Date: 05/06/2024
Reference Number: 140-PR-24
PRESS RELEASE
The statement below is made without prejudice and all allegations referred therein are supported with appropriate sworn signed affidavits, factual irrefutable documented evidence and extensive investigation.
On the 24/1/2024 the St Albans Community Committee via its President Areti Akamatis, agreed for His Eminence to go on holidays after Easter to see family in the UK. This was confirmed in writing via email on the same date and via subsequent recorded conversations with its President, Mrs Akamati. On these conversations the only condition Mrs Akamati imposed was not to inform its members until "the last minute of His Eminences’ departure". Although His Eminence protested against such a misleading notion, He complied and departed on the agreed date. Whilst His Eminence was overseas, received a “Termination Letter” from the Committee, with no prior warning, no explanation and no other relevant documentation provided. The letter was not physically signed, as required, and did not comply with Corporate legislation; as our Archdiocese and the St Albans Community had a written signed agreement based on Contractual Legislation. Therefore, the “termination of contract” and not the termination of His Eminence, was invalid. Subsequently Mrs Akamati made a Church announcement (and not public) last Sunday stating that, the “cooperation was terminated because we were unable to see eye to eye”. This malicious excuse of statement is categorically, unequivocally and irrefutably denied by our Archdiocese as we have legitimate reasons to believe that; the termination of contract was the result of a devious and immoral act, as it was done whilst His Eminence was overseas, with no chance to defend Himself or our Archdiocese; in order to silence His Eminence after their Committee received repetitive letters from us with various concerns. These concerns in the past, raised issues of mismanagement, breach of professional standards, absence of policies required by legislation, breach of professional boundaries, non-disclosable conflicts of interest of its committee members as required by the Incorporation Act, deceptive and misleading acts against their members, acts and processes that breach their own constitution, financial misappropriation, sale or gift giving of items belonging to members of the Church, oppressive behaviour, public votes of no confidence, sexual harassment, deceitful acts against their Members, intrigues, cover ups, undeclared conflicts of interest and a major upcoming investigation initiated by the Commissioner of Children and Young People against their Community. After three attempts in writing by our legal team with proposals of solutions and reconciliation and/or mediation, their Committee ignored them, did not respond and further did not even allow His Eminence to stay the night of His arrival at His place since He arrived very late at night by changing locks in the buildings. As a result of these unlawful and unethical acts, our Archdiocese discontinued any affiliation with Aghia Paraskevi and has initiated legal proceedings, against them to both VCAT for breach of Contract and the Magistrates Court for oppressive behaviour and the request to remove this Committee by Court Order. Subsequently, a detailed online personal press release from His Eminence Archbishop Nektarios will also be uploaded, in Greek at His Facebook page and YouTube Channel.
All further requests for information can be submitted only in writing at
For and on behalf of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia & New Zealand
Jeff Campbell
Legal
