NEW YORK – Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America recently sent Archdiocesan Councilmember Savas Tsivikos to the Ionian Village in Greece to look into the issue of unpaid contractors who worked on the Camp Center to repair damages caused by the September, 2016 tornado. They have filed lawsuits against the Archdiocese and the Village, whose director Rev. Evagoras Constantinides, is Bishop Andonios’ godson.
The contractors completed the work in May, 2017 but were not paid in full. According to their attorney, Sakis Kotsifas, one is owed €70,600, another €68,500, and a third a “significant amount.”
Tsivikos spoke with The National Herald about the matter. The interview follows:
TNH: What can you tell us about the issue of the Ionian Village?
ST: Everything is fine, there are some issues that we are looking into at the moment. Everything is manageable.
TNH: What is fine? The contractors have gone to the courts to sue.
ST: Fine, you know when you do a project there are differences, you can’t stop someone to do what he wants to do. Our purpose is to see what is the reality and to come to a settlement.
TNH: In what capacity did you go there? Did the Archbishop sent you?
ST: I went as a member of the Archdiocese in cooperation with Bishop Andonios.
TNH: You mean you went there as a member of the Archdiocesan Council?
ST: Yes.
TNH: So you were on an official mission, we can say?
ST: This is my job. Being knowledgeable on these issues, I went to see and to help so we can find what the reality is because someone can say that he did that much and it is another story if he actually did it.
TNH: Would you tell us your findings?
ST: I don’t want to go into details now. I know you chase these things, but there are some things that are not for publicity. What good would it do now to say that there is a dispute between two sides?
TNH: The members of the Church and the Greek-American community have the right to know everything that has to do with money, and, as a matter of fact, everything regarding the Archdiocese.
ST: You are correct. But it is not for the front page, though.
TNH: Leave that decision to us. You do your job. We didn’t ever tell how to your construction job; how can you tell us what to do?
TNH: These people did work based on contracts.
ST: We have to wait to see. This is what they say. Should whoever asks for money be given it without question?
TNH: You said that you went to Greece sent by Bishop Andonios. Did Archbishop Demetrios know about it?
ST: Certainly, yes. Why not?
TNH: When will you decide to pay the men in Greece?
ST: First we have to see what projects have they done. How much money was given. If the project was done and they should get money they deserve, they will be paid. But I don’t think you or anybody else are of the opinion that anyone who claims he has done something should get the money without examination.
TNH: We never said anything like that.
ST: You said before that they worked. Because someone did a job that costs one dollar and he demands twenty, should the Church pay him?
TNH: Of course not, we never said anything like that.
ST: We are trying to find the truth. Nothing more, nothing less.
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