New-York tribune., 1922-02-05
They Point Out That
His Opponents Attacked
VcnizelOs W lille He
Was Aiding the Allies

very reason mat Lhe NerlEClOo f,0V2fn
ment did not use any pressure upon the
conscience Of tac Judges, Bishop Ger
manos was ouly condemned TO ak
months suspension. Later on ne was
exiied n few months to the Island
Crete, because it was proven that ne
was conspiring against the national
cause. What would happen to him in
other countries? As regards the cleo
tion OF Mcletios as Metropolitan Of
Athens vol say that he was chosen
by the new Synod, wh;ch gas formet
out Of csnonicsl bishops Of the Chnrc5
OF Greece.
"Bishop Geynanos himself .ecos-
nizcd Meietios Us canonical Metropol-
tan Of Athons. Hc listed daily the
Metropolitan a: his poiacc. asked aul
received his permission ~ oHiciate II
different churcheg Of Ath ems; he opo,.o
RICHLY Of his c.oouence, his ability and
his zeal; he also did this on September
it, 1920. There Wac 9 gathering Of
more than forty bishops in toe Cutlc-
Jral OF Athens, and metropolitan Meie-
t.o5 Was conducting The service. On
that occasion Bishop Germanoe e~as
With great enthusiasm, Many, many
years "a our father and prelAte, the
Most Reverend Metropolitan Of Athens
Melstios'
an spite Of all this, tnc Bishop Of
Sparta aow comes TO declare tia, Mc.c-
tios Was never canonical Metropolitan
Of Athens. Tnis is not O. change in
ones point of view. t is 8 matter Of
character. He could not hide the tl.ing
that regulates his attitude, his opiu-
IONS and judgment. In his interview
ne had to confess that the ecclcsias IT,
cal question in Greece has cone 10 be
political affair. Only in this way coa
We explain now Bishop Gerrcauos char
actorizes the friendly behavior Of the
Episcopaliane Of America toward sac
metropolitan OF Athens Meletios. ae
could not Use thisc Kind OF language
Il he had The Last sense ot pronr:e.-.
Asserts Greek People Are
Not Against Patriarch
"Io return to the question: q, tie
new ecumenical patriarch, is it ro5 true
that TIC Greek people arc against him
The pepolo IN Greece canno. be against
the election Of Patriarch lIe.ctios. OnA
must net forget shat in the elections oe
November, 1870, tho Venigelist party
gained many votes IN the large c:siaa
and Andustrisl ccnters Of Greece. It
"a3 the vote o. tho poascnls ,Aat vent
10 tAe opponents Of Vea;zelos. \ new
govern Mcnt calac 10 power, but this
vas more than a year aeo. Since tnan
many uppieaaaHt things have happened,
'Ff'ch changed to great extent The
Feelings and sympat.ies O. the roas.
antz. IL the history Of tae GreeS "a
:ion there is :ot a. instance o. gov
crnmenc which could survive when ii
failed III tho administration OF nations.
affairs; therefore, the Bishop Of Sparta
is wrong alao in his conclusions on
tila polt;ca. iield. But aside from This
the Greel1 people remember ver5. well
the good things which Meletios as
metropolitan Of Athens has done Tor
them. They .amempe- his eloquent.
earnest sern.ons, his devot;on, his
efforts to elevate tfe standard Of re-
li@;ous LIE. lie founded ti.e orphan
asc of the church, many Charitable in
stijutions and scn,inaries.
who has taken his place. rneo-
h'ctos, who is the persoN;acaron Gf re-
action and VAC has done nothing Tor
tnc revival OF religious l:fe. As regards
lhc Greek government, | am sure that
II will unuers stand that lis hostility ira
the patlarchical question carroe but
damage its prestige.
"Now there is tne question o. those
Mctropoitans Of the Ecumen;cal
Throne who protested against the elec-
zion. In IS much as they constitute
tho minority their protest is o. no
use. In the end they vill recognize
him. otherwise they ruN the risk az
losing their Dioceses. can say, aov,-
ever, basing my hopes on their pstr:-
otisn' and churchmanship, that they
will hasten 10 come to the side os the
Patriarch and support him in his great
struggle which he has to fight for The
good of the Great Church Of Christ
end Of the unredeemcd Hollenisn.
"Out Of The l9o GrceL churches in
the United States eighty recogn;ze Ger
menos as their bishop and only forts
arc loyal to Bishop Alexander Of Rodos-
to!on. i one believes Gernanos. But
exactly the opposite is the truth. anl
recognized by L total Of eighty-rwo
priests, as this has been proven during
the convention OF The Greek priests IN
America. which WAS held n New York
IN September, 1891.
Bishop Germanos has been imposed
on The American Greeks by The Greek
government which supports him, while
|, with more than eighty priests, am
supported altogether By the free will
offerings of our people
"lt should be sufficient TO say thxt
metropolitan Paton, Archbishop Of
hherson and Odessa, long resident
III Athens, and Who knows conditions