One of the first official visits by the newly enthroned Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Chicago wasn’t by coincidence.
Metropolitan Nathanael visited the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Milwaukee on pal Sunday and brought with him a 13-minute long message of renewal and forgiveness.
This is the parish whose former priest, Fr. James Dokos, embezzled more than $100,000, using the money to buy jewelry for his wife and other personal items, according to court records.
The matter divided the community and shattered the trust of many long-time members, watching the scandal play out in local and regional media over the course of several months.
Nathanael didn’t brush the issue under the rug. Instead, touching on it head on during his sermon after Divine Liturgy. He also told the parish that he came to listen to them and answer questions about accountability in the Church, a matter currently plaguing the national church headquartered in New York City.
“This week is a reminder of what the human condition is, and how we are really broken as people,” Symeonides said before the visit. “Holy Week is the telling and reliving of unconditional love that helps us overcome betrayal; the love that’s needed to forgive.”
Watch Metropolitan Nathanael’s sermon below:
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