By Theodore Kalmoukos
Pokrov
February 28, 2009
http://pokrov.org/display.asp?ds=Article&id=916
BOSTON– It was revealed during the Holy Eparchial Synod's meeting that Archimandrite Gabriel Karambis, the former priest of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Houston, Texas, claims that he has been a victim of blackmail by a masseur on February 18-19, 2009.
Archimandrite Karambis, was removed from his priestly duties and was placed on liturgical suspension in December 2008.
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| Members of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese at the Clergy-Laity Congress in Nashville, Tennessee in 2006. |
Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, in a letter to the Annunciation Cathedral Parish of Houston dated December 26, 2008, informed the parish that Rev. Karambis was removed from his priestly duties, placed on suspension and sent to the Spiritual Court of the Denver Metropolis.
He stated in his letter that "the reason I relieved him of his duties had to do with his own personal life and how it negatively reflected on the holy priesthood."
The Holy Eparchial Synod convened in a special meeting and acting as a Spiritual Court presided over by Archbishop Demetrios of America, did not decide Fr. Karambis' defrockment, as was initially expected, but it simply verified the Liturgical suspension which had been already placed on him since December by Metropolitan Isaiah and the First Instance Spiritual Court of the Metropolis of Denver.
In an official Press Release issued on Thursday, February 19 by the Archdiocese, it is stated that "The Holy Eparchial Synod, having carefully reviewed the case of Fr. Gabriel Karambis, with profound sadness confirmed the decision of December 23, 2008 of the Spiritual Court of First Instance of the Holy Metropolis of Denver, by which the suspension from all priestly duties and ecclesiastical functions was imposed."
The Synod arrived to this decision despite the fact that there were photographic images and also that Fr. Karambis himself admitted the events.
According to the discussions in the Synod and also the information that The National Herald has received from Houston, Archimandrite Karambis found from the Internet a masseur and retained his services, since as he said, he was
facing some problems of physical anatomy and from time to time had massage therapy.
Archimandrite Karambis had three massage sessions at his residence. Shortly after, Fr. Karambis alleges he was being blackmailed by his masseur about photographs. A little later a former Antiochian priest also allegedly blackmailed Fr. Karambis. The one time powerful priest who was one of the closest associates and friends of former Archbishop Spyridon, paid $38,000 to his blackmailers. It is suspected that the former Antiochian priest and the masseur knew each other.
All the members of the Synod were present except Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco who was absent "due to illness" according to the Archdiocesan Press Release. The members of the Synod heard the information and saw the photographic material. At some point, Archbishop Demetrios surprised them all by inviting Archimandrite Karambis into the Synod's room. Visibly contrite, he did not attempt to justify or to deny anything. On the contrary, he admitted that he was getting the massage service, that it was him pictured in the photographs, that he had been blackmailed and that he paid $38,000 to his blackmailers.
After Fr. Karambis departed from the Synodal room, the question was what would be done with him, and Archbishop Demetrios allegedly said that "we do not have evidence." The members of the Synod agreed and simply verified the Liturgical suspension which had been already placed on Fr. Karambis. Many attempts by The National Herald to communicate with Archimandrite Karambis were unsuccessful. A written request sent to Archbishop Demetrios of America to comment on the Fr. Karambis case and the Synod's meeting went unanswered.
The following is the entire News Release sent by the Archdiocese.
"On February 18, 2009, the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of America convened in a Special Session, in its capacity as Spiritual Court of Second Instance in order to review the case of the Very Reverend Archimandrite Gabriel Karambis.
"His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios presided. Present were the following Synodal Metropolitans: Iakovos of Chicago, Maximos of Pittsburgh, Methodios of Boston, Isaiah of Denver, Alexios of Atlanta, Nicholas of Detroit, and Evangelos of New Jersey. Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco was absent due to illness.
"The Holy Eparchial Synod, having carefully reviewed the case of Fr. Gabriel Karambis, with profound sadness confirmed the decision of December 23, 2008 of the Spiritual Court of First Instance of the Holy Metropolis of Denver, by which the suspension from all priestly duties and ecclesiastical
functions was imposed.
Following the Special Session of the Holy Eparchial Synod, the meeting continued with the added participation of Bishops Savas of Troas and Andonios of Fassiane, during which discussion ensued and decisions were made regarding the
theme of the 39th Clergy Laity in Washington, DC, and the Regulations of the Holy Eparchial Synod.
"The following day, the Synaxis of the Hierarchs continued and reviewed the following issues: Guidelines for ecclesiastical courts regarding ecclesiastical divorces, internship of the celibate clergy of the Archdiocese at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and policies and procedures regarding youth ministry programs."
The following is the initial letter of Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver dated December 26, 2008 in its entirety.
"Beloved in the Lord,
In this life joys and sorrows are always with us. Yet in our Christian life, we know that no sorrow is lasting, but only the joy which comes from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is why our Lord came into the world: to do away with evil and sorrow and to grant to all believers His joy and His peace which will be eternal.
"At this time your beloved parish is experiencing sorrow which I pray and hope is only temporary. We are all members of the Body of Christ, His Church; therefore, no one can ever take away the joy which our Lord Jesus Christ has given to us. Nevertheless, I am deeply saddened to inform you that your former proistamenos, Father Gabriel Karambis, was relieved of all his priestly duties by me by letter on December 12, 2008. A Spiritual Court of the Metropolis of Denver, convened on December 23, 2008, concurred with this action, and farther recommended that the case of Father Karambis be reviewed by the Spiritual Court of Second Instance (Eparchial Synod).
"What I wish to share with you is that the reason for Father Karambis' suspension had nothing to do with the parish or the parishioners. His suspension does not pertain to any financial improprieties against the parish, nor to any misconduct involving minors or parishioners.
"The reason I relieved him of his duties had to do with his own personal life and how it negatively reflected on the holy priesthood. Since this is the only criterion I used in my responsibilities as your Metropolitan to excuse Father Karambis from his duties - a decision which he also understands - please allow him to deal quietly and constructively with his issues, no matter how painful they are.
"I urge each one of you to continue to pray for the growth and
progress of your holy parish, so that it will always be a shining beacon of hope and of salvation for God's people who are members and who attend for purposes of prayer. Please,
also pray for Father Karambis and all people of faith who continue to struggle in this life to ward off the temptations of evil 'and the snare of the devil' (1 Timothy 3:7), and to remain committed to Christ, His Church and His coming Kingdom."
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