The Greek Orthodox Archbishop Makarios of Australia has said that he, and other Church leaders, are not calling for the removal of Father Elftherios Tatsis of the Monastery of Pangia Kamariani in Red Hill, however, he advised that it would be a “heroic act” for the priest to leave the church after several efforts to talk to him concerning his repeated public criticisms of the Church had failed.
In a statement released on August 21 concerning Fr Elftherios, the Archdiocese said: “It should be noted that neither the Archbishop nor the Bishop of Sozopolis ever told Fr Eleftherios that he would be removed from his position, nor did they ever talk to him about resigning.
They always advised him to comply with the laws of the State and with the instructions of the Archdiocese. …The Archdiocese categorically denies that there was any thought to move Fr Eleftherios from his position.”
The statement went on to ask parishioners to reconsider their support of the priest: “In the face of this sad situation, the Reverend Archbishop fatherly urges those who have been drawn into this error, to moderate the hatred that has warmed in their hearts, because this way of dealing with the issues is the worst example they are giving to their children, who they will respond in the future with the same spirit and the same tactics towards their own parents. There is nothing wrong with having a different opinion. But using hateful expressions is not Christian…”.
The statement stressed that further developments of the situation were “now driven by Father Eleftherios, who directs things, constantly and persistently provoking the intervention of the Church to stop this unpleasant and anti-Church situation.
“It would be a heroic act for Father Eleftherios to leave the Orthodox Church, since he no longer believes in it, does not obey Bishops, Archbishops and Holy Canons. Fr Eleftherios has for some time separated himself from the body of the Church. So, if he is honest with himself, let him leave and follow the ‘Orthodoxy’ that he has created in his mind, otherwise let him change his tactics and join our Patriarch, our Archbishop, the Bishops and the other clergy.”
At the start of the statement the Archdiocese noted that Fr Eleftherios “has for some time separated himself from the body of the Church” and “let him leave and follow the ‘Orthodoxy’ that he has created in his mind”.
It also noted that at a recent priestly synod in Victoria, which Fr Eleftherios had failed to attend and went on to claim that he had not been invited, priests and bishops had declared their disapproval of the priest’s criticisms of the Church as well as of political leaders. They called on Archbishop Makarios to “regulate the case of Fr Eleftherios in accordance with the provisions of the Holy Canons, hoping first and foremost for the repentance and return of the clergy man in question.”
Papa Lefteris Papa Lefteris, as Fr Eleftherios is commonly known, in his sermon on August 14 claimed that he was not invited to the Priestly Synod of the clergy and expressed his disappointment at the attitude of the priests and bishops.
He said that what is being done is “what they want to do”, “behind his back” and that they “set up a gallows”, the priests “except for two, three”.
“‘I have arrived at sunset … I am determined about everything. I will fight,’ he noted, referring to the love of the world by his side,” Fr Eleftherios was quoted as saying in the statement.
The Archdiocese statement underscored the deep disappointment that was caused by “belligerent rhetoric, directed mainly towards the interior of the Church, in which the said cleric, insisting at the same time, during his sermons, towards self-heroisation and self-deification…”.
It said that Fr Eleftherios had shown inappropriate behaviour when he had “clashed with the blessed Archbishops Ezekiel and Stylianos and with the Patriarchal Exarch, Iakovos of Philadelphia, as well as with all the Bishops who served in the Archdiocesan Region without exception of Melbourne”.
Earlier this year Archbishop Makarios, the statement read, had invited Fr Eltherios and spoke to him concerning “content of his sermons, which is directed against the Church, the Archbishop, the Patriarch, the Bishops, the other clergy, as well as its political leadership Greece, Australia and other countries.”
In the statement, Archbishop Makarios said that Fr Eltherios constantly presented himself “as the sole judge of the supposedly bad writings of the Church and the world, and as the only one who works right.”
“At the same time, our Pastor urged him to focus on Christ during his sermons, to avoid unrestrained criticism and not to despise the work of his clergy brothers.
“…The specific meeting, which was also the last communication that His Eminence had with Fr. Eleftherios, concluded with a request on behalf of the Archbishop, which related to the multiple critical issue of the pandemic and the need to demonstrate responsibility on the part of the clergy.
“…Unfortunately, Fr Eleftherios used the pandemic to appear again as a hero and a saint…,” the statement said.
The Archdiocese has claimed that during the reconciliation efforts, both the Archbishop, as well as the other Bishops, never publicly touched on Fr Eleftherios’ misdeeds and provocations, unlike him, they claim, who appeared in public on a regular basis blaming the Archdiocese, the Archbishop, the Bishops and the clergy.
“At the last Priestly Synod, the issue of Father Eleftherios was raised by clergy and, in fact, with the question of why the Archdiocese does not proceed with the provisions of the Holy Canons, showing so much tolerance,” the statement said.
The Arcdiocese states that “although there was a proposal from clergy to depose Fr Eleftherios, the Archbishop was against it and emphasised, “I don’t like to punish clergy. I do not want a clergyman to be deposed at this age, and all the clergymen present can attest to that”.
“As a last-ditch effort to find a solution, a delegation of clergy tried to contact Fr Eleftherios, however he, through his secretary, refused to receive them and talk to them. And despite the fact that the clergy set a day and time for the meeting and went to Panagia Kamariani, Fr Eleftherios did not show up.”
“Unfortunately, the developments of the last few days and the actions of Fr Eleftherios, culminating in what he announced on Sunday, August 14, make it impossible for the Church and the Most Reverend Archbishop to show further tolerance.”
The statement emphasised that, “The Holy Archdiocese and His Eminence were “not the ones who decide”.
It talked of “infinite tolerance, love and patience”.
It blamed Fr Eleftherios for “constantly and persistently provoking the intervention of the Church to stop this unpleasant and anti-church situation”.
It said that the Church is “moving forward and is not afraid, nor is it threatened.”
“Both His Eminence, as well as the Theophilist Bishops under them throughout Australia, as well as the clergy of Victoria, wish God to enlighten him and give him a reckoning of repentance and return,” the statement concluded.
