Catsimatidis Open Letter Urges Archbishop Demetrios to Resign

John Catsimatidis, a businessman and benefactor of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, called on Archbishop Demetrios to resign in an open letter.

Catsimatidis, who hosts the "Cats Roundtable" show on 970 AM radio, cited "financial mismanagement" and said "I have never seen a worse crisis than what we are facing now," according to The National Herald.

He pointed to a delay in the building of a church at the site of the 9/11, claiming the Archdiocese misused funds and priests’ pensions.

"Saint Nicholas at Ground Zero should be our crowning jewel; instead we are a national embarrassment," he wrote, according to the Herald.

Catsimatidis told the New York Post that Demetrios, 90, has lost credibility and that there are donors "willing to put up another $10 million to $20 million to finish the stalled St. Nicholas project. But they won’t do it under his leadership."

A former vice chairman of the Archdiocesan Council, Catsimatidis accused the archbishop of "holding on to his office at the expense of the Church."

Born on the Greek Island of Nisyros, Catsimatidis launched his career with Red Apple Supermarkets and has diversified his business to include energy, aviation, retail and real estate sectors, according to his website.

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