A HIGH-RANKING Greek Orthodox priest starred in kinky intercourse tapes along with his much-younger parish-school principal and ended up being forced to resign following the event — which he’d denied for decades — had been verified by church elders.
Father George Passias, the married pastor that is 67-year-old of. Spyridon Church in Manhattan, also impregnated their married enthusiast, 45-year-old Ethel Bouzalas, in accordance with sources.
Passias had been when the chancellor for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, responsible for every one of the religion’s US priests, reports the latest York Post.
An adherent up to a fundamentalist faction of Greek Orthodoxy led by a controversial cleric in Arizona, he took the helm of St. Spyridon nine years ago — and straight away ordered worshippers that are female protect their minds during confession.
But there is no such nod to modesty within their shocking intercourse videos. In a single scene, the bearded cleric, putting on merely a white T-shirt, watches their long-haired brunette fan plant her G-string clad base on a bit of banana bread covered with cling wrap.
Mrs Bouzalas, putting on stiletto heels, oddly wiggles in the loaf until it really is flattened — a fetish referred to as “cake crush” or “cake sitting”.
Takes the dessert. Father George Passias watches as Ethel Bouzalas crushes dessert as an element of an act that is fetish. Image: Nyc Post
An additional online video, the pretty Peruvian rubs her legs regarding the priest’s face as they lie under a mirrored ceiling and she records his ecstasy during the encounter. An additional tape, the priest works dental intercourse on their enthusiast while she actually is nevertheless clad in sheer pantyhose.
The videos and photos associated with the pair had been supplied anonymously to your Post week that is last a page saying these people were downloaded off a computer in Passias’s church office. The transmitter composed that a investigator that is private been employed to tail the few with their rendezvous in motels in brand brand brand New Jersey and upstate New York.
The scandal blew up during the early September whenever Tom Bouzalas, Ethel Bouzalas’s spouse, emailed Bishop Andonios Paropoulos, the chancellor regarding the Greek Orthodox Church in america, and disclosed the event, the bishop told The Post.
The bishop stated that both Fr Passias and Ethel Bouzalas then found see him and therefore Fr Passias ended up being suspended on 16 “as per the sexual-misconduct policy of the archdiocese” september.
Bishop Andonios stated he previously maybe perhaps not heard of intercourse tapes but “learned of these presence during both parties” to our meetings.
Caught on film. Another sex tapes involves Ethel Bouzalas rubbing her legs on Father George Passias’s face. Photo: Nyc Post
After a weeks-long absence from the pulpit, Fr Passias told their St. Spyridon flock in a message a week ago which he ended up being making for “personal and wellness reasons”, and confessed to “multitudinous sins and shortcomings”.
“i shall now diminish from this world for a time that is considerable to God’s will, ” he published. “ He has plumped for for me personally. That i ought to retire and stick to the method of silence, prayer, fasting, and utter devotion to our Lord.
“Please don’t ask where i’m going and where i am. Then it could never be easy for us to fulfil what exactly is my great deal. ”
He asked their parishioners to pray for him and their spouse. He’s four children that are grown. Mrs Bouzalas has three young ones.
Fr George Passias speaks development
‘She’s a goddaughter to me’
In 2013, The Post broke the tale concerning the relationship that is unorthodox Fr Passias and Mrs Bouzalas and alleged financial wrongdoing during the church, that has almost 200 families and ended up being created in 1931 if the neighbourhood had been a Greek stronghold.
Whenever Fr Passias took the helm associated with Wadsworth Avenue church in 2006, Mrs Bouzalas was included with him as his associate. He called her his “spiritual goddaughter, ” and so they arrived and left together each day. A church handyman stated he when saw her sitting in the priest’s lap.
Mrs Bouzalas told parishioners that she transformed into the Greek Orthodox faith and therefore Fr Passias baptised her while she wore a bikini. The transformation evidently arrived before she would be to marry her spouse, a follower associated with the faith.
Greek Orthodoxy has 24 million supporters global. The chair for the Christian church is with in Istanbul, Turkey, presided over by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. Priests can only just be males but are permitted to marry.
Together with his moving black colored robes and oversized cross around their throat, Fr Passias cut an imposing and figure that is authoritative. Mrs Bouzalas, meanwhile, favoured quick skirts and high heel shoes.
Mrs Bouzalas, who’d no training qualifications, ended up being quickly promoted to end up being the volunteer principal regarding the St. Spyridon Parochial School, which serves kindergarten to eighth grade and it has a taxpayer-funded pre-kindergarten system. She additionally became church treasurer and a signatory on bank reports.
Along with imposing the rules that are conservative Fr Passias ruffled longtime congregants who stated he eliminated settings over church investing and questioned why cash had been poured into repairs during the college.
Misconduct. Father George Passias, that has now resigned, is pictured right right here offering a sermon. Image: YouTube
Handling of four church-owned apartment structures was handed up to an organization associated with Alma Bank, that also offered cash and refinancing mortgage. Renovations for the structures ended up being carried out by two firms linked with principals at Alma Bank.
The allegations were cooked up by a group of “evil-minded people” — parishioners who wanted him gone in 2013, Fr Passias told The Post.
They’ve been saying I’m having an exclusive event along with her, ” he stated. “She is really a goddaughter in my experience. That’s it. ”
Steve Papadatos, the Parish Council president, in the time called the allegations against Fr Passias “lies”, then blasted The Post for publishing an account which he said had been “replete with slander” and innuendo. He called the church “eternally grateful” to your priest and Bouzalas, in accordance with the National Herald, a magazine that covers the Greek community.
Mr Papadatos the other day stated which he wouldn’t touch upon the scandal, but he endured by Fr Passias and Mrs Bouzalas and desired visitors to pray for them.
The bishop stated that the misconduct ended up being brought before a “Spiritual Court of this First Degree” a week ago and that a council of church leaders — like the mind of Greek Orthodoxy within the United States — will review the findings. Any punishment, including defrocking that is possible is supposed to be determined in Istanbul.
Holy home. St Spyridon Church, Ny. Image: Bing Maps
Church to analyze
Expected why the church had ignored the longtime allegations associated with event, the bishop stated, “Lacking any tangible proof an event, there is no accountable means the church could simply take any more action. ”
He stated an review a few years back discovered no abuse of funds, but another research would happen “to ensure that between the period and from now on, absolutely nothing has changed”.
Mrs Bouzalas stuffed up her college workplace week that is last. A moving van carted off a desk, filing cabinet, dining dining table and shopping bags along with her possessions. A principal that is new been assigned into the college.
Her spouse declined to discuss the event or even the maternity but stated the few ended up being nevertheless together. He confirmed he knew of this intercourse tapes.
Fr Passias, in their farewell note to parishioners, stated he had been after the direction of “my religious dad Geronda Ephraim”. Ephraim presides over St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox monastery in Florence, Ariz. The household of a child whom lived there and committed suicide in 2012 contends the death ended up being the consequence of “six many years of physical and emotional punishment” during the monastery.