Over the last several weeks, a self-styled “schema hieromonk” Ephraim (Krassovsky) has been visiting various parishes within our Diocese. It is herewith brought to the attention of both clergy and lay faithful, that monk Ephraim is not recognized as a legitimately ordained clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In 1993, the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR, having examined the relevant judgement of the Spiritual Court of the Diocese of Syracuse and Holy Trinity, as presented by His Eminence Archbishop Laurus, confirmed the Spiritual Court’s decision to defrock - then hierodeacon - Ephraim, who had, in order to escape answering for his misdeeds and accepting the consequences thereof, deserted the Holy Trinity Monastery and his ecclesiastic authority and, without a proper canonical release, joined himself unto representatives of one of the many schismatic offshoots of the Greek Old Calendar movement and there, accepted an uncanonical priestly ordination.

Consequently, this ordination of monk Ephraim cannot considered to be legitimate by the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia or abroad. The conduct of monk Ephraim is creating a source of consternation among both clergy and our faithful parishioners. In order to avoid any potential difficulties, clergy are instructed not to allow him to serve in our parishes and our faithful are recommended to be most cautious of any contact with him.

The “Communique from the Office of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad” in regards to this matter is attached.

Diocesan Chancellery

The printable version of Metropolitan Hilarion's Communique may be found here.