OUR MAIN PHOTO: Fr. Chrysostomos in one of his many successful social involvements and ministries – this time with the Cathedral Philoptochos.
ΕΑΝ ΠΡΟΤΙΜΑΤΕ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΠΑΤΗΣΤΕ ΤΗ ΣΗΜΑΙΑ ΣΤΟ ΚΑΤΩ ΜΕΡΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΟΘΟΝΗΣ
If Church leaders truly care about morality, accountability, and the integrity of the priesthood, then why ignore documented allegations (in a Police report!) connected to the Paris “Bulgarian Gay Escort” scandal of 2019, while aggressively pursuing a respected priest whose parishioners overwhelmingly testify to his dedication, education, pastoral success, and love for the faithful? This is precisely the spirit Christ condemned among the Pharisees: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”
By Nick Stamatakis
A week ago, GOA announced an official investigation into Fr. Chrysostomos Gilbert, the presiding priest at the Cathedral of NYC, “involving inappropriate communications with an adult individual”. When I read the full letter (link here: LETTER TO CATHEDRAL ABOUT FR. CHRYSOSTOMOS GILBERT), I suddenly discovered things that I was not sure existed:
- The Archdiocese maintains and enforces a Clergy Misconduct Policy. Really? In which way? If this is how it is enforced, I am sure something else is going on in the background.
- Anonymous reports may also be submitted through EthicsPoint via the online reporting system at https://goarch.ethicspoint.coni/ Will GOA consider anonymous gossip to accuse a priest or anyone else? Unbelievable!! This sounds like a major fishing expedition!! GOA admits it does not have sufficient evidence and is indiscriminately seeking more.
Furthermore, is GOA a separate “Autocephalous” Church, or is it under the so-called “Mother Church”? You all know that many among us have wished GOA were autocephalous, and many worthy fights have been waged over the last 40 years toward this goal… The greatest leader this Church ever had, AB Iakovos, was backstabbed by Karloutsos and Bartholomew and forced to resign solely because of his efforts to establish an autocephalous church in America. But as of now, GOA is under the corrupt Phanar, isn’t it? And it should follow the same rules, correct?
Let us get this straight: For years, serious allegations against Metropolitan Emmanuel and Bishop Maximos connected to 2019 events in Paris — supported by an official police report — have remained unanswered by the leadership of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The two of them invited Bulgarian gay escorts to the Metropolis building in Paris. These gay escorts stole substantial jewelry, and the police were called. In the process, they verified EVERYTHING!
PHOTO: The protagonists of the “Bulgarian Gay Escorts” scandal of 2019: Bartholomew, Met. Emmauel, aka “Emmanuella” or “Manolena”, and Bishop of Melitene Maximos.
Let me repeat: These were not “inappropriate communications with an adult individual”. We are talking about repeated visits over time during which inappropriate behavior occurred in an inappropriate location!! Verified by the Paris Police!! Why? Because Maximos was hired to be an assistant to Emmanuel without speaking a word of French!! And so an interpreter had to be used when the police arrived to investigate the theft of jewelry! This interpreter found a way to disclose the whole truth to us!! (Those who do not remember the story can link here and refresh their memory.)
Since then, every few months, we remind the sinful and heretic Patriarch Bartholomew to call the Paris Police and demand the report. Initially, he removed Emmanuel from France, but instead of punishing him, he promoted him to #2 in the hierarchy (Metropolitan of Chalcedon)!! Similarly, for Maximos, who was sent to England!
Should I add here the long array of “sexual misconduct” and openly gay behavior by the majority of the Phanar hierarchs? Where should I start? Sweden, Canada, or England? Or should I refer to the worst of all in Australia?
Yet today, the same sinful and heretic ecclesiastical establishment – this time under Elpidophoros – appears eager to place Fr. Chrysostomos Gilbert under investigation based largely on rumor, anonymous accusations, and whispers circulated behind closed doors. Why are they not looking at themselves in the mirror?
This contradiction raises profound moral and spiritual questions.
The issue is not whether clergy should be held accountable. Of course they should. The issue is whether the Church will apply one standard to everyone — or one standard for insiders and another for those perceived as rivals.
Christ spoke directly about this kind of behavior: “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matthew 7:3)
If Church leaders truly care about morality, accountability, and the integrity of the priesthood, then why ignore documented allegations connected to Paris while aggressively pursuing a respected priest whose parishioners overwhelmingly testify to his dedication, education, pastoral success, and love for the faithful?
The faithful of Holy Trinity Cathedral know Fr. Chrysostomos not through gossip, but through years of service. They know his work ethic. They know his accessibility. They know his devotion to liturgy, education, youth organizations, and community life. His reputation was built publicly and visibly.
PHOTO: Karloutsos and Emmanuel had one goal in mind: Ukraine. They lost “bigly,” and now they are both miserable! Emmanuel was promoted to the position of “Foreign Minister of Phanar”…
Yet now, anonymous insinuations are apparently treated as sufficient grounds for humiliation and removal.
Even more troubling is the precedent set by official communications that reportedly encourage additional accusations and rumors to be submitted. Since when has the Church been governed by whisper campaigns rather than by evidence, witnesses, and canonical fairness?
Scripture again warns us: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment”. (John 7:24).
The hypocrisy perceived by many faithful is impossible to ignore. When allegations involve politically protected circles, there is silence, delay, and institutional paralysis. When allegations concern someone viewed as ambitious, successful, or influential, the machinery suddenly moves quickly.
This is precisely the spirit Christ condemned among the Pharisees: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”
The faithful are no longer asking merely about one priest. They are asking whether justice exists equally within the hierarchy of the Church.
If there is evidence against Fr. Chrysostomos, then present it openly and fairly. If there is no evidence, then destroying a priest through innuendo is itself a scandal.
It is well known that Fr. Chrysostomos was destined for a higher office. I do not know him personally, but for the past week, I must have received 15 phone calls about him, and not one had anything negative to say: “Accomplished, good theologian, active, dedicated his life to the Church, an achiever, etc.
PHOTO: Bishop Diokleias Nektarios, aka “inept”, when he was a priest in Astoria… His unsociability was legendary… Now he has higher ambitions… It was not enough that he destroyed St. Demetrios of Astoria by insisting on building the infamous building across from the Church; now he wants to destroy a whole Metropolis…
Who had an interest in kicking him out or putting him down? Two personalities come to mind. First, the Archbishop himself, as Fr. Chrysostomos, was a strict follower of our Faith’s traditions and not accepting of novelties. And from what I heard, Fr. Chrysostom was not afraid at all to express his adherence to tradition. Second, the man who signed the letter was Bishop Dioklias Nektarios, the General Chancellor of GOA. Nektarios was known in both Babylon and Astoria (where he served for many years) as a completely unsociable priest, one unable to lead the community, a priest who made the faithful want to run away because of his lack of social skills. His nickname in Astoria was “the inept”!.. When you are “inept,” you do not want to have an active, likable, knowledgeable, and accomplished priest next to you! A priest who is destined soon to become a Bishop! Because then your ambitions are de facto limited or finished.
The Patriarchate is in dire straits. Their “global” policies have failed – from Ukraine to Ecumenism. They are ridiculed daily, and the faithful are avoiding many hierarchs like the plague. I will never forget the description of a faithful in the Paris Cathedral where Met. Emmanuel was distributing the holy bread a few weeks after the Bulgarian Gay Escorts scandal. “Are you kidding me? You think I am here to kiss your hand and take “antidoro” from you after what you did? You should be ashamed!!” she said and proceeded to the next priest…
My friends, this expresses the true status of the Patriarchate hierarchs. It could not go lower…
PHOTO: The way GOA is acting, soon they will see another demonstration – this time on 79th Street: “Get the Turks out of our Church”!!
Church authorities who truly believe in accountability must finally show the courage to consistently confront every serious allegation, including those they have long preferred to avoid.
There is little credibility left to them, and the way they are acting, they are certain to lose it.
PS. We all knew something was “fishy” about this story when we read the TNH “theologian” (God make him!) praise Elpidophoros for putting Fr. Chrysostomos under investigation. For the last few years, he had been attacking him for various reasons, and suddenly he found grounds to support him… Why? I wonder.. It’s not hard – use your imagination…
May 22, 2026, n.stamatakis@aol.com www.helleniscope.com
DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author.
Yikes!
Theodore Kalmoukos writes “Likewise, AB Elpidoforos acted properly in also removing from immediate jurisdiction of the Archdiocese, ANOTHER archimandrite who had become source of serious concern threatening the Greek American community could pay a heavy price.”
Who is this “other” Archimandrite?
Don’t you claim to be a nun?
Riga’s: You mean monastics can’t ask questions??
FYI: did find out who “other” archimandrite is + he’s from Fanar –
no longer welcomed!
Best thing on Rev. Gilbert Suspended is bringing light once again to disgraceful 2019 story of Patriarch Bartholomew not defrocking Emmanuel for his Bulgarian Escort parties at the Fanar!!
Instead Bartholomew upgraded Emmanuel to higher position – this alone exposes Black Bart is ineffectual Patriarch & must step down. This story should not be forgotten.
Story was conveniently forgotten by all. Brushed it under the prayer rug.
Yep, all sickening.
God bless the Gilbert family. I hope all of thile corruption behind this comes to light.
I believe that FR. Chrysostomos was set up by the Archdiocese and the Cathedral should unite and support him. There is a reason why he just became disposable. If the Archdiocese believed that FR. Chrysostomos was gay then they shouldn’t have sent him to the community to begin with.
We explained the likely reasons why they sought to cut him off. Unfortunately this is not the first time they did this to him. A few years ago he was close to becoming metropolitan of Denver and the Archbishop suddenly sent him to Greece. Similar treatment was given by a couple of disgusting “Archons of Disaster” to his father. We will come back to this dishonorable treatment where in order to advance in Church you have to pay money to Bartholomew and the Turks!! Do not doubt me in this!!! Why fo you think demonstrators shouted last October “Get the Turks out of our Church!!”
And yes, the Cathedral parishioners should rise up and demand explanations and for Fr. Chrysostom to be restored… the time is now for a demonstration outside the headquarters of 79th street!!!
Please beware the homosexual SF CA bishop Gerasmus who is trying to get us to take homosexual clergy from Greece. It is projected that one third of parishes in Greece and USA will not have priests soon. Where is he going to find them?
Helleniscope keeps threatening demonstrations outside Archdiocese & Never happens.
Ok ✅ do it now!
Helleniscope invites people to organize and do it! This is the time!
Nick, Elpidoktonos has known all along. Fr. Gilbert has had his support. Until now. How could Elpi have crucified him when they’re both guilty of and participants in the same crime? The only reason Elpi went on attack mode is to save himself and his cohorts. I sincerely hope Fr. Gilbert starts singing.
I think that if Fr. Chrysostomos is clear of any crimes, he should sue the people who spread these rumors. The Police could find who are these “anonymous” slanderers…
By the way, for many years there are rumors in Greece that the prime minister Kiriakos Mitsotakis is actually son of his sister! The Mitsotakis family never sued anyone, although some people spread these rumors using their name!
If you wonder why this is happening, the explanation is very simple. If they sue a person who spreads these rumors, when the case reaches the courts the defendant would have the right to ask for a DNA test to prove their claim!