The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America has cast doubts on the now-famous ”weeping icon” that was stolen from a small Greek Orthodox cathedral in the burough of Queens last week.
The archdiocese has long been at canonical odds with the leadership of St. Irene Chrysovalantou Greek Orthodox Cathedral, which is a member of a dissident sect of the Greek Orthodox Church that left the main body in 1924.
According to a spokesman for the New York-based archdiocese, the highest authority of the traditional church outside Constantinople, the wooden icon owned by St. Irene Chrysovalantou may not have been stolen, and, in fact, may never have shed a single tear.
”We have doubts about the tears and so on,” said Takis Gazouleas, the press officer of the archdiocese, which issued a news release describing the
”weeping icon” saga as ”an affront” to ”the Greek-American community.” He added, ”As for the theft, we would like to see the police report.”
Leaders of the congregation in Queens dismissed the archdiocese`s skepticism.
”If the saint belonged to them, it would be no problem at all,” said Bishop Vikentios of Avlon, the spiritual leader of St. Irene`s. The icon, which many believers said began weeping on the eve of the Persian Gulf war, has drawn thousands to the bishop`s church.
It also appeared to weep while on loan to a Chicago church.
”This is 100 percent jealousy,” the bishop said of the archdiocese`s skepticism. ”From the time the icon started to cry, they have been fighting with us.” Vikentios said he would sue the archdiocese and two Greek-language newspapers for ”defamation.”
The dramatic theft and recovery of the icon has divided the Greek-American community, enflaming the schism between the official church and its dissident sects.
Church leaders are particularly upset by the fact that city leaders attended a religious service at St. Irene`s to celebrate the return of the icon, which, in their eyes, lent legitimacy to a sect they believe has none.
”If you call the Greek Embassy, they will tell you they do not recognize their sacraments,” Gazouleas said.
The icon, estimated to be worth $500,000, was stolen Dec. 23 by four armed and masked intruders who broke the lock of its case, took it and fled in a car. It was returned last Saturday through the mail, without its gold, jewel-encrusted frame.
Detective Joseph Santori, one of the police officers assigned to the case, said he does not believe the theft was a hoax. ”Who is going to do something like that?” he asked ”The bishop? Nah.”
