Memoirs of Peter Boudoures Chapter 33 An Independent Diocese

Fr. Basil Lokis

At the meeting the issue was discussed. Since I was the outspoken leader of the group. I said to Father Lokis, "There is one of two things you can do. One, you can stay where you are. We don't like it for you to go. Wait your turn, it's got to come. They cannot keep you from becoming a bishop because you are, by far, the best priest that I've known. Or two, we could break away from the Patriarch of Istanbul, and request the Patriarch of Antioch or of Jerusalem to ordain you as bishop. We could form our own diocese, same as the Catholic churches do where the Bishop reigns supreme in his section, and go on to do a bigger and better job. Eventually we could ask other areas in the West to join us."

Up to that time I was more or less known as a rebel. I had advocated that some of our chapters of AHEPA break away from the National Organization and form a California Order of AHEPA. We were sending a lot of per capita tax to the headquarters back East but the presidency was never given to a Californian, even though there were people in California that were well qualified. We never did break away, even though I thought we would be better off, because other members of different minds disagreed with me and nothing came of it. I suggested the same thing for the church. They all agreed.

After considerable discussion, it was decided that the following Sunday, after Father Lokis finished preaching his sermon, he would introduce me to the people present so that I could explain to them the current circumstances. I was to advise the people that we should break away from the Archdiocese; that we would send a telegram to his Eminence that we no longer recognized him as our spiritual leader; and, that we would no longer send money to New York. We would ask the Patriarch of Antioch to appoint Father Lokis as Bishop of San Francisco. With the money that we would save by not sending it to New York, we could establish a separate headquarters here and preach the same gospel. By keeping all the monies we collected here, we could better serve the people. We could increase the membership, build more churches, build more schools, build an orphanage, build an old folk's home and do so much more. If the congregation approved by anything above 65% we would go on with the division. If, however, we met with opposition we would forget the idea and go on as we were.

Sunday came. Father Lokis introduced me, or rather presented me to the people. He asked them to wait a few minutes and informed them that I had an important message to deliver. I proceeded to explain to them what we had in mind to do and what I thought we could achieve by breaking away from the Archdiocese. In a few words I explained to them that from 1910 to 1941, for over thirty years, we had been sending money to New York and received very little representation or benefits. As a result we were in great need of leadership. I cited examples of commercial enterprises whose headquarters were in the East that had branch offices out here. Some of the branch offices were doing better than the main offices. I told them that the only way to develop the goals that we were all anxious to achieve, such as schools, churches, old folks homes, and such, was to establish a diocese of our own. That way we could keep our money here. To my surprise, when I asked those in favor to say "Aye," a unanimous thundering of "Ayes" resounded. When I asked for "Nays" only one voice said "No."

(Editors note: The only person to vote "no" was Theodore J. Nicou, a tailor who had his shop 431 Clement Street. He specialized in quality, hand made, custom suits. Though quiet by nature, he was well educated and well read. His sole negative vote earned him the lasting respect of the Greek Community.)

This was our signal. This was our indication to go for it. With the help of Father Lokis, I prepared a telegram to His Eminence, Archbishop Athenagoras, informing him of our action and what we intended to do. We, then, began to prepare plans to go to the nearby communities of Oakland, Fresno, Sacramento and others, to enlist their support in founding our diocese. We would then solicit the support of the communities in the other Western States.

We did not reckon, however, with the determination of our Archbishop Athenagoras of New York. He wasn't going to accept losing the communities in the Eleven Western States from his kingdom. He immediately started telephoning Father Lokis to get him to change his mind.

This happened on approximately the 2nd or 3rd of December, 1941. Four or five days later was the 7th of December, that black day in American history, when the Japanese navy sailed secretly to Pearl Harbor and did tremendous damage to the American Fleet. It was necessary for Congress and the American President to declare war on Japan.