wfn.org | COMMUNIQUE OF THE HOLY EPARCHIAL SYNOD

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

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> Stavros Papagermanos

> pressoffice@goarch.org

> COMMUNIQUE 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 Fassiane, during which discussion ensued and 
decisions were 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

>