She DID Come Forward!

According to Carole Stephens, this is the ROCOR priest that her daughter contacted just hours after the alleged rape by Father Matthew Williams.

From the article Rape and the Holy Man:

Fr. Anastasy P. Yatrelis

[I]f the girl is raped as a minor, her parents have a right to prosecute and avenge her. In a church there is no place for even seducing a minor or statutory rape, and especially under the guise of babysitting. NO! You DO NOT bully a 15 year old child into silence for the good of position and a senior priest as Father Anastasy, should certainly have reported the rape as a mandated reporter to his bishop and to the civil authorities. He is also culpable for the cover up, thus prosecution. The girl would have been forced into counseling, which would have made her life better. The parents would not have been kept under the guise of spiritual well being in such an environment. God parents should be co-parents in the faith. The right people would have paid for their misdeeds instead of young girls suffering violation and shame. 

Fr. Anastasy Yatrelis

Home Phone: (843) 873-3718

Mobile Phone: (843) 469-8666

Email: padreernesto1@gmail.com

Has ROCOR asked this priest if he talked with the 15-year-old victim of rape? Has ROCOR asked him why he did not report to civil authorities? Did this priest report to his own hierarchy? If he did, then all of the hierarchy are liable for the cover-up. If he didn't, then shouldn't this priest be defrocked? Did this priest at least warn Bishop Hilarion that there was an accusation of sexual crime perpetrated by the deacon he was about to ordain to the priesthood?

Editor's NOTE: Indeed, the 15-year-old girl did not report to civil authorities at the time.  She was an immature 15-year-old who had just been allegedly raped by her godfather, Deacon Matthew Williams, then cajoled into forgiving and forgetting by her godparents, Matthew and Elizabeth Williams. HOWEVER, IF SHE REPORTED THE RAPE TO FATHER YATRELIS, SHE DID COME FORWARD! Why didn't he? ...or did he? "The matter you have brought up was open to investigation by our ecclesiastical channels previously, but it was curtailed due to lack of accusation on the part of the alleged victim." Metropolitan Hilarion in a letter to JTO.

READ Carole Stephens' article: To Orthodox Hierarchy: What is your game?

Editor's NOTE: If Father Yatrelis would like to refute this accusation by Carole Stephens, he may contact JTO at journeytoorthodoxy@gmail.com. JTO will post his rebuttal in full without editing.

Is It Scriptural To Accuse Your Bishops?

Monks of Jordanville and others of the Eastern Orthodox Church, pay attention. 

It is the responsibility of the people to accuse a bishop who is in sin. The idea that to do so is sinful and that bishops or priests are to be shielded from such accountability is cultish. Here is the scriptural mandate: 

"Do not accept an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses." 1 Tim 5:19 

The wording of this Scripture is akin to, "Do not drive a car except with a license." Does this statement suggest you cannot drive a car? No, it suggests the proper way to do it. Likewise, does 1 Tim 5:19 suggest you cannot accuse an elder? No, it suggests the proper way to do it.

This passage from 1 Timothy 5:19 emphasizes the importance of fairness and accountability in leadership within the Church. The requirement of two or three witnesses aligns with Jewish legal traditions, ensuring that accusations are not based on hearsay or personal vendettas but on credible testimony.

The interpretation suggests that the verse is not about merely hearing accusations but about establishing their (the accusations) validity. This protects both the accused and the integrity of the Church, preventing unjust claims from causing division. At the same time, it does not allow wrongdoing to persist unchecked. Leaders are expected to be reasonable and maintain a good reputation among the people. If multiple credible accusations arise, reason dictates that the leader should be held accountable.

"Except on the basis of two or three witnesses..." 

"It was standard practice in Jewish law that there had to be two witnesses to any act before it could be conclusively adjudicated (Num. 35:30; Deut. 17:6; 19:15; Matt. 18:16; 2 Cor. 13:1; Heb. 10:28). This is to prevent malicious accusers from tearing the Church apart. If an elder does something offensive, the individual wronged is to go to the person and work out the problem. If there is no solution, he or she is to take others (Matthew 18:15-17). At that point, there would be witnesses. This is to be a general practice. It is not to be a law that allows for unrighteousness to continue. 

The Bible is not against common sense, and one of the requirements of leaders is that they are to be “reasonable,” and we write in the commentary on 1 Timothy 3:3 above: “The concepts of “moderation, forbearance, gentleness, sweet reasonableness” all touch a side of the full meaning of this word. The meaning is yielding, not insisting on one’s legal rights to the end that the legal rights become moral wrongs.”

If a leader had case after case where usually credible people said that they were spoken or acted against one on one by a certain individual in leadership, but that the leader had denied what he had done when the wronged person went to him to rectify the situation, and again when the individual went back to the leader with witnesses about both the original problem and the denial, then “reason” would dictate that the accused leader must be doing something wrong, or so many people would not witness to the same fault in his life. 

Leaders are to have a good report among the people, and when that ceases to be the case, the leader will cease to be effective and should step out of leadership, or be removed by others."  From REV Commentary

"However, do not be afraid of them, because there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim on the rooftops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna...But whoever denies me before people, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 10: 26-28,33

Enabling Sexual Predator Priests is Relative

From Carole Stephens via Rape and The Holy Man

"BETRAYAL AT ITS WORST!!!

This notification is to alert you that a horrible offense was committed against my daughter at the hand of your brother or brother in law and then swept under the rug, as my daughter was coerced into silence, then later harassed by phone when this finally came to light.  She could not help but to confide in  someone, namely her older sisters, and feared disrupting the stability of her family as well as that of the perpetrator as she suffered in tears.  The senior priest she confided in also told her that this should never be found out. To my dismay, there exists a huge organization called SNAP and a whole website, pokrov.org, dedicated to counseling victims and families of victims abused by clergy  AND I HAVE HAD TO GO THERE!!!  Think about your own lovely daughters when you consider this.  The victim pays the price and so does the victim's family.  Mothers, be forewarned and vigilant.  Clergy members...JUST STOP IT!!!  There are enough sex offenders running around hurting children.  Can the church NOT be a refuge?  Where is God in all of this?"

Father John Oliver is the brother-in-law of Matthew Williams and is the senior priest at Saint Elizabeth Orthodox Church (Antiochian) Murfreesboro, TN.

Father John Oliver 

"Father Matthew and his matushka did call me after my circulating the letter. They had been confronted by Metropolitan Hilarion's office.  I was actually stranded in a Megabus atop Donner's Summit when they reached me.  We went round and round for a couple of hours.  Prior to that phone call, a few days earlier, Fr. John Oliver of St. Elizabeth's Orthodox Church in Murfreesboro (who NEVER called me) called me when I was at my brother's house in California, saying that Fr. Matthew wanted to arrange a meeting with me at St. Elizabeth.  He was willing to drive all of the way from Bristol to meet me in Murfreesboro to discuss the matter.  But I was in California.  When I returned to TN I asked Father John what Fr. Matthew had said to him about the matter.  He claimed that he did not know the details: though I did send the first letter addressed directly to Fr. John.  To me, they were passing the buck around.  They were careful not to admit to what extent the assault happened nor have anything in writing. I was the one who discovered the orgin of the rape and DID make a [*] written police report in Roswell, GA.  But they did not maintain it nor give it a case# because the victim did not want to come forward."

Fr. Christopher Stanton is an OCA priest in Lebanon, TN, who happens to be a second brother-in-law of Father Matthew Williams. This is a letter sent to Carole Stephens from him:

Greetings in the Lord,

Joyous feast of St. Andrew the First Called!

Father Christopher Stanton

I am troubled at the pain I hear in your email. Our first concern needs to be towards healing, both for the victim and those who surround her. I hope she and those who need it are getting the counseling and attention they need at this time. Closely following this needs to be careful attention given to the accused. If this accusation mentioned involves a minor at the time of the event then the authorities need to be contacted for an official investigation to understand what has happened and what needs to be done for, not to, the accused. If the event does not have to do with a minor then the appropriate ecclesiastical authority should be contacted towards the same conclusion.  

I am saddened by the need for such a general and widely broadcasted email. In today's world rumor and hear say holds the same power and often more so than the truth, and the ambiguous nature of this email certainly lends itself to such; if not plain slander. The scriptures call for us to cover our brother's sin (not to hide it which could lead to further sin) so as to not color nor prejudice others against each other. We live in a world of sin, even and especially in the sinless and spotless Church of Christ, and because of this we need each other for support, confidence, and consolation. Let us not think, say, or do anything to cause division nor disruption among us. 

Finally, I offer my prayers, sympathy, and what ever counsel I can for your recovery, health and wellbeing at this time. 

In Christ's love,

Fr. Christopher Stanton 

JTO Editor's Note: Read Rape and the Holy Man for further details.

Is the ROCOR/Antiochian/OCA Sexual Crime Coverup Cabal Crumbling?

Feel free to contact these shepherds at the publicly posted addresses or phone numbers. Surely, you will be received with the utmost love, respect, patience, and transparency! You may also refer to the posted link at the bottom for the names and addresses of others who knew of FMW's crimes for years and did little or nothing to protect the innocent.  Also ask Antioch and The Orthodox Church of America, what role their priests played in the cover-up of Father Matthew Williams' crimes.

ROCOR

Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia

75 E. 93rd Str.
New York, NY 10128
USA
Tel: (212) 534-1604

Remember: The Church is the bride of Christ, and all are accountable, especially the shepherds.

Journey To orthodoxy: Rape and the Holy Man Part Three -All are Punished!

[A cabal is a group of people who are united in some close design, usually to promote their private views or interests in an ideology, a state, or another community, often by intrigue and usually without the knowledge of those who are outside their group. The use of this term usually carries negative connotations of political purpose, conspiracy and secrecy. It can also refer to a secret plot or a clique, or it may be used as a verb (to form a cabal or secretly conspire.]

ROCOR, We Hardly Knew Ye...Or Did We?

[JTO Editor Note: This Press Release was issued only a short time after the alleged rape of the Stephens girl) 

Priest-monk Is Defrocked for Sexual Misconduct

SNAP

July 2, 2009

http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_press_releases/2009_press_releases/070109_priest_monk_is_defrocked_for_sexual_misconduct.htm

[letter from Metropolitan Joseph]

Church Hierarchy Can't Shut Down Wisconsin Monastery

Clerics Are Linked to Notorious Now-Closed Monastery in Texas

Support Group Says “Vulnerable Teens and Adults May Still Be At Risk”

SNAP Urges Victims & Witnesses to "Come Forward, Get Help and Call Police"

An Eastern Orthodox priest has been defrocked because of credible allegations that he molested a teenaged girl in the 1990s in Wisconsin.

In March, Metropolitan Joseph Bosakov of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia ousted Archimandrite Simeon Gitlis from the priesthood. Gitlis was also removed as abbot of a monastery in Boscobel, Wisconsin (between Dubuque, Iowa and La Crosse, Wisconsin). A woman who had lived at the monastery in the late 1990s, when she was in her late teens and early twenties, had made a written complaint to the bishop alleging that Gitlis had sexually molested her.

"We're grateful that this dangerous man has been ousted from the priesthood, but fear he may still be at this facility so children and young adults may still be vulnerable," said Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, California. She's the co-founder of SNAP Orthodox and of a website called Pokrov.org, dedicated to helping those who've been victimized by Eastern Orthodox clergy.

Sakoda urged victims or witnesses to call SNAP, the nation's oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. "I want to let victims know they are no longer alone, that they are supported no matter how they choose to start their healing journey, and that despite the pain, there is hope," she said.

In an April letter, notifying the victim that Gitlis was defrocked, Bosakov noted that the monastery was owned by an independent non-profit corporation. The Bulgarian diocese has since removed the monastery from its website, but the bishop cannot stop the group from operating independently. As a result, leaders of a support group called SNAP fear that vulnerable teens and adults may still be at risk at the facility.

The Boscobel monastery, called St. Isaac’s Skete, is an offshoot of Christ of the Hills Monastery (COTH) in Blanco, Texas. In 1999, a boy filed sex abuse charges against two Christ of the Hills monks. In response, the Russian Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), to which both monasteries belonged at the time, ordered COTH to disband. The Blanco monks refused. ROCOR removed COTH from its jurisdiction, but could not shut it down because the monastery was owned by an independent non-profit corporation. In solidarity with COTH, St. Isaac's Skete left ROCOR, later joining the Bulgarian Diocese. Additional allegations of child sexual abuse at COTH were made by other boys in 2006. The new charges resulted in convictions for four Blanco monks (one of whom was also convicted in 1999) and the suicide of COTH?s founder. The Blanco monastery is now defunct.

SNAP strongly suspects there are others who saw or suffered similar abuse by Gitlis, either as teens or as adults. The group is urging victims and witnesses to come forward, get help, call police, and contact independent sources of support.

Boskov and his diocese are based in New York City.

Founded in 1989, SNAP has more than 8,000 members and 65 support groups. Most members were molested by Catholic priests, nuns, bishops, and seminarians, but a growing number were abused by religious figures in other denominations. SNAP has a nation-wide toll-free hotline, 1 877 SNAP HEALS. The organization's web site is SNAPnetwork.org

"These Allegations Are Baseless!"

"Tread Carefully" Commenters...

Anonymous12:42 PM

A not-so-former Baptist tries to slander one of the kindest priests in ROCOR. Go take your nonsense somewhere else.

RobertNG1:17 AM

Do you know Fr. Matthew Williams? He is a kind man and a good soul. When I read these emails, I see nothing but crazed hysteria and slander. This is a disgusting article

Theodore_Harris1:09 PM

Fr Matthews is a saintly priest. St Nektarios was accused of raping nuns, several early desert father's were accused of impregnating prostitutes, but in the end (like this story); we see the same "one" is behind these baseless accusations

Theodore_Harris3:04 PM

Fr Matthew will be expulcated either here or the hereafter. This is an attack from the same "one" who baselessly accused St Nektarios of raping nuns and a particular desert father of impregnating a prostitute. Fr Matthew is a saintly priest and anyone who has known him can attest

Anonymous8:20 PM

I met Fr Matthew in 2023 for a friends wedding at his parish. He let me stay in the room at the church for a weekend. He would come to visit me and chat, making sure I had what I needed. Never a weird feeling and I have good instincts from experience. A kind and saintly man. I think these allegations are baseless. I watched him with his Matuska and children, and his parishioners. Slander and persecution are to be expected for men who are going the work of God. We should keep him and his family (and the girl and her mother) in our prayers 🙏🏼

Confronting the Blame Shifters Part Two

 

Confronting The Blame Shifters

Some commenters claim that Elizabeth Williams is being victim shamed. What they fail to understand is that Elizabeth is both victim and perpetrator. This blog and hundreds of commenters expose Elizabeth's intentional coverup of her husband's sexual abuse of her goddaughter 20 years prior to current events. When confronted with this fact, the commenters neither confirm nor deny the rape of the 15-year-old Stephens girl by Matthew Williams and Elizabeth refuses to comment. Insults and misdirection are the commenter's most common tactics. We are told to "rot in hell" and that it is we and not Elizabeth who are causing harm to the children. This is classic blame shifting.

Blame-shifting. This involves blaming someone else for the unwanted outcome that they caused or contributed to.

JTO has called on Elizabeth Willams to confirm or deny that she knew of Matthew's sexual abuse of the Stephen's girl 20 years ago. Her silence on this matter for 20 years is not acceptable and will continue to be the catalyst for others to refuse to see her as a victim in the current situation. Meanwhile her apologists and defenders continue their futile campaign to malign the reputation and character of those who have exposed her 20-year cover-up of her husband's crimes.

Elizabeth: What did you know and when did you know it?

 

Matthew Williams Arrested- UPDATE

Matthew Williams

According to Detention Officer Eller of the SW Regional Jail Authority in Abington, VA, Matthew Williams was arrested and booked into the jail today with no bond.

According to Eller, specific charges are pending, and other information will be released on the facility website by Sunday or Monday.

JTO will keep readers apprised of the ongoing situation. Readers are welcome to contact JTO with information at journeytoorthodoxy@gmail.com.

Updates:

1. According to at least one unconfirmed report, Williams turned himself in. UPDATE - Confirmed.

2. https://virginia.arrests.org/Arrests/Mathew_Williams_64382611/

Hebrews 12 Destroys The Trinity Illusion

By: David Lopez 

Hebrews 12:23–24 pulls back the curtain on HEAVEN ITSELF.

And what do we see?

23. to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of {the} righteous made perfect, 24. AND to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than {the blood} of Abel.

 

Bonus Verse: 1 Timothy 2:5. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men the man Christ Jesus.

GOD — the Judge of all.

JESUS — the mediator of a new covenant.

The Holy Spirit? Completely missing.

Let that sink in.

This is the final, climactic heavenly vision in the Book of Hebrews—and there's NO Trinity here. Just TWO distinct beings:

God — the Ultimate Judge of all!

Jesus The Mediator— highlights Jesus' subordinate and distinct role; he's not God, he's mediating to God!

Use logic: If Jesus were God, he couldn’t mediate to God.

If the Holy Spirit were a co-equal divine person, why is he absent in heaven’s ultimate roll call?

No “three-in-one.”

No Three co-equal divine persons.

Just what the Bible actually says: ONE GOD, and one glorified Son.

Hebrews 12:23–24 is a devastating blow to Trinitarian doctrine—and a powerful confirmation of True Biblical Monotheism.

When the veil is lifted and heaven is revealed, it's simple and stunning:

The Father is God.

Jesus is not God.

The Holy Spirit isn’t present as a separate third

person Being.

This is the Trinity’s blind spot—and it’s wide open!