“ο καθένα με τη γνώμη του”… really?

Yesterday I was at the feast of St Nicholas in Tarpon Springs, Florida and attended the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy served by His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta and Tampa Bay clergy. The Cathedral was overflowing with faithful.
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Something caught my attention and distracted me from my prayers, Fr Emmanuel Hatzidakis. 

I saw him carry the metropolitan’s omorforion during the Great Entrance, cense the artoclasia, and chant the Troparion of St Nicholas with his lovely chanting. We were not strangers. Our paths have crossed in the past. Most recently, online, his uncharitable anti-patriarchal rants have warranted response on several occasions as intellectually and objectively anemic. The fact that His Eminence allowed him to serve, and in a very honored position I might add, led me to believe that certain past indiscretions, published comments, and anti-patriarchal rants were being taken care of in the proper venue; within the ecclesial protocols of the Metropolis of Atlanta.  So, I let it rest and focused on the great feast and my prayers.

At the luncheon hosted by the Cathedral there was a dais with His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios flanked by Greece’s ambassadorial attaché and navel commander, local Bay area clergy, and other VIPs. I was seated at the adjacent table with pilgrims from California and was enjoying the fellowship and greetings of many individuals.

At one point I was approached from behind while seated. Addressed in a stern voice in Greek “κύριε Δαμιανάκη πώς είστε“ [Mr Damianakis how are you?] I replied in Greek, fine thank you. As I turned I recognized it was by Fr Emmanuel Hatzidakis. He asked me, rather contemptuously, if I had anything to reply; “Έχετε απαντήσει”.  Under the circumstances, I assumed he was referring to our exchange back in June to some public comments he published online which were also printed in Orthodox periodicals. I reacted to his anti-patriarchal rant publicly and was immediately challenged by the local vicar and told ‘he’ was being “taken care of” and everyone is entitled to his “opinion” (Fr Emmanuel served as psalti in the Cathedral at the time, unable to serve liturgies for other unrelated indiscretions).

I conveyed to Fr Emmanuel this isn’t the time nor place for us to discuss our differences, perhaps another time… whereby he muttered something as he walked away. I thought very little of this encounter and enjoyed the fellowship of local clergy, and visitors.

Today, bright and early I received a phone call from ‘kyria  Maria’ asking how is it possible? Is it true? “Is Bartholomew a Denier of the Tradition”? And why haven’t “you Archons” done something about it? After some consolation with facts, she says “έτσι μας λέει ο Πατέρας Εμμανουήλ” [“that’s what Fr Emmanuel says”]. So, I began to scratch the surface to find on December 3, 2016 Fr Emmanuel wrote and published an “Open Letter to the Archons” and on December 2 he wrote “How Bartholomew is walking away from Christ”

​Now I see why he had approached me as he did. Now his tone is comprehendible. Now I understand what he was after. However, before I respond to him, I must get certain facts cleared up?

Who was aware of these newly published writings the night before they allow him to serve the feast day celebrations? Accusing His All Holiness of “mixing up his priorities and departing from his Apostolic Commission”…

Is this individual so arrogant as to lecture the Archons “Are you sure that the faith proclaimed by Patriarch Bartholomew is the faith you have sworn to defend? How can you defend this Denier of the Tradition received by our holy Fathers? How can you justify your allegiance to this Betrayer of everything holy and sacred the Orthodox Church stands for? “  then approach me for a response?
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I need time to absorb the haughtiness and culpability which surrounds this new episode… the audacity. 

Fr Emmanuel Hatzidakis