September 28, 2016
Photo: http://blog.orthodoxesdansloise.fr/index.php?post/AJP2-Comment-t%C3%A9moigner-du-Christ-aujourd-hui
In a decree dated September 22, 2016 and delivered September 25, Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk, administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA (Moscow Patriarchate), suspended Archimandrite Joachim (Parr) from the holy priesthood, according to the Facebook page Mercy House Abuse.
Archimandrite Joachim, spiritual father of the St. Mary of Egypt monastic brotherhood, including its Savior's Desert Skete (Treadwell Abbey) and lower Manhattan's Mercy House, a mission to the poor and needy which he founded in 1993, was also forbidden to wear the priestly pectoral cross and ordered to return the holy antimens and Chrism used in services at the abbey and at Mercy House.
While the official reason for his suspension was not given, various questions about the details of Fr. Joachim's life and practices at the monastery and mission center have been raised over the past few years.
Fr. Joachim is perhaps better known in Russia, following a series of talks at various parishes and Church institutions in 2011 and the publication of several of his works in Russian.
For more information, contact the diocesan chancellory at +1 (877) 431-7348.
Addendum: In a news article on Pravmir, Igumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov), representative of the Patriarchal parishes, is quoted as stating that Fr. Joachim (Parr) was suspended based upon article 120 of the Nomocanon concerning the revelation of confessions, and violating priestly vows.
