Communiqué of the Holy Eparchial Synod

New York, February 19, 2009

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.

Following the Special Session of the Holy Eparchial Synod, the meeting continued with the added participation of Bishops Savas of Troas and Andonios of Phasiane, during which discussion ensued and decisions made regarding the theme of the 39th Clergy Laity in Washington, DC, and the Regulations of the Holy Eparchial Synod.

The following day, the Synaxis of the Hierarchs continued and reviewed the following issues: Guidelines for ecclesiastical courts regarding ecclesiastical divorces, internship of the celibate clergy of the Archdiocese at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and policies and procedures regarding youth ministry programs.

From the Office of the Holy Eparchial Synod