Priest Leaves His Family And Parish For Woman?

BOSTON – The Greek Orthodox community of Saint Mark in Boca Raton, Florida is coming to terms with some stunning news: The National Herald has learned that its pastor for the past nine years, Rev. James S. Gavrilos, a husband and father of four children ages 2-13, has left his family and parish.

According to sources who spoke to the National Herald privately, the priest has been having an affair with another woman, although Father Gavrilos himself would neither confirm nor deny if that was the case.

Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta has already placed the priest on liturgical suspension, while the case is expected to be brought before the spiritual court. If Father Gavrilos is convicted, he could be defrocked.

When the Herald contacted him, Father Gavrilos conceded that he was dealing with “personal issues,” but declined to elaborate on his reasons further.

“I have to leave for personal reasons,” he said. “I have some personal issues, which I need to take care of. That’s it. Out of respect for my family, I hope you will understand.”

Asked for his reasons, Father Gavrilos said, “If I tell you what they are, they will no longer be personal. My family is dealing with some personal issues, and I ask you to respect that,” he added. “My family is not fodder for newspaper news. I was a devoted priest, and I hope you will take my family and my children into consideration as to the manner with which you report on this.”

Asked whether he thought he had treated his family with respect, he replied, “Yes I have. I told you I’m leaving for personal reasons, and I will not say anything else.”

Members of the Saint Mark community did not seem sure how to take the news of their pastor’s departure.

“I can not say much out of respect for the family,” said Parish Council President Michael Papamichael. “I just know that they (the priest and his wife) are separating. He has left our church, and is no longer our priest. I understand your interest in the story, but I have no other comment,” he said, adding that the community, which numbers 650 families, is “very dynamic and lively.”

LIKE THUNDER ON A CLEAR DAY

Metropolitan Alexios told the National Herald he was very unsettled by Father Gavrilos’ decision to leave.

“It was like a thunder on a clear day,” the Metropolitan said. “He called me and told me he wanted to meet urgently. When I saw him at the Leadership 100 conference, he told me he wanted to leave. He told me things I can not talk about. The following day, I met with the parish council and other community members. We talked and prayed at the Church. I then gave the assistant priest directions on how to work with the parish,” he said.

“When I first heard it, my throat went dry. I didn’t expect it. He was a good and hardworking priest,” he added.

Father Gavrilos initially requested a leave of absence, the Metropolitan explained. “I told him that there is no such thing in the priesthood. When you leave, you are placed on liturgical suspension, and that’s what happened from the very beginning.”

The Metropolitan would not comment on whether he knew of any extramarital affair.

“That is his problem. He asked the community not to discuss it, and I must respect that. He told me that it is neither the community’s fault, nor the bishop’s – that it’s not his wife’s nor his children’s problem. He said he had already made his decision, and is getting a divorce,” Alexios said.

Will Father Gavrilos be defrocked, the Metropolitan was asked?

“As long as there are papers proving he or his wife have filed for divorce, we must hold a spiritual court, which will investigate the facts. If the court decides that he is at fault, then I will send his case to the Holy Eparchial Synod, and he will, of course be defrocked,” Alexios said.

Father Gavrilos’ approach to his ministry and the priesthood was viewed with a mixture of both enthusiasm and skepticism.

“The parish loved him. His sermons were fiery, and had an effect on the congregation. He knew how to arouse their sentiments to the point where they often applauded him. But there were others who did not like these things,” Alexios said.

But Father Gavrilos had never caused any serious problems for his church, the Metropolitan said: “I never had any complaints. He put the community on a good path. They had huge financial problems because, after (former pastor) Father Frank Marangos left to become director of religious education for the Archdiocese, he left the community in debt.”