TARPON SPRINGS – Father Anastasios Gounaris, the pastor of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Tarpons Springs Florida, has abandoned his parish and the active priesthood and has fled to an unknown destination. The National Herald has received information indicating that he has gone to Greece.
Fr. Gounaris announced his decision through e-mails to Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta and the members of the community. According to the latest information, his date of departure was Thursday, June 11.
The community of St. Nicholas Cathedral is distraught, and there apparently was a superhuman effort to keep the news from leaking out.
Last Sunday the Liturgy was celebrated by Fr. James Rousakis. During communications with Fr. Rousakis, he refused to comment and referred TNH to the Metropolis of Atlanta.
Fr. Gounaris had served the community of St. Nicholas for a year. He was transferred there from the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York after outrageous developments that Fr. Gounaris reportedly provoked.
More information to come.
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