BOSTON, MA – Rev. Nicholas Kastanas has been thrown “onto the streets” since his salary and medical insurance were stopped since September. He was dismissed suddenly on July 27 by Metropolitan Methodios of Boston after 28 years of successful ministry at the St. Athanasius Greek Orthodox parish in Arlington, MA.
Methodios left the letter of Fr. Kastanas’ dismissal with his chancellor Rev. Theodoros Barbas and left to Greece on vacation. Methodios suspended Kastanas of all Liturgical activities because the latter filed an injunction – a temporary restraining order with a High Court in Massachusetts – requesting the court to prohibit the Metropolis of Boston to return his private computer and personal documents that were taken from his office by members of the parish council as directed by the Metropolis.
At least 90 percentof the parishionerswholeheartedly support Kastanas and demand to know the real reasons of his dismissal. They have even raised more than $60,000 dollars toward his legal fees.
The mainstream media gave extensive coverage to the events, especially Kastanas’ last Liturgy on July 30, attended by 2000 faithful of all ages, many of who were crying.
The National Herald wanted to give the clergy and lay leadership of the parish, Fr. Andrew Demotses and Constandinos Ioakimidis,the opportunity to explain the parish’s present-day condition, but neither responded to TNH’s request for comment, and Kastanas told TNH that “my lawyers have recommended me not to speak to the press.”
St. Athanasius parishioner Haris Katis invited Kastanas to his home and told him to resign. TNH asked Katis “why did you do that” he said “I cannot answer you.” TNH then asked “did Methodios ask you to do it?” to which Katis replied “I can’t answer you. I called and I spoke to him but Fr. Nicholas didn’t listen. I don’t want to go any further; Ispoke to him for his own good.”
Fr. Demotses, a retired priest from Peabody who was sent to St. Athanasius on an interim basis, has displayed some sacred items including the Holy Chalice and put tags on them asking for donations for repairs.
Congregants told TNH that the congregation on Sundays has fallen from 250 or 300 average during Fr. Kastanas’ tenure to 25 to 60. Five members of the parish council resigned. The parish council is avoiding convening its full membership, only the executive committee, while it was said that no general assemblies or elections will take place.
Sunday School has between 30 to 35 children, down from 150 last year. The Greek School has between 10 to 15 students. Meanwhile, 53 parents in protest for the dismissal of Kastanas removed their children from the Greek School and rented a room at St. Eulalia’s Roman-Catholic parish in Winchester to teach them. The Metropolis of Boston complained to Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley, who directed his parish to throw the Greek Orthodox parents and their children out. Now they are renting another space elsewhere.
Recently, Fr. Kastanas’ supporters of all ages traveled to 20 parishes in New England calling for the return of Fr. Kastanas. An 84-year-old Greek-American among them, placing flyers on cars in the parking lots, received an anonymous threatening letter now being investigated by the police.
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