Three priests leave Constantinople Patriarchate for ROCOR
ROCOR Synodal Cathedral of the Sign Icon. Photo: ROCOR New York Deanery
On July 15, 2019, Orthodox Christianity reported that three Greek Orthodox priests from England and the United States –Fr. Spyridon Bailey, Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis and Fr. Ioannis Maridakis left the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to join the ROCOR.
Fr. Spyridon Bailey, formely of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain, is now a priest of the ROCOR Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe, assigned to St. Elisabeth’s in Wallesey, England.
He is known as the author of several books, including “Orthodoxy and the Kingdom of Satan”, “The Ancient Path” and “Journey to Mount Athos”, and runs a popular page on YouTube.
“My decision to move to ROCOR was due to a number of factors. For some time I have been concerned about the growing modernist and ecumenical trends in Constantinople. However, the actions in Ukraine convinced me that I had to leave,” commented Fr. Spyridon.
On July 13, 2019, the monastery of St. Anthony the Great (ROCOR) in Phoenix, Arizona, announced on his Facebook page that Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis, formerly of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of America, and Fr. Ioannis Maridakis, originally from Crete, also joined the ROCOR.
Fr. Emmanuel is also known as the author of several popular books, including "The Heavenly Banquet and Jesus: Fallen? The Human Nature of Christ Examined From an Eastern Orthodox Perspective". The monastery’s post says that Fr. Emmanuel has been assigned to a church in Texas.
Father Ioannis moved from the island of Crete to America in order to leave Constantinople and join ROCOR, although he does not know English. On July 8, he was assigned to serve as assistant priest to the abbot of the Monastery of St. Anthony the Great, Schema-Igumen Anthony and will handle house visits, sick calls, and some confessions.
Reportedly, he is also the caretaker of a traveling portion of the True Cross and has visited America with the precious and wonderworking relic many times, and will continue to travel with the relic as a blessing to the faithful.
Recall that last November, Fr. Mark Tyson left the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese (ACROD), a jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in America, and joined the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) opposing to the Patriarchate’s invasion of Ukrainian Church territory.
Read also
"Stigmatization based on faith": DESS reprimands TSN for story about Muslims
DESS criticized TSN because "the investigation in the "1+1" news story immediately took on an accusatory bias, and the accused themselves were not given a voice."
His Beatitude Onuphry: Through fasting, man returns to Paradise
On Forgiveness Sunday, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry reminded the faithful about Adam's fall and urged them to repent before Great Lent.
Archbishop of Greece speaks about his successor and the Church's future
On the occasion of the 18th anniversary of his leadership of the Greek Church, the Primate gave an interview in which he spoke about relations with the state, the situation in Sinai, and the challenges of the modern world.
In Barcelona, Sagrada Familia’s central tower completed after 144 years
In Barcelona, a glass cross was installed on the Sagrada Familia temple, completing the central tower and bringing the building to the height of 172.5 meters.
On Forgiveness Sunday, His Beatitude Onuphry celebrates Liturgy at Lavra
During Cheesefare Week, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry celebrated the Liturgy at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, addressed the flock with a sermon, and offered prayers for peace and the preservation of Ukraine's people.
In Hnidyn, St. Nicholas Church of UOC damaged by shelling
As a result of shelling, the St. Nicholas Church of the UOC in the village of Hnidyn of the Boryspil Eparchy was damaged.