Statement (Archdiocesan Council, Metropolis (Local)
Council and Parish Council) which was approved.  The Committee also offered
new guidelines for Archdiocesan Council Meetings and sub-Committee Meetings
to assist all sub-Committees in their ministry and in fulfilling their
goals.

Other reports were presented by the Committees of Religious Education which
announced the completion of a new Teen Curriculum, Communications which
discussed the need for better Public Relations and more frequent issues of
the Orthodox Observer, Technology which stated the goal of securing the
history of the Archives digitally, and Greek Education which offered
information about the upcoming teacher training seminar.  The goals and
results of the SWOT Survey were also discussed.  The SWOT is an initiative,
by the Archdiocese, to review and evaluate the ministries and programs of
the Archdiocese in order to facilitate a smoother and more efficient
national outreach and to develop a strategic plan for the Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America.  Following these reports, Mrs. Dee Nicolaou,
President of the Philoptochos of the Metropolis of Atlanta, reported on the
relief efforts for the victims of the recent Hurricanes and the continued
need for assistance from faithful nationwide.  As of September 30, the
Archdiocese has raised over $725,000 for Hurricane Katrina Relief.

In his closing remarks, Archbishop Demetrios thanked the members of the
Archdiocesan Council for their commitment and work, restating the need to
have better communications in both process and language.

He continued by offering an insight into worldwide de-Christianization,
stating that de-Christianization is a result of apathy and causes spiritual
inertia, especially in view of the uncontrollable events that are happening
in this world.	He also stated that in spite of this apathy we are called
by God to be much stronger and remember what Christ said in the Gospel of
Matthew (26: 3-46).  He urged the Council Members, as faithful Orthodox
Christian, not to be asleep when Christ needs them most.   This
de-Christianization is a call to be alert and vigilant in order to offer,
through our Greek Orthodox Faith, the best of Christianity, as a salvation
and as a hope for all people.