A Matthewite-minded priest is suspended again

Concerning the Uncanonical Separation, the Falsely Styled “Walling-Off,” and the Canonical Offenses of Fr. Nikolaos Dimaras

September 28, 2026

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT

With the deepest sorrow, it is brought to the attention of the pious pleroma of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians that Fr. Nikolaos Dimaras, by means of a declaration of his own, proceeded to break ecclesiastical communion with his own Bishop and with the Holy Synod of the Church of the G.O.C. of Greece, under His Beatitude Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens and All Greece.

The so-called “canonical walling-off,” based upon baseless, false, and unsupported allegations concerning doctrinal deviations and ecumenistic joint prayers, constitutes an arbitrary, uncanonical, and schismatic act. The Holy Synod remains the unwavering guardian of the Orthodox Confession and the Sacred Canons, categorically rejecting every such accusation.

For the information of the Christ-named flock and its protection from misinformation, the following are hereby made known:

1. The Erroneous and Arbitrary Interpretation of Canon 15 of the First-Second Council of Constantinople

Canon 15 of the First-Second Council of Constantinople, invoked by the cleric in question, is exceedingly clear and strict with regard to the conditions for its application:

a. It permits the cessation of commemoration only when the Bishop preaches “in the Church” and “with uncovered head” a heresy already condemned by the Holy Synods or Fathers.

b. The Canon itself expressly condemns those who separate themselves from their own Bishop and from the Synod before a synodal determination and judgment, characterizing such an act as schism.

c. Accusations and claims concerning conduct, alleged joint prayers, or irregularities on the part of individual clerics do not constitute a doctrinal heresy proclaimed synodally, but rather matters requiring disciplinary and administrative investigation. The substitution of the individual judgment of a single cleric for synodal determination does not constitute “walling-off,” but rather insubordinate defiance carried out in a coup-like manner.

d. Severance from communion with the Bishop and the Synod, in the absence of their proclamation of a condemned heresy, does not constitute a confession of faith, but disorderly flight, rebellion, and schism.

2. Response to the Accusations Put Forward

a. Concerning His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Attica and Boeotia and public events:

The dogmatic and canonical prohibition of the Sacred Canons (such as Apostolic Canons 45 and 46) expressly concerns liturgical communion, sacramental participation, and joint prayer with heterodox or schismatics. Attendance at public, national, or local commemorative events of historical significance (such as the Exodus of Missolonghi) falls within the context of social coexistence and representation. A simple courtesy or the exchange of symbolic gifts in a secular setting does not constitute recognition of ecclesiastical status, nor does it amount to a falling away from the faith.

With regard to the encounter between Their Eminences Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Attica and Boeotia and Metropolitan Gregory of Thessaloniki during the Palm Sunday procession (April 2026) in Acharnes, as well as the incident at the ceremony marking the 200th anniversary of Missolonghi in the presence of the Mayor, it is clarified that this did not constitute ecclesiastical joint prayer, as the Holy Synod has already ruled. In any event, it does not constitute a proclamation of dogma. The Church of the G.O.C. of Greece has never dogmatized in favor of Ecumenism.

b. Concerning Bishop Daniel of Nicopolis and the W.C.C.

The Holy Synod has never been a member of the World Council of Churches (W.C.C.), nor has it ever approved the participation therein of any diocese under its jurisdiction. Reports to the contrary are false. The missionary regions of the East face particular circumstances, which are regulated exclusively by the local Hierarch and the Holy Synod. Any deviations that were ascertained were addressed, responsibility was assumed, and His Grace Bishop Daniel of Nicopolis has already submitted his resignation in writing. The invocation of old reports or photographs dating from before the irregularities were rectified, as a pretextual basis for breaking communion, constitutes a grave canonical transgression.

c. Concerning the Holy Mysteries

The sweeping and unsubstantiated accusation that allegedly “almost all the priests give Communion to New Calendarists” constitutes an immoral defamation of the sacred body of the clergy. The Church observes the strictness of Tradition, exercising pastoral care with discernment and not with Pharisaical hard-heartedness.

3. Canonical Status of the Holy Church and the Ecclesiastical Council

It is expressly recalled that:

a. The Holy Church of All Saints in Patras is not the private property of the parish priest or of the members of the Ecclesiastical Council, but a legal and spiritual institution of the Church of the G.O.C. of Greece, subject to the Holy Metropolis of Achaia and All the Peloponnese.

b. The Ecclesiastical Council is appointed by the Ecclesiastical Authority, has administrative duties only, and possesses no dogmatic or canonical authority enabling it to co-sign or approve a cessation of communion or acts of separation.

4. The Most Serious Canonical Transgression of Intrusion into Another Jurisdiction

Furthermore, Fr. Nikolaos Dimaras went to the Holy Monastery of Saint Stephen in Aulis, where he celebrated the funeral service of the ever-memorable Eldress Eugenia, without the canonical permission and blessing of his own Bishop, namely His Beatitude, and also without the permission of the local Bishop, namely His Eminence Chrysostomos.

This action constitutes:

a. A violation of fundamental Sacred Canons (Apostolic Canon 31; Canons 5 and 13 of the Fourth Ecumenical Council; and Canons 41, 42, and 57 of the Council of Laodicea), which expressly forbid a presbyter from entering another ecclesiastical jurisdiction and performing sacred rites without permission.

b. A complete manifestation of lawlessness and contempt for ecclesiastical order, since the cleric in question selectively invokes the Sacred Canons in order to justify his disobedience, while at the same time openly and repeatedly violating them, thereby committing the most serious canonical offense of intrusion into another jurisdiction.

CANONICAL DECISIONS

In view of the foregoing, it is made known to the Christ-named flock that Fr. Nikolaos Dimaras, having placed himself outside canonical ecclesiastical communion and having committed a series of grave canonical offenses:

Is deprived of every canonical permission to celebrate the Holy Mysteries, perform sacred rites, and conduct services of sanctification, until his case is adjudicated by the competent Synodal Court. Consequently, every sacred rite performed by him is invalid and uncanonical.

The pious Christians are called upon to remain steadfast and devoted to the canonical Church and the Holy Synod, refraining from separatist movements which disturb ecclesiastical peace and place the salvation of souls in jeopardy.

From the Secretariat of the Holy Metropolis of Achaia and All the Peloponnese

 

Greek source (G.O.C. Archdiocese of Athens website):

https://iaathgoc.gr/%CF%80%CE%B5%CF%81%E1%BD%B6-%CF%84%E1%BF%86%CF%82-%E1%BC%80%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%E1%BF%86%CF%82-%E1%BC%80%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%83%CF%87%CE%AF%CF%83%CE%B5%CF%89%CF%82-2/