Seven days on job and police Priest Axed

By: Apostolos Papapostolou
15/2/2011

A Greek priest appointed by SA Police as a chaplain has been sacked seven days into his job.

The Reverend Prokopios Kanavas (photo) was appointed on January 28 – and was sacked on February 4 – after senior police became aware of information that allegedly affected his “suitability” for the position.

Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Graeme Barton said “standard and appropriate police clearance procedures were followed” in the assessment of Mr Kanavas’s application for the voluntary position, which had been supported by the Autocephalic Greek Orthodox Church for America and Australia.

He said Mr Kanavas was appointed once the clearance process had been completed but shortly after this SAPOL “reviewed information received which related to the suitability of Mr Kanavas to fulfil the role”.

“Following receipt of this information SAPOL withdrew Mr Kanavas’s status of police chaplain on February 4,” Mr Barton said. “He did not undertake any official duties as a police chaplain.”

The Sunday Mail has obtained a letter that raises concerns at the highest levels within the Greek Orthodox archdiocese over Mr Kanavas’s background which led to him being defrocked as a priest in 2008.

The letter – obtained from a church source – was sent to Bishop Nikandros, the head of the Greek Orthodox archdiocese in South Australia, by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem on June 19 last year.

“With reference to Prokopios Kanavas, who represents himself in Adelaide as an archimandrite, we advise that he was ordained and served within our patriarchate as a deacon,” the letter states.

It then makes a number of allegations, which cannot be detailed for legal reasons. The letter states that the Synod of the patriarchate deliberated on July 24, 2008, and defrocked him, at which time he reverted back to a lay person.

He then joined the Greek Army, later joining another faction of the church and was again ordained and made his way to Adelaide last year.

He is currently based at the St Nicholas parish, Thebarton, which is part of the Autocephalic Greek Orthodox Church. When contacted by the Sunday Mail Mr Kanavas declined to comment.

Greek Orthodox community general manager Nick Kyriazopoulos said while he was aware Mr Kanavas’s services as chaplain had been terminated, he was unaware of the reasons.

However, the chairman of the Federation of Greek Communities in Australia, property developer Theo Maras, said he believed the letter from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem was an attempt by his opponents to slur him.

Its content was “unproven” and Mr Kanavas had been given no opportunity to respond to the allegations.

“This is nothing more than muddying the waters and, unfortunately, muddying a young clergyman’s career in a despot type approach because he has been successful and active here,” he said.

“This is an attempt to cast aspersions on his character.”

Source: