Archbishop Elpidophoros Showed Evidence to Archimandrite Chrysostomos Gilbert Regarding His “Inappropriate Communications”

BOSTON – Archbishop Elpidophoros of America showed evidence to Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Chrysostomos Gilbert, Dean of the Archdiocesan Holy Trinity Cathedral in New York, during their meeting at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. High-ranking insiders within the Archdiocese spoke to The National Herald on condition of anonymity and stated the following:

“During the Wednesday, May 13 meeting at the School with Archimandrite Chrysostomos, the Archbishop showed him copies of his electronic communications on the Internet, as well as a photograph of him. When he asked him whether the person in the photograph was indeed himself, he replied, ‘Yes, Your Eminence,’ thereby confirming the authenticity of the photograph. Fr. Gilbert had been browsing disreputable websites involving sexually deviant men.”

The same sources who spoke to The National Herald, and who are very familiar with the matter and its details, said that the Archbishop treated Fr. Gilbert with fatherly care, but also with firmness, telling him that he had love and esteem for him and for his fruitful ministry at the Cathedral. However, in order to protect both the Cathedral and the entire Archdiocese, he would have to be placed on liturgical suspension from all liturgical functions and from any administrative or other responsibilities or associations until the investigation is completed, emphasizing that the Church stands above all else.

The National Herald was told that the complaint was anonymous and remained anonymous until Friday evening, May 22, though it was described as “threatening.” We were also informed that as of Friday, May 22, no additional complaint had been made against Fr. Gilbert.

When on the afternoon of Friday, May 15, 2026, The National Herald revealed the letter of the National Chancellor, Bishop Nektarios of Diokleia, in which it was stated among other things that “the Archdiocese has received complaints concerning Father Chrysostomos related to inappropriate communications with an adult individual. According to the Clergy Misconduct Policy, the Archdiocese has initiated an investigation regarding these allegations. Father Chrysostomos is cooperating with the investigation,” many parishioners of the Cathedral became outraged and turned against the Archdiocese, demanding the immediate reinstatement of Archimandrite Chrysostomos as Dean.

As The National Herald noted in its May 19 report titled “Holy Trinity Cathedral in New York in Turmoil,” “Archimandrite Chrysostomos enjoys the love and support of the overwhelming majority of the Cathedral’s parishioners because, as they said, ‘he has revitalized the Cathedral.’ Specifically, through his efforts, the Greek School, which had only thirty students a few years ago and was in danger of shutting down, has grown to ninety students. He has also reorganized the Cathedral youth ministry and established educational, social, cultural, and instructional programs.”

It is emphasized that The National Herald has made repeated attempts to contact Archimandrite Chrysostomos, who has traveled to Arizona to be near relatives, but he has not responded. Likewise, legal counsel George Tsougarakis, Parish Council President Elias Lambiris, National Chancellor Bishop Nektarios of Diokleia, and Archbishop Elpidophoros himself — all of whom were left telephone and written messages on Thursday, May 21, 2026 — have thus far not responded. It is noted that Archbishop Elpidophoros is currently in Constantinople accompanying the recently graduated class of the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, as The National Herald reported. He is expected to return to his headquarters during the first week of June.

Meanwhile, the insurance company that insures the Archdiocese for cases of sexual abuse involving priests and employees informed the Archdiocese that it will no longer include the local Metropolises in its coverage, but only the Archdiocese of New York. It should be noted that the Archdiocese has established a Policy for addressing sexual abuse by clergy, in which its articles and the measures that must be taken are set forth in detail.