Ex-Elmhurst Church Leader Steals From Fund: Cops

ELMHURST, IL – A former president of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Elmhurst was arrested in connection with stealing money from the church, authorities said Friday.

Peter Barkoulies, 68, of Addison, was charged with felony burglary to a place of worship. His bond was set at $100,000.

The church has a memorial table where parishioners can insert money through a slot as a donation to the church.

Barkoulies, who was president from 2019 to 2021, stole money from the table four times between Dec. 8 and Jan. 25, DuPage County prosecutors said in a news release.

He accessed the table using a key he had received when he was president, but never returned at the end of his term, as required, prosecutors said.

Police said Barkoulies stole $700 from the church. Church officials contacted Elmhurst police after they became suspicious of the missing money, police said.

Barkoulies was arrested Thursday afternoon. He was taken to the DuPage County Jail, where he remained Friday, records show.

"Mr. Barkoulies’ alleged betrayal of trust to this religious institution is very disappointing," Elmhurst Police Chief Michael McLean said in the release. "However, the church community should be thankful for the proactive cooperation between church leadership, the Elmhurst Police Department, and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office to stop these thefts from continuing and bring the individual allegedly responsible to justice."