Nun suing monastery says sisters harrassed her, killed her cats

Laura Stone
Staff Reporter
21/12/2011

Life in the monastery was “toxic” for former nun Victoria Ivantchenko. Her fellow sisters interfered with her private medical information, accused her of not eating in order to look slim, and even killed her adopted pet cats.

So are the details found in Ivantchenko’s $400,000 lawsuit against both the Sisters at St. Kosmas Aitolos Greek Orthodox Monastery in Bolton, Ont. and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto for “wrongful constructive dismissal.”

Ivantchenko — reportedly a former ballerina who trained at “the top school” in St. Petersburg, Russia — says she was harassed by Mother Superior Anastasia Voutzali and other sisters, which eventually led her to unwillingly resign in May 2010.

Her case now hinges on whether or not she was ever considered an employee of the monastery — a claim disputed by Mother Superior who says monastic work is for God, and not a career.

But Ivantchenko says the Mother Superior “intimidated” her, “lessening her active involvement in the Monastery’s work, lessening her responsibilities, and into considering quitting from the monastery.”

In her statement of claim, Ivantchenko accuses the sisters of killing her adopted cats who lived on the monastery grounds; interfering with her medical information; falsely accusing her of losing weight in order to embarrass the monastery; intercepting her mail; and creating false bank accounts in her name to hide monastery money.

“Harassment was extreme, flagrant and outrageous conduct on a continuous basis,” according to Ivantchenko’s statement filed with Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

None of the allegations have been proved in court and the sisters deny any wrongdoing in a statement of defence.

Now, Ivantchenko wants the monastery and church to pay her salary for 14 years of service as well as damages for “injury to her dignity, feelings and self respect.”

An Ontario Superior Court Justice recently threw out a motion by the monastery and church to see the case dismissed, saying it will likely go trial. Ivantchenko’s lawyer, Norman Epstein, said he’s been served with a notice that they plan to appeal the decision.

Lawyers for St. Kosmas Aitolos and the Greek Metropolis declined to comment.

In a statement of defence, the sisters contradict the former nun’s accusations, such as the killing of cats. They say the cats roamed wild in the monastery’s rural area which is infested by foxes, coy dogs and coyotes. “Ivantchenko was well aware of this” and even witnessed two dogs kill a cat several years ago, it says.

They also strike down Ivantchenko’s notion of being employed at the monastery. “She did not resign as there was no position to resign from. Her to choice to leave was her own decision,” they claim.

“She was treated well by all of the other sisters in the monastery and was often given special attention.”

The documents also detail a rift between the monastery and Ivantchenko’s family, including her mother, sister, and brother-in-law, who also attended the congregation. According to the monastery’s statement of defence, Ivantchenko’s mother, Ludmilla Davidenko, was asked to leave the grounds and was “verbally abusing” the nuns.

Ivantchenko’s family is also seeking $100,000 as part of the damages.

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