Grace Unbound: Memoir of an Orthodox Bishop Who Takes the Roads Not Taken

"The first step of any great journey can be the riskiest one of all."

So begins the descriptor on Amazon.com for Grace Unbound: The Sacred Activism of an Orthodox Bishop (published May 2025). The book is a co-authored memoir/true story by Bishop Demetrios C. Kantzavelos (also referred to as Bishop Demetrios or Fr. Demetri) and Patra McSharry Sevastiades, with a foreword by Bill Kurtis. It chronicles Bishop Demetrios's personal journey as a Greek Orthodox priest in Chicago who unexpectedly becomes a prominent social activist, grounding his work in Christian faith, compassion, and the belief that every human life is sacred and made in the image of God.

The narrative centers on two pivotal encounters that transformed his ministry. The first took place in 1992, amid the height of the AIDS crisis. The newly ordained Fr. Demetri visited Bob, a dying man abandoned by his own parish priest due to fear and stigma. This act of compassion sparked his calling to AIDS ministry and the founding the Bishop’s Task Force on AIDS in the Greek Orthodox Diocese (later Metropolis) of Chicago. It became the first such Orthodox Christian initiative in the western hemisphere, offering resources, workshops, and pastoral care. Despite initial resistance and skepticism within his own church, the effort expanded nationally, addressing misinformation and providing support during a time of widespread fear.    

Seven years later, in 1999, Fr. Demetri was called to visit Andrew (Andrew Kokoraleis), a convicted gang member on death row for a gruesome murder (part of the "Ripper Crew" case). Andrew, who maintained his innocence and had a tragic background, became a focal point for the priest's advocacy. Grappling with moral complexities—justice for victims, empathy for the condemned, societal demands, and Christian mercy—Fr. Demetri visited him repeatedly, appealing to the governor, and ultimately joining broader efforts to halt Andrew's imminent execution. When clemency was denied and the execution proceeded, the experience propelled him into an 11-year campaign against the death penalty in Illinois.  

The book weaves these stories with reflections on faith, resilience, redemption, and the true cost of living out the Gospel. It argues that social activism—ministering to the sick, imprisoned, and marginalized—is not a departure from Orthodox tradition but a reclamation of it, confronting "social unrighteousness" while affirming life and human dignity. Themes include internal church struggles, interfaith collaboration, personal doubts, family moments, and mentorship from figures like Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago. 

In Grace Unbound, Orthodox Christianity provided the spiritual foundation for Bishop Demetrios’s activism, following a call to live out Christ’s love through service and compassion, as highlighted in the book’s themes of sacred activism and empathy. The faith’s focus on theosis—becoming more like God through acts of love—underscores Demetrios’s efforts to minister to marginalized individuals like Bob (dying of AIDS) and Andrew (on death row for murder), showing how Orthodox principles can inspire social justice. Co-author Patra Sevastiades’s storytelling captures this blend of faith and action, making the book a powerful example of Orthodoxy’s relevance in addressing modern challenges.

Through Patra and her husband Dean Casperson, who live here in Duluth, I've  learned a few things about the Greek Orthodox Church that I'd not known before. For example, the Greek Orthodox Church broke off from Roman Catholicism in 1054 and made Constantinople its center, an event called The Great Schism. Unlike the Roman branch, which gives all authority to the Pope, the Eastern church rejected papal supremacy and governs through bishops, with the Patriarch of Constantinople as first among equals, not a ruler. There are several theological differences as well. In addition, Greek Orthodox priests can marry, whereas Catholic priests make a promise to remain celibate.

The Greek Orthodox emphasis on compassion, community, and spiritual depth is the primary driver for Demetrios in Grace Unbound. Its rich traditions and focus on personal transformation align with themes of empowerment and purpose, encouraging readers to see faith as a catalyst for meaningful change, much like Demetrios’s journey.

I'll close with these excerpts from reviews on Amazon.com.

Bishop Demetrios has written a compelling, deeply personal and highly engaging book that would appeal to ANY reader of non-fiction. Grace Unbound is written from a faith-based point of view but does not demand or assume belief from the reader. It's an easy read that draws you in quickly. It's grounded in lived experience – part memoir, part true crime, and part history and the result is inspiring, thoughtful, and surprisingly accessible to anyone interested in human stories, moral complexity and justice.

* * * 

What makes Grace Unbound particularly powerful is its balance of timeless truths and timely relevance. Whether reflecting on Scripture, personal stories, or the challenges of contemporary life, Bishop Demetrios draws the reader into a conversation that is both intimate and universal. His message is clear: no wound is too deep, no distance too great, and no soul too lost for the reach of God’s grace.

* * * 

The book blends theological reflection with personal anecdotes and practical examples, illustrating how Orthodox Christianity can inspire meaningful engagement with social issues and community needs. Bishop Demetrios advocates for a dynamic faith that goes beyond institutional boundaries, urging believers to embody Christ’s love through active service and social justice.

For more information or to purchase: Grace Unbound: The Sacred Activism of an Orthodox Bishop

Law and Order Matters: Inner City Retailers Close Doors and Head for the Hills

I don't know a lot about the grocery business, but it's my understanding that the margins are thin. This story about Target crossed through my inbox at the same time as I heard people talking about Chicago discussing the opening of a government run grocery store because six grocery stores have fled the South and West sides over the past two years:

Stocktwits Daily Rip
26 September 2023
Big-box retailer Target continued its precipitous decline today after becoming the latest company to close some stores due to violence and theft. 

The company said it will close nine of its nearly 2,000 U.S. stores after struggling to control crime and safety at those locations. The impacted cities include New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, and Portland. 

In a news release, it said, “We cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests and contributing to unsustainable business performance.” Interestingly, unlike other retailers who have closed stores, Target explicitly called out retail crime as its primary reason for the decision. 

During its second-quarter earnings in mid-May, CEO Brian Cornell said organized retail crime had risen in its stores and that overall shrink would impact full-year profitability by more than $500 million. He also reiterated back then that the company did not want to close stores. But evidently, the problem has become bad enough to close at least these nine stores and likely review others.

* * * * *

Crain's Chicago Business

Supermarket closings are the latest blow to South and West side neighborhoods
The closing of three South Side Walmart stores in the spring disheartened residents who already face limited options for fresh produce, meat and pharmacy goods. It was the latest blow to neighborhoods that earlier had lost two Target stores and, more recently, the Whole Foods in Englewood.

* * * * *

Fox News
17 September 2023
Chicago mayor considers creating city-owned grocery store after Walmart, Whole Foods close stores in the city

Chicago is exploring a city-owned grocery store after several closed in the past year citing millions in annual losses

The mayor’s office said that "Historic disinvestment has led to inequitable access to food retail across Chicago, and these existing inequities have been exacerbated as at least six grocery stores closed on the South and West sides over the past two years."

Message to Chicago: Fix the crime problem and you will have grocery stores.

* * * * * 
San Francisco Retail Scene
According to the San Francisco Standard, over 39 retail stores have shuttered in San Francisco's Union Square area since 2020. This represents a significant decline in the number of brick-and-mortar stores in the city's downtown shopping district.

* * * * * 

When protesters shout DEFUND THE POLICE, one has to wonder how that will motivate retailers and grocers to remain in these neighborhoods. Shoppers like to feel safe, and businesses need to make money in order to pay their staff. In fact, employees need to feel safe as well. No one should have to put their life on the line in order to get a paycheck.

Anybody want to recommend solutions? Leave your comments below.

Powerhouse Chicago Tribute Band DTA Puts On A Show at the West

In addition to being a wonderful venue for movies, the West Theater on Central Avenue has also become a very special musical venue. On Thursday evening we were treated to a fantastic concert by the DTA (Duluth Transit Authority) performing the music of Chicago. 

When I was a teen we lived next door to a musical family, the father a professional trumpet player. The eldest son was likewise an excellent trumpet player. Young trumpet players immediately key in on songs with brass. Kenny drew our attention to the trumpet part in the Beatles's Penny Lane. And he was a super big fan of the Chicago Transit Authority, whose hits included Saturday in the Park, 25 or 6 to 4 and many more. 

I can't say enough about
Marshall and Manny.
These kids have a future
if they play it right. 

The DTA proved that they were not only exceptionally talented, but also super tight. What impressed me was the range of ages, from 18 to 84 (just kidding, but somewhere in the late fifties or thereabouts). What also struck me was how the young people in this band were getting some truly great experience as regards how to work in a band, how to entertain a crowd and how a band leader keeps everyone in sync. 

When I spoke to Paul Lemenager, lead singer on many of the numbers, he said that was a deliberate part of their schtick. The experienced members are consciously mentoring the younger.

Here are the members of the band, stage left to right front (band POV):

Tanya Moore, vocalist, keys

Julia Collins, vocalist

Paul Lemenager,  vocalist

Greg Moore,  keys, alto sax

Joe Anderson,  bari sax, flute

Will Collins, trombone

Steve Siegel, trumpet

Jacob Burkhart, trumpet

Second row, left to right rear:

Ian Hopp, drums

Tommy Kishida, Conga

Manny Eisele

Center:

Marshall Dillon, guitar

The energy displayed was impressive. It bubbled out from within the performers and flowed over the audience. The song selection was perfect, too, as they opened with a Feeling Stronger Every Day that you couldn't help but smile to.

Paul, flanked by Tanya and Julia.

Other songs on the playlist included Saturday in the Park, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, We Can Make It Happen, Wishing You Were Here, You Are the Love of My Life (My Inspiration), Only the Beginning and many more. It was interesting that they incorporated Vehicle into the playlist, by the Ides of March. 

If you were a Chicago fan when you were young (that is, if you're old now) then you really appreciated their skill and versatility. And if Chicago was before your time, well, this was a truly great introduction to one of the classy bands of 50 years ago.

Kudos to the band, and to Bob Boone for his renovation of this classic venue.

 

The Chicago Race Riots of July 1919

One of the best ways to find good books cheap is at spring garage sales near college. Graduating students are oft in a hurry to discard some of the belongings they accumulated. If you're lucky, and it happens, you'll find some real gems for pennies on the dollar.

Last night I started re-reading a short volume called The Chicago Race Riots, July 1919 by Carl Sandburg. It was one of a dozen books I picked up for a dime each from a Hamline grad when we were living in the Midway in St. Paul.

If the Sandburg name sounds familiar, it may be because of the two Pulitzer Prizes he won as a poet. Or it may be because of the Pulitzer he won for his renowned biography of Lincoln. I had not realized at the time I picked up this volume that he was initially a journalist. This printing includes a preface by Ralph McGill and an intro by the legendary Walter Lippmann.

I fetched the book off my shelf after reading a section of Don't Know Much About History pertaining to the post-WWI South. It's painfully depressing to read about the raw treatment blacks have received at the hands of whites.

* * * *

In the Deep South cotton was king, until the boll weevil came along. Few of us today realize how devastating the boll weevil infestation was. If you're like me, you may have thought boll weevils were a problem cotton growers had always had to contend with.

The weevil had been a plaque in South America but over time came north through Latin America and Mexico to become a major problem after the First World War. The way this critter works is that it lays its egg in a cotton boll. The newly hatched baby weevil then chews up the inside a bit and thereby kills the boll. Farms that produced thousands of bales of cotton were soon producing hundreds of bales. While the Roaring Twenties roared up North, the Southern economy was in a tailspin.

This, combined with Jim Crow laws, now set in stone, led to an exodus of workers seeking employment in Northern Rust Belt cities.

This led to another problem. Racism in the North wore a different face. If you were black, you couldn't live just anywhere you wanted. The Chicago black population had been 50,000 at the beginning of the century, but with this influx of families thru the decade there were 125,000 blacks in the Windy City by 1919. (It took more than four decades to place laws on the books that would permit a black family to choose where they could live.*) The lack of housing, Chicago politics and post-war psychology all contributed to the events that happened in July 1919.

There were also riots in other cities. (Photo: East St. Louis)

For blacks who stayed in the South at this time, prospects weren't exactly comforting. Ralph McGill, in his preface to this book, cites three incidents. In Blakely, Georgia, April 5, 1919, A Private William Little returned to his hometown after the war via train. He was "met by a band of whites who ordered him to remove his uniform and walk home in his underwear." When he continued to wear his uniform (because he had no other clothes), he was found dead, "his body badly beaten, on the outskirts of town. He was wearing his uniform."

A few weeks later, in Shreveport, Louisiana, a train was held up by an armed mob in order to lynch a black man who had written a note to a white woman. Only after he was shot did anyone seek to find out whether he could read or write. He could not.

Another example from two weeks after that was cited in McGill's preface but it was so horrible I'm not even going to share it. The account begins, "Lloyd Clay, Negro laborer, was roasted to death last night." A mob of 800 to a thousand men and women removed him from a jail...

McGill's preface was to the re-issued 1969 publication of Sandberg's account, 50 years after its original publication. He laments that race relations, in spite of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965, were not wholly better. This (1969) was only a year after the  assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the race riots that shook more than 100 cities.

* * * *

The event that triggered the Chicago race riot of July 1919
A black youth accidentally floated on a raft across an invisible line at a segregated public beach shared by whites and blacks. The boy was stoned for his mistake by whites, knocked off the raft and drowned. Blacks rushed to get help from a policeman to address what had happened. The policeman refused to do anything. Fighting broke out  that spread throughout the overcrowded black neighborhoods which Sandburg called the Black Belt. After three days 20 blacks were dead and 14 whites, plus hundreds of injured.  (The Encyclopedia of Chicago states 23 African Americans and 15 whites.)

* * * *

Sandburg's book is more about the conditions that set off the riot so that it went viral through the black community. This is why the book discusses lynchings in the south. Chicago was a receiving station connected to every southern region. After every lynching somewhere in the south, Secretary Arnold Hill of the Urban League said, about two weeks later there would be more "colored people from that community" arriving. "You can depend on it."

It was this feature of Sandburg's story struck especially close to home when I read it. In my New Jersey hometown of Bridgewater we had a small section that was known as Hobbstown which consisted of two parallel streets about four blocks long. Bridgewater was a mid-to-upscale developing suburb when our family moved there in 1964. As I understood it Hobbstown started somewhere around 1920 or so.

As it turns out, this spring I discover a book about the community called Hobbstown: A Forgotten Legacy of a Unique African-American Community. As it turns out, Sandburg's description of how more blacks came north each time there was a lynching down south is precisely what triggered the birth of Hobbstown. The Hobbs brothers lived in Georgia (if I recall correctly) and worked as sharecroppers. One of the brothers was a reverend. At year's end their pay, minus expenses, came to nothing. After a lynching, and this ridiculous financial arrangement, one of the Hobbs brothers decided to go north to New York.

The New York situation was as overcrowded as Chicago, but as luck should have it, a woman showed up who said there was land in New Jersey. Hobbs sprang for it. He and his brothers were soon building a future in Bridgewater.

* * * *

It's been a hundred years since the Chicago race riots of 1919 and the book it spawned. Next summer Duluth will be having a remembrance event of its own with regard to the lynching which took place here in 2020. Much has changed over the past century, yet much has not. There is still a lot of pain and anger, frustration and fear.

The promise of social media was that it would bring us all together, but it seems to have done more to drive us apart. It was a false hope.

What is needed is imagination and love, and a willingness to step outside our comfort zones. And a decision to become our better selves.

Related Links
Tamara Tabel, Historical Novelist, on the Race Riots of 1919
The Lynchings in Duluth by Michael Fedo


*Even with the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, racist attitudes made it difficult for black families to buy homes in many areas of the country. When I was in college at Ohio U (1970-74) a black family bought a home in the county adjacent to Athens County. They were the first black family in the county, and their welcoming went something like this. Windows broken with rocks. More windows broken and vandalism. I do not know the end of the matter, only that to hear of it was pretty darn sad.

Local Art Seen: Jean--The Inspiration Behind The Birkenstein Movement

Small wonder that Robin Washington ended up on the board of the Duluth Art Institute. His mother was an artist. And this fall, through December 3, Jean Birkenstein Washington's work is on display in the Morrison Gallery here at the Duluth Art Institute.

To fully appreciate this show, and by extension Robin Washington, a former editor of the Duluth News Tribune, it's helpful to understand the context of Jean's work.

Jean Birkenstein (1926-2003) was a Jewish artist who in the 1950s and 60s was active in the Civil Rights movement. Married to a black poet and the only non-white household on their block no doubt made for some interesting dynamics. Add to this that her house was a safe place where members of Chicago's leading gangs--the Vice Lords and the Cobras--would meet must have been unettling for the neighbors.

Jean was not only an officer for CORE and the NAACP, she led numerous protests and sit-ins for open housing and against de facto segregation in Chicago's public schools.

Of Jean Birkenstein, Jet Magazine described her as "an artist with a profound respect for human dignity.

"While a teacher at Marshall High School on the city's west side," Washington writes of his mother, "she became an 'ambassador' to the schools for two street gangs, the Cobras and the Vice Lords - the latter signing her on as card-carrying member. She turned her home into a community center for the gangs, an activity noted in a 1961 Jet magazine feature article about her that was illustrated with her paintings of African American and Native American slaves."

She also had a passion for animals, and when she passed was buried in a pet cemetery.

Part of the exhibit includes clippings of Jean's activities outside the studio.

Robin Washington as a youth. (I wasn't the first artist
to paint my children.)

In some ways the DAI show is more of a love tribute to a mom who was more than a mom, a remarkable woman to sought to make a difference in the broken world she saw around her. Washington remembers being five and six years old going to sit-ins with his mother.

Jean's paintings reflect her passions, Robin himself being one of them.

Much more can be said, but I will let some of the paintings do some talking. There is a LOT of work on display and the current show, in conjunction with the Minnesota Black Artists show on the landing, is worth your time to go see. And it's free.

* * * *
Related Links
My Mother’s Fight for Education Rights: The Story of Jean Birkenstein Washington
A brief bio As Remembered by Robin Washington
Renowned storyteller now leads Duluth Arts Institute

Sherry Karver: Art and Life in the City

Add San Francisco artist Sherry Karver to your list of artists to watch. I discovered her work through one of the eNewsletters I receive called ArtsyShark.

EN: According to your artist statement you've always lived in big cities. You were born in Chicago. Did you grow up there as a kid? What are the pros and cons of being an artist in the city?
Sherry Karver: Yes, I was born and raised in Chicago until I went away to college. It was a wonderful experience growing up there, and I would move back in a minute if it was just a bit warmer in the winter! The pros of living in a large city were that I attended the Art Institute of Chicago classes as a kid, and got to explore the museum and downtown every weekend. I could take the ‘El’ train by myself (those were the days when kids could safely be outside alone), and hang out on my block or on the beach with friends. Can’t think of any cons – I guess I’m just a big city girl!

EN: How did you end up in San Francisco?
SK: I ended up in Oakland (across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco) in a bit of a ‘circuitous’ route. I got my B.A. in Sociology from Indiana University, then opened a pottery shop under the ‘El” in Chicago for 4 years, then moved to New Orleans for grad school and got my MFA at Tulane. After that I got a 2 year teaching position at San Diego State University which brought me to California, then a 3 year position at Chico State University in Northern CA. This was a small town so I knew I had to leave, and the Bay Area was the logical choice. I was tired of following university teaching jobs and decided to settle where I wanted to be and where the weather was nice. Had friends in Berkeley and the rest is history.

EN: Your current work blends photography, digital technology, painting and narrative text. How did this process evolve? I find it quite evocative.
SK: My photo-based work with narrative text evolved out of my ceramic wall sculpture. I know that must sound odd, but I was a ceramic artist for 20 years, doing figurative 2D work that I painted and epoxied to boards. At one point I started to leave more and more clay sections off the boards and paint directly on the board. Eventually I left all clay off! About that time I got a computer and Photoshop, and since I had always done a bit of photography I started to explore that more. It was a gradual transition. Although I still teach ceramics part-time, I no longer exhibit that work, but would like to have a ‘retrospective’ someday where I show both ceramic wall sculpture and my photo-based work together.

EN: Your current work blends photography, digital technology, painting and narrative text. How did this process evolve? I find it quite evocative.
SK: I began writing text on some of the figures in my photos as a way to give characters their own voice, since we all have a story to tell. By writing little fictional ‘biographies’ on the figures it makes them stand out from the crowd – a theme that has always been important in my work. The idea came to me when I printed a photo from the newspaper and the text came through from behind because the paper was so thin. I hadn’t noticed that before. In most cases I write in third person, giving a description of what I think somebody is like – what they do for a living, their age, their hopes, dreams, fears, etc., and often something embarrassing or funny that they wouldn’t want anyone to know. This is all fictional! In some instances I write in first person, getting into the head of what the character is thinking.

EN: One of your previous shows was titled Figuratively Speaking? What was the primary thread that held those pieces together and what attracted you to that theme?
SK: The show title “Figuratively Speaking” was a play on words. Since my work is figurative, and I have text on several individuals in each piece, it is as if the figures are speaking, or thinking, at least metaphorically. It was also a little humorous and I like to have humor in my work too. The thread that holds most all of my work together is the concept of the crowd, and how we can stand out and find our own unique voice – something I try to do myself.

EN: You've lived in a number of cities, including Chicago, New York and New Orleans. Is SF a final stop on your American life journey or do you envision more moves?
SK: Yes, I’ve lived in a number of cities but will most likely stay in Oakland since I have an amazing huge studio here. My husband, writer Jerry Ratch and I bought the Rockridge Women’s Club a number of years ago and converted it to a live/work space. I have 25’ ceilings, huge windows, and great light. But, we would like to figure out how to live in New York half the time or at least a few months of the year. That would be ideal! New York is the only other place I have a desire to live in.

EN: I enjoyed your Amusement Park Series and the Light Box & Plexiglas Series. Tell us about the Surveillance Series.
SK: RE: my Surveillance series. In this series I am using both downloaded photos from public Internet Webcams in different parts of the world, and images from airport x-ray screening machines as the sources for my photo-based oil paintings and suitcase installation. In this current period of our history, the idea of constant surveillance has taken on new meaning and urgency. It raises many questions: Is big brother watching us? Is it for our own protection? Are we really voyeurs, and how far will it all go? To some it may seem like an invasion of their privacy, and to others, it may add a feeling of security, especially after 9/11. I am not trying to answer these larger questions myself, but rather to use these images within a fine art context, regardless of what their political implications might be.

EN: Last question: why is art still important in our contemporary world?
SK: I would like to think that art is still important in our contemporary world. I certainly hope so. There are many people exploring different artistic mediums, some of which weren’t around fifty years ago, or even twenty years ago. Art changes, but it is still a means of self-expression and creativity that goes back to cave painting days. It is unfortunate that art programs have been so drastically cut from elementary and high schools, as it’s been proven that they help students think, develop motor skills, right brain activity, and express themselves in different ways.

* * * *
Follow Sherry Karver's career by bookmarking her website and noting what's new at sherrykarver.com/

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Dig it.