Glenview church rallies after former priest charged with theft of $1.2M

By Todd Shields
Chicago Tribune
May 20, 2015

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/glenview/news/ct-gla-greek-priest-tl-0521-20150520-story.html

The Rev. Panagiotis Boznos has presided over Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Glenview since August 2014.

Rev. James Dokos, left, and attorney Patrick Knight in a Milwaukee County courtroom on July 18.

Parish leaders and the new priest of a Glenview church are reaching out to members after their former priest was charged with felony theft stemming from his time presiding over a Milwaukee church.

The Rev. Panagiotis Boznos, who was named priest at Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in August 2014, said his congregation "has been hurt and they've been vocal about that hurt."

Previously, Boznos was assistant priest to the Rev. James Dokos, who has been charged with mishandling more $100,000 from a trust fund worth $1.2 million that was left to his Milwaukee church. He is awaiting trial.

Boznos said the alleged scandal has been difficult on his church members, but recently they began meeting with ministry and parish council leaders.

"The next phase will engage the entire parish in a series of surveys and consensus. We'll gather information and put together a strategic plan," he said.

Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church serves 650 families in Glenview, Northbrook, Skokie, Evanston, Deerfield and Chicago, he said.

"I want our parish to become a united, worshipping community," he said. "Given our history, we need to work on that and re-emphasize worship in our parish and work on other projects here.

"We want to look forward to the positive things we do as a church, instead of being stuck in muck and mire."

An in-house audit of his church's finances has been conducted, finding no improprieties, Boznos said.

Boznos said he was surprised when Dokos was charged, but the two priests worked well together.

"My interaction with him was always beyond cordial. He always had me and my family in his best interests," he said. "It's easy to spend seven nights a week here at our church and get pulled away from your family. He always made sure I was taking care of them."