Sex and the Seminarian - A ROCOR Systemic Problem?

"...history shows he retreated out of sight and then show up ordained years later."

JTO  has investigated the ordination of a ROCOR deacon who was previously involved in a high-profile sex and drug scandal that made headlines. In this well-documented case, the married seminarian was expelled from an Orthodox seminary. His name and image appear on the POKROV.org website that tracks sexual misconduct among Orthodox clergy. His name and image also appear in at least one other place. He was a deacon for Father Samuel Seamans, the attacker mentioned in the article. Could this be why Father Seamans is somewhat sensitive to the posting of the article Rape and the Holy Man? The posting of the article has brought to light a second sexual offender in his own house, ordained by Metropolitan Hilarion. Not only is the newly ordained deacon serving in Father Seaman's church, but he is also serving at the annual youth camp.

"Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons."

Given that ROCOR later received this man into the deaconate, there seems to be a great confusion within ROCOR as to the right application of forgiveness and restitution of a clergy who has fallen. We are to restore a fallen clergy to the faith, in some cases after he has served his jail time for his criminal/civil offense. We are never to restore them as a member of the clergy. A Metropolitan's tender heart or personal preferences cannot override the scriptural and canonical requirements.

5. Pre‑ordination Moral Purity Apostolic 61 About those convicted of forbidden acts II 6; Carth. 50, 129 If any accusation be brought against a believer of fornication or adultery, or any forbidden action, and he be convicted, let him not be promoted to the clergy. 15 I Nicea 10 Concerning those who have denied the faith in persecution and have been promoted to the clergy Ap. 62; Anc. 1, 2, 12; Peter 10 If any have been promoted to ordination through the ignorance of their promoters or even with their connivance, this fact does not prejudice the church’s canon; for once discovered they are to be deposed. 16 Neocaesarea 9 About those who committed carnal sins before their presbyteral ordination I 9; VI 4, 21; Ap. 25; Carth. 16, 19; Neoc. 1, 8, 10; Bas. 3, 17, 32, 51 A presbyter who has been promoted after having committed carnal sin, and who shall confess that he had sinned before his ordination, shall not make the oblation, though he may remain in his other functions on account of his zeal in other respects; for the majority have affirmed that ordination blots out other kinds of sins. But if he do not confess and cannot be openly convicted, the decision shall depend upon himself. 17

Basil 3 About deacons who have committed fornication VI 4, 21; Ap. 25; Carth. 27; Bas. 32, 44, 51 If a deacon commit fornication after receiving the diaconate, he shall be removed from the diaconate, but after he has been reduced to the station of a layman he shall not be barred from communion. Wherefore there is an old canon that those who have fallen from their grade shall be subjected to this form of punishment only, the ancients following, as I think, the law, “Thou shalt not exact the penalty twice for the same offence (Nah 1.9)”; and also for another reason‑those in the ranks of the laity, after being expelled from the place. of the faithful, are again taken back into the place from which they fell, but the deacon once and for all incurs the lasting penalty of deposition. On the ground, therefore, that the diaconate is not restored to him, they have taken their stand on this punishment alone. These, then, are the conclusions from their decrees. But in general a truer remedy is withdrawal from sin. Thus he who for pleasure of the flesh has rejected grace, but by chastisement of the flesh and by complete subjection of it through continency has abandoned the pleasures whereby he was mastered, will furnish us a complete proof of his cure. We should, therefore, know both what is according to strict rule and what is according to custom, and in matters which do not admit of the strictest interpretation we should follow the decision handed down. 20

FROM ROCOR Policy: Decisions regarding any possible reassignment of a clergyman who has engaged in sexual abuse are made on a case-by-case basis. Reassignment to a parish ministry is rarely appropriate, although there may be ministries in which the clergyman can serve under supervision and subject to certain limitations. Because of the complex nature of each individual case, there can be no hard and fast rules about reassignment. However, when such decisions are contemplated, several factors are used in evaluating the possibilities of reassignment. Among these factors are the recommendations of the professionals involved in treating the clergyman, the feelings of the person who suffered the sexual abuse, and the availability of an assignment where the priest or deacon will be able to exercise ministry within appropriate limits. Care and concern will be given to altering the appropriate person or persons in a situation when and if a reassignment is made in order to ensure proper follow up.

And yet ROCOR did this:  

We have journeyed through our second Pascha and the blessings for us have been miraculous. On March 26, Fr. Dcn. James was ordained to the Holy Priesthood and Yianni Smyrni was tonsured and ordained to the Holy Diaconate as Fr. Dcn. Gregory. On April 16, Fr. Dcn. Seraphim was ordained to the Holy Priesthood. May they serve God in righteousness forever. Axios! On April 1, Avery McCoy (Grace), daughter of Chip and Julie Norris and Patricia Murphy (Zenaida) were Chrismated into the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. On May 20th, David Merritt and daughter Balla, Scott Thrasher, and Randall Davis are scheduled to be Chrismated. May God keep and protect His servants. We continue to focus on Orthodox education, with Mary Marston teaching the youth, and Fr. Dcn Gregory doing adult education every Sunday morning. Fr. Gregory also teaches a Wednesday evening class called “Orthodoxy Unplugged” where we explore the Patristic writers through a Sacramental lens. We are currently developing an 8 Week Catechetical Program for our catechumens which will launch in June.

It seems ROCOR's policy needs to be tightened up a bit.

• case by case basis? How about in any case one cannot be a ROCOR clergy?
• reassignment rarely appropriate? It should be never appropriate, period.
• no hard and fast rules? So, you appose your own Orthodox canons?
• recommendation of the professionals? Are you allowing outside "professionals" to decide?
• the feelings of the person who suffered the sexual abuse? How obtuse!
• availability of an assignment? If a place is open, we'll put him there? Roman Catholic much?

"Fr. Dcn Gregory" (Yianni Smyrni) was also allowed to serve at the summer youth camp for ROCOR and can be seen on video promotion of the camp. This, after his own children were temporarily removed from the home by child services and after a very public news article appeared in the local paper about his sexual misconduct and seminary expulsion.

Here is testimony of the 18-year-old girl's father. The father was a fellow seminarian of Yianni Smyrni. The father is now Father Christopher Moody and he made public comments on the nature of the event surrounding his daughter and family and ROCOR's mishandling of the matter. It seems this father's "feelings" mattered little to ROCOR.

Fr Christopher MoodySeptember 15, 2018 at 10:01 AM
I am the father of the girl who was abused by now dn Smyrni. The allegations are true. Secondly, he was a predator and waited till she was just 18. My daughter can testify of him doing this to others.He was sacreligious doing this during Paschal season. Two of my children were suicidal after this event. DN has never once admitted to wrong doing and hence is profaning the mysteries. Numerous witnesses will testify. Clerics are held to a higher standard. May God grant him repentance to at the least seek forgiveness from those he almost caused death. It is better for someone that a mill stone is hanged about his neck, our Lord said.



Fr Christopher MoodySeptember 15, 2018 at 10:05 AM
To you who say this is political please examine your spiritual compass. You sound like a catholic prelate covering up. Yes judge by fruits. Namely repentance which is first of all to reconcile with an offended brother and sister which he has not. Mt 18. Bibilcally absolution is withheld by a confessor till reconciliation is made.

Fr Christopher MoodySeptember 18, 2018 at 10:32 AM
Witness Nathaniel. I am an orthodox priest. I catch your sly intent there. My daughter was not a harlot. Both my children were suicidal after this occurred. This was not slanderous. I truly wish this did not happen. Let dn Smyrni take the stand. It will fold.There is no political motivation. Would you like to see the hand written letter of my fldaughter about this? Or perhaps you would like to talk to EVERY seminarian from that year group about the incident. I simply want him to at least seek forgiveness to reconcile per our Lords admonition. Unless of course you dont believe the biblical commandment.



Fr Christopher MoodySeptember 18, 2018 at 10:46 AM
Who are you anonymous? In contrast, My full name is fr Christopher Moody. I am an active duty chaplain. I will provide for you my daughters written testimony and letter given to fr. Webster and then to his eminence Hilarion regarding this. The dirt on dn smyrni was public record for 5 years. I had nothing to do with it on pokrov. Nothing. It was already there. I was aware of his ordination this way. It happened this way, I was translating st. Gregory Palamas, on a day off after we came in from the field training, when a friend saw dn smyrni at the camp alarmed he was back. This was not my doing. I then made inquiries to find out how this ensued. At the least dn smyrni, per mt.5, needs to reconcile with my daughter and children. Everything said is public record. There is no slander or defamation.

Your tone is disturbing. Lastly, this never came up because the time I approached him to reconcile he never responded, left town, and as history shows he retreated out of sight and then show up ordained years later. Thankfully my kids who were traumatized and suicidal after the event are still serving God.

ROCOR! Do you not know that “A little yeast leavens the whole lump of dough.”

https://www.facebook.com/ROCORWesternRite/videos/1102224813274739/?t=1
https://www.facebook.com/ROCORWesternRite/videos/1102219763275244/?t=0
https://www.facebook.com/ROCORWesternRite/videos/1101790739984813/?t=1
https://www.facebook.com/ROCORWesternRite/videos/1100136106816943/?t=0
https://www.pokrov.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/The-Wonderworker-Pentecost-2018.pdf
https://archives.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/un-orthodox-behavior/Content?oid=2145058
https://www.newsweek.com/priest-guilty-violent-sex-acts-children-orthodox-christian-youth-camps-783725