TARPON SPRINGS, FL – Earlier this summer, Father Anastasios(Taso) Gounaris left his wife and his parish – the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Tarpon Springs, FL – without any notice, except an email to the Parish Council on Wednesday, Jun. 10, the eve of his departure.
When I read the story in The National Herald (“The Rev. Gounaris Flees His Post, Jun. 20), I was stunned. To clarify, I edit all stories before they appear in the English edition. But I happened to be on vacation that week, and so I learned the news just like most TNH readers did – by reading about it on the front page.
The reason I was shocked was because a year earlier, I interviewed Fr. Gounaris in Tarpon Springs (“Former Cathedral Dean Gounaris, Now in Florida, Tells His Side of the Story,” Aug. 9, 2014), and he considered himself very blessed to have landed in such a wonderful place.
He wasn’t cut out to be a big city priest, he said, and so Tarpon Springs was the ideal place for him.
He was particularly open to speaking with me, even though mutual acquaintances who arranged the interview expressed skepticism that he would speak to The National Herald, because the newspaper reported on numerous controversial matters involving him when he served in New York City and before that, in Indianapolis, IN.
Fr. Gounaris in substantial detail denied all those allegations, and focused on ministering in what seemed would be a permanent new home. And it wasn’t just his words that were convincing, it was the actions of those around him. As we sat having lunch in a popular Greek restaurant on the Sponge Docks – Mykonos – one of the few frequented not only by tourists, but also by locals, a number of parishioners greeted him as they passed our table. Their words, and facial expressions, evoked warmth and appreciation. And personal friends of mine who live in Tarpon told me “he’s doing a good job, the people really liked him.”
Whatever his problems seemed to have been, it looked like Tarpon Springs gave him a fresh start: a win-win for him, and for the community. But it was not to be.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The National Herald, told of numerous rumors about where Fr. Gounaris disappeared to and under what circumstances, decided to investigate. Rumors included that he left his wife penniless and headed to Crete, and even that he went there with another man. But St. Nicholas Parish Council President Nikitas Manias told TNH otherwise.
“Yes, from what I hear Fr. Gounaris is in Crete,” he said, “but he didn’t leave his wife penniless. He didn’t give her any warning that he was leaving, but he left money for her.”
As to his whereabouts and with whom, Manias says he also heard that Gounaris is in Crete – based on accounts of people who saw him there – and that he is with a companion, but definitely female, not male.
That he really is in Crete seems valid, considering his Facebook page now lists that as his place of dwelling. But whether he is there alone, or with a companion, remains unsubstantiated rumor.
The rumor most soundly refuted is that Gounaris took all the money and ran. Manias knows that Gounaris didn’t – that he did in leave money for his wife – firsthand, because Gounaris’ wife, Presbytera Maria, stayed with Manias and his family for six weeks, upon returning from New York City, where she was visiting when Gounaris left. “It was my wife who called her and told her the news,” about Gounaris departing email, he said. Presbytera then moved back to Indianapolis to live with her daughter.
Manias also emphasized that is apparent Gounaris planned his departure ahead of time – that it was not a spontaneous act. For instance, he was seen taking personal belongings out of his office as if he were moving out – and when asked about it, he would make excuses as to why.
Manias emphasized that everything Gounaris took with him was his own personal property – that he did not steal anything that belonged to the Church.
The Sunday before his departure, Fr. Gounaris delivered a cryptic sermon about “the first and last liturgy,” which is retrospect seems like a coded way of saying goodbye.
In his email to the Parish Council, Gounaris expressed regret for deciding to depart so suddenly, but says he did so after a lot of “soul searching.”
Manias found it odd when earlier in the day on June 10, Gounaris did not meet with him. “Our Parish Council meetings are usually on Thursdays, and he and I would confer the day before. In fact, after Church [the previous Sunday) I said to him: ‘see you on Wednesday.’”
In his departing email, Gounaris also advised that any parishioners in need of a priest should contact Fr. James Rousakis, who has been serving in the interim. Manias told TNH that a new priest will be appointed sometime later this year – in or after October.
Manias said “the chapter on Father Gounaris in Tarpon Springs is now closed,” but he did not sound bitter or angry. “While he was here, he did a good job,” he said, echoing the sentiments of numerous other parishioners.
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