Trial of Elder Chrysostomos (Spyros) of Spetses

 

From Nikolaos Mannis (translated from the original Greek):

"A historical photograph from the trial (Aug 21, 1984) of the unforgettable Elder Chrysostomos Spyros of Spetses (as we look to the right, wearing glasses), who, along with the entire women's Sisterhood of the Holy Monastery of All Saints in Spetses (of which he was the Spiritual Father), was excommunicated by the innovative Metropolitan Hierotheos Tsantilis due to [Hierotheos’] Ecumenism. He was persecuted, 'defrocked' unlawfully, and the Monastery (which was built from the dowries of the nuns) was seized based on the anti-canonical pretext that 'Monasteries belong to the Metropolitan' (it should be noted that the personal belongings of the Elder, such as his library, are still in the occupied Monastery of All Saints). Elder Chrysostomos later founded a new Monastery (Panagia Gorgoepikoos and the Myrrh-bearers) after various benefactors' contributions, while he was supported by many Genuine Orthodox Christians (I have two letters to him, one from the then Archbishop Auxentios and one from St. Philaret of the Russian Church Abroad, in which they recognize his priesthood as intact - he was ordained by Hierotheos of Hydra! - without expressing Matthewite opinions on reordination, laying on of hands, etc.). In the photograph, the blessed Fr. Niphon Astyfides [elder brother of the late Metropolitan Petros of Astoria] can also be seen (next to the Elder), Fr. Niphon Anastasopoulos, and two other priests unknown to me."