Memoirs of Peter Boudoures Chapter 32 Attempts to Have Fr. Lokis Elevated to Bishop

Fr. Basil Lokis

During this period of time and thereafter, Father Lokis used all means possible to persuade His Eminence, the Archbishop, to convince the Patriarch in Istanbul to appoint him Bishop of San Francisco with the West Coast as his territory. Father Lokis felt that since I had met with and knew the Archbishop that I could help him get ordained.

Around that time I was elected, or perhaps appointed, I don't remember which, to the Supreme Council of the Archdiocese of the Greek Orthodox Church. It was comprised of a mixture of people, some laymen and some clergy, who were acting as the Board of Trustees for the affairs of the Archdiocese in New York City. On a number of occasions I traveled to New York for meetings of the Board of Directors. Once or twice a year I had to attend meetings of the Mixed Council, composed of clergymen and laymen for matters of the church. Occasionally I spoke to His Eminence, Archbishop Athenagoras, regarding the vacancy of the Bishop in San Francisco. I explained to him that in order for the church to achieve its goals in this section of the country, it was necessary to have a bishop of the type and caliber of Father Lokis who really had all the qualifications to do the job. Each time his Eminence would explain to me that he agreed, but that it could not be done for some time for economic reasons. He specifically mentioned that, as I well knew, the financial condition of the Archdiocese was low and it could not stand the burden of $5,000 a year for an additional bishop.

I tried to explain to him that the country was too vast to run everything from New York. I went on to explain that whenever problems and disagreements existed between a priest and a church board of trustees, it took too long to resolve them because of the distance. I explained that the church was no different then a commercial enterprise with its headquarters in the East and regional offices in the West. It needed superintendents and managers to oversee the local territory. I explained to him that I was sure that the proper bishop would not only cover his expenses but would leave a surplus. Furthermore, he would achieve what the church was endeavoring to do, namely, to keep the Greek-Americans in the church and to teach the Greek language and religion to our children. Each time I brought up the subject the answer was the same, not now.

At a subsequent conference, I believe it was in Detroit, I raised an issue on the floor that I considered significant. I asked that the priests be permitted to deliver their sermons in English. I also asked that some of the ceremonies, especially marriage and baptism be in English as well, for the benefit of the younger generation. My reasoning was that we would eventually lose those people who could not understand the services, and all our efforts would have been wasted. I pressed the issue very much. His Eminence, in a nice way asked me not to demand something that was out of his jurisdiction. He thanked me for my opinion, but he pleaded for me to drop the issue. I knew that if I pressed the issue I would lose because no priest would dare to vote for it and most of laymen, out of respect for the Archbishop, would do likewise.

Sometime later a regional church conference for the eleven Western States was held in San Francisco at the Annunciation Church on Valencia Street. Again I brought up the subject of the vacancy to His Eminence of the vacancy and told him that at the time I was willing and able to deposit $20,000 in an account to cover the budget for the Bishop for the next four years. I did this because I wanted to bring this question to a head and to see what the Archbishop would say. He answered that he could not accept that, that it was below the dignity of the Archdiocese and that I should be patient and wait. So the issue was put aside for awhile.

Later in the year of 1941, during a Sunday sermon at the Valencia Street Church, (then called the Annunciation) an incident took place which caused some consternation. Father Lokis, as was his habit, spoke and elaborated on the issue of the day from the reading of the Bible. This particular Sunday he spoke on the issue of communion and the need for confession. The church was packed, 700 or 800 people. When he concluded his sermon he said "I know that it is necessary before any of you receive communion that first you should go to confession. This time, however, you are going to kneel and beg God to forgive you and me and all of us. You all then will receive Holy Communion, provided however, that I have this promise from you, that you will faithfully carry out this vital sacrament of confession in the future."

While he was explaining this to the people, I was standing in the back of the church towards the center by the main entrance, facing the altar, before which Father Lokis spoke. Right behind him was the elderly priest, Father Spyropoulos, who had been there for many years, and who had failed to draw crowds. He was the one who was there when the church developed terrible financial problems which ultimately resulted in bankruptcy. I could see in his face that he disapproved of what Father Lokis was saying.

As Father Lokis went inside the altar to pick up the communion cup, the other priest stepped forward holding a small book in his hand. He said, "All is well said by Father Lokis, but let's see what St Basil said on the subject." He no sooner was through with that, that I jumped to the conclusion that something bad was going to happen. I don't know what prompted me, but I shouted back at him, "Father, let's not mention what St. Basil said. No one asked you to participate in this matter. Nobody asked you to explain to us what St. Basil said. Please close the little book and go sit down inside the altar and do not speak." Fortunately for him, for me and for all concerned, he obeyed my suggestion and went inside. Father Lokis came out and everyone went up for Holy Communion. When the service was over, everyone left enthused.

Shortly afterward, I talked with Father Lokis about the incident with the other priest. He wanted to know what happened because he didn't hear what had gone on. I told him that probably the other priest was jealous because of the tremendous support people were giving Father Lokis and he tried to take advantage of the situation to belittle him. I also told him that I didn't know if he, Father Lokis, had the right to do what he did, but apparently it was the right thing because he created a tremendous impression on the people about the necessity for confession and communion. It helped the attendance of the church. I told him that if the older priest did not believe this was ethical or correct and it was in violation of the rules of the church, he could bring charges to the higher authorities and let them decide.

Immediately thereafter I phoned the office of the Archbishop in New York, but he was absent. I spoke to his first secretary, a priest, and eventually Bishop, Kavathas, who had served in San Francisco and who was then with the Archdiocese in New York. I explained to him what had happened and asked him to immediately transfer the other priest from our church to avoid dissention and possible troubles. It was done and the issue was closed.

(Fr. Spyropoulos was transferred to San Diego where he had a long and distinguished career. There, he was instrumental in developing a large and prosperous community.)

Shortly thereafter, Father Lokis received word from Istanbul that His Eminence, Archbishop Athenagoras, had sent in the name of another priest, from Chicago, Fr. Irineos, to be ordained as Bishop of San Francisco. Father Lokis asked me if I would be willing to send a telegram on his behalf to the Archdiocese, which I did. At any rate, the telegram did not help the matter and we learned that the other priest was to be ordained in New York and sent to San Francisco.

Father Lokis was an excitable character and rightly so at this time. He was a convincing person and he asked me what I thought he should do under these circumstances. I felt that Father Lokis should have been promoted and that he was the man who could have helped us tremendously. I did not want to lose his services because he really was, as I have said before, a wonderful priest and a fine worker. I suggested that we call a meeting at the church and invite four or five other people. We called Tassos Mountanos, publisher of the California Greek Newspaper, Dr. Peter Angel, the late Dr. C. A. Abramopoulos, Angelo Papoulias, John D. Vellis and, I believe, Chris Katon.