SALT LAKE CITY (UT)
The Salt Lake Tribune
By Mike Gorrell | The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Aug 08 2013 12:02 pm • Last Updated Aug 15 2013
By official decree, rites marking the Feast of the Transfiguration were allowed to take place Monday and Tuesday in the Salt Lake Valley’s two Greek Orthodox churches, Holy Trinity and Prophet Elias.
But that’s it, for the time being. There won’t be any more Sunday services. No baptisms or weddings, either.
Metropolitan Isaiah, the Denver-based Greek Orthodox leader whose region includes Utah, recently ordered the three clergy members serving the community to “immediately suspend all priestly ministry to the parish.”
“They are not to celebrate any liturgy, sacraments or services whatsoever,” he added, later modifying the order to permit the priests to conduct the Great Vespers, Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Transfiguration. “This includes Sunday liturgies, beginning this Sunday, Aug. 4, and all scheduled weddings and baptisms.”
His directive came after the cash-strapped Parish Council voted July 29 to cut the pay of the three priests by 40 percent to balance the 2013 budget.
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