Saint Gregory Palamas Monastery Exposed
I am a former novice of Saint Gregory Palamas Monastery (Synod in Resistance). When I was there I witnessed things that were shocking, but I would suppress the experiences and continue with my business. However, I never forgot certain things. In the following account I quote monastics at this monastery, but I edit out the actual cuss words they used, substituting them with “PD” (Profanity Deleted). My purpose here is not to gossip, but to warn others about this group. When I first encountered these people, I knew that something was off and shady about them, but they tried to indoctrinate me into believing that I could not trust my thoughts. I can't help but think that the Abbot Akakios was engaging in gaslighting. Gaslighting is when a person tries to manipulate someone, using psychological methods, into questioning their own sanity or powers of reasoning. But when I later heard numerous independent testimonies against this group, and came into contact with the teaching of Elder Ignatius Brianchaninov on signs of a false elder, I realized that I was on to something, and that I could indeed trust my thoughts about them. The teaching of Elder Ignatius opened my eyes, and I never returned to this monastery again.
MONASTICS USED PROFANITY
One time a novice was teaching me how to make prayer ropes. I had intentionally mangled a rope in order to elicit a reaction out of him. When he saw it, he exclaimed: "Holy (PD).” That was not the reaction I wanted.
I once saw Abbot Akakios talking to a monk outside, and the monk was walking away. Abbot Akakios exclaimed: "Don't walk away when I am talking to you, (PD).”
Another monastic once told me: "You're not the only one who's had a (PD) life."
One time monks and I were working in the printing room, and Archbishop Chrysostomos entered. He got upset about something and took the name of Jesus Christ in vain. He said it loudly with no shame or embarrassment.
I remember Archbishop Chrysostomos taking the full name of Jesus Christ in vain on another occasion, but I can't remember the details.
Years later, a ROCIE layman emailed me: "you are not the only one who has heard SIR Archbishop Chrysostomos take the name of our Lord in vain. I never heard +AC cuss, but I observed enough of his personality to be able to believe you and the others who report it."
Another time we were all in a vehicle, and Archbishop Chrysostomos was in the passenger seat. He was discussing Mormonism, and said: "Anything's got to be one upgrade better than that (PD)”.
One time I spoke on the phone with Archbishop Chrysostomos, and explained that a Protestant had told me that St. Irenaeus believed in Sola Scriptura. Archbishop Chrysostomos replied: "That's (PD).”
One time I was in the printing room with other monastics. We were listening to a man lecture on a cassette. I think he had a soft voice. When Fr. Nectarios entered the room and heard him, he asked: "Who's this faggot talking?"
One time there was discussion about a man who had visited the monastery named Seraphim. I asked, "Who's Seraphim?" A novice replied, "He's a big, fat, lazy nigger."
I remember Archbishop Chrysostomos once saying, "We need a nigger monk."
Once when I left the monastery, I spoke with Abbot Akakios on the phone. He berated me for receiving a second baptism (he had originally baptized me). I received another baptism, because a ROCOR abbot at another monastery believed the Etna folks were heretics. They are often referred to with the derogatory term, "Cyprianites." When I was speaking with the Abbot Akakios on the phone, I said something to the affect: "Can you show some compassion?" He replied with hostility “…(PD)! You're the one who received a second baptism, jack ass!" But I received the baptism in obedience to my new abbot in ROCOR. Had I rejected his baptism, I would have been guilty of disobedience. Abbot Akakios said that my criticisms of them would lead to homosexuality, and that I am going to end-up in bed with who he called, the “mad man” (who gave the second baptism). On a personal note, I didn’t like Abbot Akakios. Sometimes when we talked, I felt like I was being interrogated.
This concludes the profanity section.
STRANGE EXPERIENCES IN THE MONASTERY
I never forgot the time when I was sitting in Abbot Akakios' cell, and he asked me if I had ever been tempted by homosexuality, or had a homosexual experience (something along those lines). I related to him that this sin was not an issue in my life. He said that all men have been tempted with homosexuality, and if they say they haven't, they are lying; and he said that if I had not had this temptation yet, I would eventually. Who is this man to abuse a young novice with such a wicked suggestion? This was highly inappropriate. He should speak for himself. I am not sorry to bust your bubble, but I like girls! I can’t help but think that Fr. Akakios was doing thought reform by trying to make me believe something about myself that isn’t true. Of course, this is psychological abuse. My hypothesis is that Fr. Akakios was indoctrinated by a liberal concept about homosexuality from Archbishop Chrysostomos, since he attended the liberal Princeton.
A novice once told me that Abbot Akakios used to be an interrogator in the CIA. I have no proof this is true.
I once witnessed Abbot Akakios arguing with a monk at the kliros at the end of the service. Abbot Akakios had told him to stop chanting, but for some reason the monk refused. Abbot Akakios approached him, saying, "Stop, stop, or I will hit you so hard!" There was a scuffle, some profanity from the monk, but short lived. The monk took me aside that day, and said that the reason the scuffle occurred was because it was Bright Week, and they were the last traditional monastery in America, and it was a demonic attack.
This same monk once told me that he had been on psychiatric medication when he arrived at the monastery, but the monastery leadership had him stop the medication cold turkey. I once spoke to a novice of another monastery about this. He was both a medical doctor and a psychiatrist. He told me that he knew as a doctor that it was wrong for them to stop this monks medication.
This same monk ended-up leaving the monastery. A former monk, Fr. Makarios related to me that this monk walked out of the monastery, removing his clothing. The brotherhood followed his trail of clothes in the wilderness. The monk went to some layman's house; the layman called the police, stating, "Get this mad man off my porch." (I am quoting Fr. Makarios). Fr. Makarios told me that he thought the monk was in a mental hospital. The last time he called him, the phone was disconnected.
I once asked Archbishop Chrysostomos if the Holy Spirit initiates the incorruption of Hindu swamis. He said, "We have no way of knowing."
Archbishop Chrysostomos once said Jesus is God the Father. This sounds Modalistic, but I'm not sure what he meant. He also once said that the universe is God. This sounds like pantheism or panentheism. He also said that God is the totality of consciousness, including human consciousness. This sounds like Monopsychism or Emenational Pantheism. I was left with the impression that the human mind is a part of God. But I’m not sure what he was getting at.
I was baptized in a freezing creek in November, even though they had a tub at the monastery. This was unnecessary, and I consider it cruel and abusive. I always felt that Archbishop Chrysostomos and Abbot Akakios were sadistic. Later the same year, a man with a PhD was baptized at the monastery in the tub. They even posted a photo of him, and devoted a few pages about him in their periodical, “Orthodox Tradition.” The reason I mentioned that the man had a PhD, is because I always sensed that Abbot Akakios and Archbishop Chrysostomos considered people more valuable if they possessed a doctorate. I always believed that they showed favoritism.
The monastery confiscated my King James Bible, without even telling me. I noticed one day that it was gone from my cell. When I was asked about it, Abbot Akakios said that I would get enough Scripture from church services.
I injured my knee when hauling much concrete in a wheelbarrow one day. I remember that day the food was inadequate. This injury affected me periodically for years, but since I used to lift weights, I can’t be sure the injury originated at the monastery.
The former monk Father Macarios told me that Father Nectarios once broke his foot, but the monastery did not take him to the hospital.
I once showed-up unannounced on Greyhound to the nearby city of Yreka, which was approximately twenty-three or so miles away from Etna. I called the monastery, and Archbishop Chrysostomos had me hitchhike to the monastery. This speaks for itself, and no commentary is needed. Remarkably, a woman picked me up and drove me to the monastery. She said she had never picked-up anyone before, and that the Holy Spirit told her to pick me up.
Once I was praying with Fr. Gregory and Fr. Sylvestros on the second floor of a building. The latter had to leave for some reason, and he fell down the staircase. It was loud and obvious. Fr. Gregory did not even check to see if he was ok.
Once in church I had my eyes closed and a mild smile on my face, because I felt the joy of the Lord. The Abbot Akakios noticed it, and lectured me later. He thought it was a delusion. My speculation is that he was jealous of the Lord, because at the precise moment I was smiling, Abbot Akakios was not the center of my reality—he was not the object of my attention. St. Paul instructed the church at Philippi to rejoice in the Lord, or be joyful in the Lord several times in his epistle to the Philippians. But the implication I got from Abbot Akakios was that I am being a bad Christian if I am happy, and that we are only acceptable to God if we are miserable or unhappy.
Archbishop Chrysostomos used to interrupt church services (I remember once even a liturgy), in order to correct the chanters. Once he stated that if we did not get it right, he would instruct a third party (I think Bishop Auxentios?) to slap us each on the face. When it was discovered that Fr. Chrysanthos was the culprit, he was penalized in his cell and forced to state it correctly a hundred or so times, with Fr. Nectarios overseeing this.
Once on a work day when we were working, we were taken into a room to watch a cartoon with no narration, just strange animated designs. No reason was given for why we were watching it. I never forgot the expression on Fr. Patapios’ face.
Once we were taken into the kitchen by Bishop Auxentios. It had been thrashed with flower and items spread out, and I think broken dishes (at least one). Evidently, Archbishop Chrysostomos was displeased with the way it was cleaned, so he had Bishop Auxentios (I believe) thrash and wreck it in order to teach us a lesson.
Once we were celebrating the name day of Fr. Sylvestros at the trapeza table. He was given a can of what appeared to be assorted peanuts or candy, and he was delighted. But at the bottom of the can was plastic or rubber dog feces. His joy immediately left.
Once at a creek, several monks began howling like wolves, grabbed me, and cast me into the very cold creek. Archbishop Chrysostomos was present. Instead of rebuking them, he asked me what my first thought was when I hit the water. I said, “Ice.”
I wrote a letter to my former friend and roommate, but evidently it was confiscated, because when I left the monastery, my friend told me that he never received it. There was nothing wrong with the letter. I remember mentioning how we had received snow at the monastery. Please note, I had Abbot Akakios’ permission to write my friend, so why was my letter confiscated?
A man acquainted with the monastery died. Even though he was not Orthodox, Archbishop Chrysostomos had us pray for him, and I remember him saying that a person has to will to be saved, giving me the impression that being Orthodox was not a necessity, and that just willing to be saved is all that is necessary. Pope St. Gregory the Great (died 604) taught that Christians should not pray for those who die outside the Church. However, I have come to the understanding that we can say private prayers for the deceased non-Orthodox.
The monastery was next to a road. Sometimes when men drove by, they would shout at the monastery. One time someone drove by and shouted, and Archbishop Chrysostomos shouted back calling them “retarded monkeys!”
A pool was put in the monastery. I helped dig the foundation. I believe it was for Archbishop Chrysostomos’ health problems (diabetes). But he said we could all use the pool. I consider a pool in a professing Orthodox monastery odd and inappropriate; but I never dissented to this when I was there, and I never actually used the pool.
I got a homosexual vibe from Abbot Akakios and Archbishop Chrysostomos, because of the way they looked at me, but this is subjective.
Fr. Gregory and monks once mocked and laughed at Saint Herman’s Monastery, since they erected a life size, cardboad image of an Orthodos elder, calling him, “The real Superman,” and posted it in their periodical, “The Orthodox Word.”
I left the monastery and never returned after reading an edition of "The Orthodox Word," where Elder Ignatius Brianchaninov gave the signs of a false elder. I was then convinced that Abbot Akakios met the criteria of false eldership, and related this to him. He then told me that I no longer had a blessing to read "The Orthodox Word." I ended-up leaving, and never returned.
COMPLAINTS I HEARD FROM PEOPLE
Over the years I heard complaints about this monastery from Orthodox people.
One time when I was at a ROCOR monastery, I was looking for copies of the Etna magazine, "Orthodox Tradition,” in the library. I spoke with the librarian monk, who was evidently familiar with the Etna group. He compared them to the myth of Mount Etna, the entrance to hell. (The monastery is in the city of Etna). He definitely did not think much of these people.
I once spoke on the phone with Archbishop Anthony of San Francisco. He said the group in Etna were heretics and without sacramental grace, and he referenced someone (I forgot the name) who knew Archbishop Chrysostomos when he was still a layman, I believe, and said that this third party “was never impressed.”
There was a story circulating that the monastery had once put dog feces in the monks food. The monastery finally responded to this accusation in their magazine, and the author (I think Abbot Akakios) claimed that the accusation was about cat feces, and he explained how the food in question only looked like feces, but was not feces. I have no idea who the liar is, but someone is a liar.
Once in my old ROCOR parish a conversation about the Etna folks erupted, and I came to their defense. At that time I was still under the monasteries influence. People in the church were saying bad things about them, but I do not remember the details.
One time a woman at my ROCOR parish berated Archbishop Chrysostomos in my presence, because the latter flaunted his Ph.D. in their magazine. I don't remember all the details, but I got the impression from her that he had posted a xerox copy of his degree in their magazine, but I could be wrong.
Once before I was Orthodox and called the monastery, Archbishop Chrysostoms refused to speak with me, because he thought he was superior with his Ph.D. from Princeton. He said, "I have a Ph.D. from Princeton, and four other degrees. I don't have time to talk with someone who is not even a High School graduate." I heard his voice in the background, and Abbot Akakios was repeating him verbatim. Abbot Akakios asked: "Or are you?” (a High School graduate). This is astonishing arrogance. Christ was born in a manger, chose fishermen to be his disciples, and even washed their feet. Further, Christ personally assisted every person that appealed to his mercy, regardless of their social status. As a side note, I did speak directly with Archbishop Chrysostomos on other occasions, and you should know that Princeton is liberal. Archbishop Chrysostomos was a very arrogant person. He was not a foremost world expert on any topic, but he was so arrogant. I have corresponded with foremost experts on various topics (all of whom are heterodox), and they have always exhibited humility and kindness.
I once spoke on the phone with a former novice (or monk) of this monastery, and he told me that he personally did not recommend I go there.
I also spoke on the phone with a former monk of this monastery, named Fr. Makarios. He had been there for many years, and was even tonsured, but left. He told me that he believed Abbot Akakios and Bishop Auxentios were homosexuals. He said Fr. Akakios would be in Bishop Auxentios' cell late at night.
A few years ago I received an email from a former nun of St. Elizabeth Convent in Etna (sister monastery to St. Gregory Palamas Monastery). She had been there for fifteen years, but left. She told me that she was traumatized, and that it's like having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I once spoke to a layman in Etna, and he was telling me bad things about this monastery. He even stopped attending their services, and said he would not return. Evidently, there had been some falling out between them, but I don't know the details.
The former monk Father Makarios told me that a monk once made a homosexual pass on Fr. Nectarios in the kitchen, and Fr. Nectarios punched him out cold.
Once a monk from another Old Calendarist jurisdiction told me that the Etna folks had lied in their magazine. The Etna folks had made some claim about some church dispute issue, and referenced the ROCOR magazine "Orthodox Life" citing the page number. The monk told me that he looked, and there was no such reference.
I once asked a ROCOR priest-monk why the ROCOR broke communion with the Synod in Resistence, and he answered,” They are not what they claim to be.”
I used to hear people talking bad about the Etna monastery, but I didn't know what all the fuss was, because I was new to Orthodoxy and I was still in the dark about all the drama, toxicity, and politics circulating between rival groups.
One time my friend called the monastery with a question, and spoke with Bishop Auxentios. He mentioned that he had been reading the Church Fathers. Bishop Auxentios corrected him, stating that he was dabbling in the Church Fathers, and he said that he did not have the right to ask the question. My friend later told me that Bishop Auxentios was smug and arrogant, but that he was right that he was just dabbling in the Church Fathers.
Once when I was in the world, I called the monastery and spoke with Archbishop Chrysostomos about joining St. Herman's Monastery, because I liked it. He encouraged me in this, and told me to give Fr. Herman his best. When I related this to Fr. Herman, he was surprised. This is unacceptable, because at that time Fr. Herman was deposed by the ROCOR, was a homosexual, his monastery was schismatic, and the ROCOR leadership had specifically instructed their faithful not to have anything to do with Fr. Herman; but I didn't know this at that time. Archbishop Chrysostomos led me in a spiritually wrong direction. These are the kind of irregularities and red flags that you will see with people who are deluded.
Bishop Auxentios wrote an article accusing people critical of Harry Potter of thinking like fundamentalists. I would argue that this is more evidence of delusion in Auxentios. When he accuses Orthodox people critical of Harry Potter of thinking like fundamentalists, he commits the fallacy known as argument ad hominem, which tries to invalidate a position by attacking the character of those who hold to it. This is a fallacy because the truth of a position is independent of the character of those who believe it.
I heard that the founder of the Synod in Resistance Metropolitan Cyprian Koutsoumbas liked to sit on a seat higher than other people, and to be called “the father.” I believe God humiliated him with the coma, and with the ungodly death of being stiff, with his mouth opened (which no one could close). He did not die the death of a holy hierarch. The Shepherd of Hermas (c. early second century) warns against one "who, seeming to have the Spirit, exalts himself and would fain have the first seat."
Compare the teaching of Christ:
But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. (Luke 14:10).
CONCLUDING REMARKS
While the above is disturbing, another important factor is the fact that these people are uncanonical, schismatic heretics. I eventually learned that Metropolitan Cyprian (their founder) was a deposed schismatic. These people are not real Orthodox Christians, and on this basis alone, no one should have anything to do with them.
I want to stress in closing, my purpose is not to gossip, nor to slander. I distinctly remember these details, and I want to warn people about this group. I always sensed that they were odd, and I received corroboration from the numerous, independent testimonies I eventually came across. Please also be aware that I may get slandered from the leadership of this monastery, so I ask that you do not contact them. The truth is reported here. Archbishop Chrysostomos once told me that he was fond of me when I was there, and both Archbishop Chrysostomos and Father Akakios said I was a hard worker. Further, Father Akakios once told me that I was brought there by divine providence, and that I have a lot of potential. Once when I relocated to a city, a ROCOR priest called this monastery to ask about me. Bishop Auxentios said about me, “He’s a good man.” So if they slander me now, don’t fall for it.
I have decided to share a story which brings tears to my eyes when thinking about it. I remember leaving the monastery and standing at a freeway entrance hitchhiking. A woman (a total stranger) drove by as she entered the freeway, turned to me, and made the sign of the cross over me. When it was getting cold and darker, a man picked me up, took me to his home, where I met his wife. He fed me, gave me a delicious desert, a large bed to sleep in and drove me all the way to my destination the next day. Oh, the mercy of God and the power of the cross! Glory be to God for all things!
AUXILIARY INFORMATION
Metropolitan Cyprian was deposed because he gave Communion to New Calendarists. This was forbidden by the Greek Old Calendarist Protocol 13 (issued in 1950) and Protocol 1191 (issued in 1974).
Met. Cyprian's synod was built on a violation of the canons:
Apostolic Canons 31 and 35; Canon 18 of the 4th Ecumenical Council; Canon 1 of St. Basil; Canons 13, 15, 19 and 22 of Antioch; Canon 34 of Trullo; Canon 6 of Gangra; Canon 15 of Sardica; 13 of Carthage. These canons "specify that they who enact such things are deposed, and the consecrations performed by them are invalid."...[The Struggle Against Ecumenism, p. 107].
ANATHEMA on the Cyprianites
http://www.gocnews.info/0001_archives/i-140207-002_GOC-info_ANATHEMA-ON-Cyprianites_EN.html
The Defrocking of Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos (in English)
http://orthodoxie-libre.over-blog.com/article-the-defrocking-of-metropolitan-cyprian-of-oropos-123471477.html
Because of this man's selfishness and incompetence, many people have been deceived and mislead.
RESOURCES FOR HELP
I am not saying Saint Gregory Palamas Monastery is a cult, but I do believe they have exhibited cultic type behavior, as well as other groups professing Orthodoxy.
I recommend the book “Combatting Cult Mind Control,” by Stevan Hassan.
also see: https://janjalalich.com/
Warning sings of potentially unsafe religious groups/leaders
https://culteducation.com/warningsigns.html
Dr. Vladimir Moss wrote a response to an article from Saint Gregory Palamas Monastery, called “Cultism Within: A Rejoinder to Archimandrite Akakios. See here:
http://www.romanitas.ru/eng/CULTISM%20WITHIN.htm
Saint Gregory Palamas Monastery wrote a follow-up response, which led to more interaction by Dr. Moss.