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The National Herald - August 7-13, 2010

Archimandrite Karambis Suspension Rescinded in a Secret Vote

By Theodore Kalmoukos

Archimandrite Gabriel Karambis at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Manhattan, | during the time of Archbishop Spyridon.

BOSTON – The 2008 suspen- sion of Archimandrite Gabriel Karambis of Houston, Texas, after he said he was being blackmailed –and photographed- by a masseur he had hired, and a former Antiochian priest, has quietly been lifted without any reason or explanation being given. When Fr. Karambis was suspended, church leaders said it was for reasons “that had to do with his own personal life and how it negatively reflected on the holy priesthood.” The news of the revocation was announced in the July 2010 edition of the Orthodox Observer, but The National Herald has learned the decision was taken during the April 2010 meeting of the Holy Eparchial Synod and kept secret by the Archdiocese. No mention was made in the official announcement after the Synod’s meeting in April.

It was said in the Synod that Karambis’ reinstatement should be done quietly. When Archbishop Demetrios visited Chicago in May, where Fr. Karambis has lived since he was placed on suspension and ordered to stop serving at the Annunciation Cathedral in Houston, the Archbishop did not invite him to co-celebrate the Liturgy but instead allowed him to receive Holy Communion in the altar. The ecclesiastical order and tradition calls for clergy who do not take part in the Liturgy to commune in the altar after Bishops and priests commune. Fr. Karambis continues to be under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Metropolis of Denver under Metropolitan Isaiah.

In February of 2009 the Holy Eparchial Synod called in a special session by Archbishop Demetrios and acted as a second Instance Spiritual Court that ratified the suspension imposed on Karambis by Metropolitan Isaiah and the Spiritual Court of the Metropolis of Denver. Church leaders now though, do not want to discuss the case or the lifting of the suspension. The Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Bishop Andonios of Fasiane, told The National Herald that: “What I know is that the Holy Eparchial Synod decided to rescind Fr. Karambis’ suspension,” and said that, “Metropolitan Isaiah is in charge.” To the question why the suspension was rescinded and what has happened since it was imposed, Bishop Andonios said: “I do not know, this is the decision of the Eparchial Synod, I do not participate in the Synod.” Neither Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver nor Karambis responded to The National Herald’s telephone messages.

The curious case began when church leaders in December 2008 unraveled the story that Fr. Karambis admitted having hired a masseuse off the Internet because the priest said he was having some physical problems and needed massage therapy. Fr. Karambis reportedly had three massage sessions at his residence. Shortly after, he alleged he was being blackmailed by his masseur about photographs and paid $38,000 to him and a former Antiochian priest. Karambis was at one time a powerful church leader and  | one of the closest associates and friends of former Archbishop Spyridon. It was suspected that the former Antiochian priest and the masseur knew each other. At a Synod where the suspension was approved, 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 by inviting Archimandrite Karambis into the Synod’s room. Visibly contrite, Karambis did not attempt to justify or to deny anything. 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 them. 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,” despite the confession and the photographs.

The members of the Synod agreed and merely 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. Instead, the Archdiocese only released a press statement that said:

“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.”

When the suspension was imposed, Metropolitan Idaiah of Denver wrote that, “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.’”

[ The National Herald - August 7-13, 2010 - p. 4 ]