A video posted by the so-called “Archbishop of Australia and New Zealand”, Nektarios, in response to the termination of his cooperation with the Greek Orthodox Community of St Albans, has caused outrage.
In the video, lasting almost an hour, Nektarios makes sordid and incredible accusations involving members of the Community’s Board of Directors and former clergy.
Neos Kosmos does not intend to make public Nektarios’ allegations regarding personal matters.
When asked if it is appropriate to make personal matters public Nektarios told Neos Kosmos:
“Since personal details affect me as a hierarch and as a human being, I do not intend to keep anything secret.”
The president of the St Albans Community, Areti Akamatis, did not want to comment to our masthead on Nektarios’ allegations, saying that “we do not wish to lower the standard”.
Among the many allegations Nektarios makes, he has accused the board of changing the locks on the house he was provided while he was abroad, so that when he returned from a long trip he was unable to enter and had to seek the help of other people.
He also speaks of “financial irregularities” in the Community saying he “has evidence” and will seek legal action to have the current board shut down.
He goes so far as to accuse the board of turning Aghia Paraskevi church into a “brothel” («οίκο ανοχής»).
Akamatis told Neos Kosmos that Nektarios’ complaints have been given to a lawyer who will review them and advise the board accordingly.
She also told Neos Kosmos that the police have also been informed and are investigating the whole matter.
“I wish they would do all this,” was Nektarios’ response to Neos Kosmos, adding: “So the truth will shine through.”
According to the secretary of the community, Mr Zafiris, the rift, started when Nektarios (Nikolaos Alexandratos) was asked to explain himself and present evidence of who he really is.
Nektarios claims that those who started lying about him, (that he was married and that he had another name) are mainly some clergymen who spread these allegations and have been convicted.
“I have posted evidence on the internet that refutes all these allegations,” he told Neos Kosmos and suggested that “the evidence will also be presented on Plato Denezakis’ show.
For now, the church of Aghia Paraskevi will operate with Father Phoebus, a priest who was ordained by Nektarios and who is now threatening to depose him.
“I shouldn’t be interested in anything but getting my pension in two years and going to my monastery in Asia,” Nektarios said, while at another point saying he may join the Alexandria Patriarchate.
From his indictment Nektarios excluded Father (Papa) Lefteris of whom he said that “there was no special and warm cooperation” between them.
Father Lefteris himself told Neos Kosmos that he was not under the so-called “Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand” of Nektarios.
“I have made a manoeuvre to save the St Albans Community and Aghia Paraskevi Church but also to keep our young people close to Orthodoxy,” he said.
He stressed that he belongs to the Greek Orthodox Brotherhood “Aghios Paisios” and only commemorates the “Great Hierarch”.
Nektarios claims that “Archbishop Makarios did not ask for the title of the church of Aghia Paraskevi and stressed that all the communities that joined the Archdiocese have prospered”.
He urged the faithful not to go to Aghia Paraskevi and go to other churches and stressed:
“I will drag them to court and their tribute will be paid.
I will enter the community with the court paper, kick them out and I will be the administrator.”
And addressing the board he said (in Greek):
“You will not know which way to leave” («Δεν θα ξέρετε από που θα φύγετε»).
