SA parishioners speak out amid allegations that Father John Christodoulos led a sordid double life

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Parishioners at St Andrews Greek Orthodox Church in Noarlunga, South Australia, have spoken out in defense of Father John Christodoulos amid allegations he was leading a sordid double life.

According to a report by The Advertiser, Father John secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from devout elderly parishioners, while flouting church teachings by regularly meeting other men at night via the dating app and of gay chat, Grindr.

Parishioners of St Andrew’s – the parish he had served since 2020 before moving to a church in Fawkner in Melbourne last week – defended Fr Christodoulos over the allegations on Sunday.

He is a good person, a parishioner told The Advertiser after the Sunday service at Noarlunga church.

Father Jean Christodoulos.

Another Noarlunga church priest, Fr Mark, said he was “shocked” by the allegations but denied they were true as Fr Christodoulos’ behavior was “still appropriate”.

If someone is gay, you can’t hide it, he said and added that if the allegations were true, Father Christodoulos “would be a mess”.

The comments came after a spokesperson for Archbishop Makarios of Australia confirmed to The Advertiser that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia was “not aware of the allegations” but would be conducting an internal investigation into their subject. The spokesperson said the investigation will be confidential.

Father Christodoulos did not respond to the allegations.

Source: The Advertiser.

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