Archimandrite Joachim (Parr) suspended from the priesthood

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.

9/28/2016

Comments

Editor6/19/2024 10:05 pm

Georgina: This is a news article, stating simply that Fr. Joachim Parr was suspended, who he was, and the canon upon which the suspension was based. It is an editorially neutral article, just stating the facts, and not an investigation of the complaints against him.

Georgina6/18/2024 9:58 pm

I would rather die than speak or judge about things that I have not seen with my own eyes. I can surely confirm that crucifying a man the way Fr. Joachim Parr is crucified on this page can be labelled with any adjective except being Christian like behaviour. The same works for all other websites, blogs, etc. that people were mentioning in their comments that do NOT allow comments that defend Fr. Joachim Parr, but only allow comments of people who attack that Archimandrit without giving him or his friends, parishioners, etc. any chance to defend himself/him . Even godless people refrain themselves from doing such misdeeds. Exactly existence of websites like this, or those in which priests can be slandered without proof results in the fact that almost no priest /monk/abbot will dare to give you advice on what is Godly to do in the most difficult life situations - which should be their most important task - to provide Godly guidance BEFORE it is too late. Prevention of sin is much, much more important than listening confession about it while NOTHING was done to prevent that sin. Fr. Joachim Part has been one of the world’s best priests in working on prevention of sins. Fr. Joachim Parr was one of very few priests / abbots on Earth who has had strength to tell me /others what to do - no matter how difficult his advice sounded to us in that moment. My following Fr. Joachim Parr’s very difficult and painful advice stopped my sons on their destructive ways to which their father was directing them with his ill advices and even worse role modelling of crimes for which he never got caught. I must NOT forget that, and I must not stay silent about it. Neither I can stay silent about Fr. Joachim Parr saving me from invasive cancer through the surgery, radiation and the whole recovery process. Without his help, advice, encouragement and support I would not be alive today. For those of you who feel betrayed by Fr. Joachim Parr, my heart goes to you as you probably could not understand his ways that “difficult circumstances call for difficult measures”. Fr. Joachim Parr is not a man who will give you sugarcoated medicine, but if you follow his advice, you will surely save your family and your life. When I read on this website about his stealing money from people, I can assure you that he was one of rare priests whom I could not leave money in any way, unless I would hide it somewhere at his place and leave. Last, but not least, for those who claimed that have million dollars stolen by him, I simply do not believe. When a Bulgarian priest who was working in USA molested my son, I put him in a jail within a few days. The same would happen to Fr. Joachim Parr had he really stolen million dollars from a person who claimed to be robbed by Fr. Joachim, as we all know that a person who has million dollars knows how to go to police and provide evidence about money being stolen from him by Fr. Joachim Parr - since every Christian and every pious man/woman/child has a duty before God to do what I did - to eliminate criminals from the churches, synagogues, mosques, etc. I am sure that Russian Patriarch would have provided a decent lawyer to protect that “victim” had something like that really happened - in the same way that OCA provided and paid a lawyer to defrock their priest who was stealing money from parishioners and who then became a “sleeping partner” with Bulgarian priest who molested my son. Unfortunately, I found out about that too late. Please do not humiliate Russian Church that I highly respect by spreading those slanders as that assumes that they let you down by leaving you unprotected. It was their & US police duty to protect you if you had evidence. Since that did not happen, we are left to believe that ALL those slanders are the slanders of the same type that Christ, St. Nectario of Egina, St. John of Shanghai, St. John Chrysostom, and many others have experienced.

Jansci5/2/2021 7:54 pm

The online article: ‘Analysis of accusation against F Joachim (Parr). 1.’Documents Is erudite and brings up some valid points concerning the anti- cult movement in Russia. That said, the simple fact is that Fr.Joachim Parr violated the sanctity of the confessional even during his sermons and for that it is a disgrace that he was not defrocked immediately by the Russian church. He tolerated the presence of a pedophile priest for years in his monastery while also spending most of his time lying about himself. Anyone supporting the narrative of this author who by the way onlyspent a few years w/ JP a as opposed to the decades some of his victims experienced is misguided and misinformed. This

Julia2/13/2021 7:48 pm

Does anybody know what is with ft. Joachim now? Please write me down at gedankeneve@gmail.com

Elena Tudur1/15/2021 1:25 pm

Am citit cărțile par.Ioachim Part,m-au ajutat enorm in clipele grele.Oare,daca Hristos ar veni pe pământ,credeți că lumea nu l-ar raștigni din nou?Cuvintele Lui au durut întotdeauna, Adevărul este greu de purtat.Si totuși,par.Ioachim nu spune nimic de la sine,ci pune in practică adevăratul creștinism.

Marina10/13/2020 6:00 pm

I just found this article and I am shocked! I do not believe a word of it. Father Joachim could not do anything wrong, I consider myself lucky to know him, while we lived in New York. His dedicaion to his service to God and to his work for poor people, for us all, were selfless. It was a goal of his life. My daughter tried to find him for me, I understand now, why she couldn't. If anyone knows where he is, please, pass him our Love and best wishes. I hope this mistake has been corrected or will be corrected very soon. Love to you all, stay safe, Marina

Father John8/4/2020 6:38 am

It sad how people can just go off and start talking about things with out getting all the facts. What did our Lord say those with out sin cast the 1st stone . but people still talk . its so easy to point the finger but its impossible for you to turn the same finger on yourself

Jansci3/30/2019 11:56 pm

It is now the Paschal season of 2019.i recently went to a pre sanctified where at the Lenten meal afterwords about a 1/2 dozen former parrissoners of Mercy House ended up at the same table. It was good to see these people whose spiritual lives were assaulted by this man still living in the faith. He didn’t accomplish his scam alone and there were many crying victim that never took responsibility for participating in his many lies and manipulations. The lesson of the former Fr Joachim Parr isn’t whether he is a criminal or unjustly accused but one of personal responsibility .I think the people at that table myself included put away childish things and took responsibility for their lives.

Stephanie Brandt2/27/2019 8:25 pm

Where is he now? I have evidence and proof that he is scum. My dad devoted his life to Mercy House and in the end they stole all my mom's money and their apartment and left me homeless pregnant. They stole millions of dollars from me by selling my dads two co ops. They threw out all my pictures all my memoires everything and thats how they bought the farm upstate. I should be compensated some how

Patrick1/4/2019 3:33 am

I was a novice monk at Savior's Desert for four years. I witnessed the expulsion of the first monks after they found evidence of Fr. Joachim's deception about his biography, not knowing the details at the time. During my stay, the environment was nothing short of toxic for those inside the brotherhood. At least 14 monastics not including myself left the brotherhood between 2011-2016. I was personally manipulated and demeaned by this man, essentially being at the point of suicide on multiple occasions during my time there. I fled the monastery in July of 2015 and stayed for a few months at Jordanville, where I was told other church officials were aware of the situation but could not intervene

Valeria 2/3/2017 8:04 am

Fr. Ioakim is true man! He is true Christian!
I have watched him on YouTube for years.
He helped spirituality many people (l have seen it
with my own eyes). I am russian, living in USA.
I feel sorry for hierarchy of my country who made
this wrong decision about Fr. Ioakim. But we
all remember,when St. John Maksimovich was
condemned, he said that was not people's work,
but devil's. That what we're seeing now again.
I'm going to pray for Father Ioakim, I wish someday
I could bow to him, and kiss his holy hand.
Valeria
P.S. If anybody knows where he is now,
could you write me, please, on my email,
(kinelkinel@hotmail.com)

sara1/4/2017 12:03 am

Father Joachim is a saint. I had the great honor to meet this man of God.
His persecution is proof of his sanctity.
This world belongs to the evil one, that hates, slanders and persecutes God's children.

Bulgarian Centre12/24/2016 12:24 am

FR. JOACHIM PARR IS THE MOST WONDERFUL PERSON WE HAVE MET IN OUR LIFE! HE TAUGHT US AND SO MANY PEOPLE ABOUT THE REAL LIFE IN CHRIST, THE REAL LOVE AND CARE FOR OTHERS. AND JUST LIKE CHRIST, HE IS NOW SUFFERING UNJUSTLY THE HUMAN ENVY AND GREED! THIS IS HOW YOU WILL KNOW THAT ONE IS A REAL CHRISTIAN - THAT HE IS PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF HIS WORK FOR GOD! IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT HIM, THEN SIMPLY GET TO KNOW FR. JOACHIM!!!

Ia 11/22/2016 8:07 am

(1) Joachim Parr has harmed and wronged many people and this is ongoing. This is a fact. Who denies it?
(2) Anyone who rationalizes or justifies Joachim Parr in any way is complicit in his horrific acts.
(3) Give him your love, but give your love also to his victims, who are many. Otherwise you're hypocrites.

Daniela11/2/2016 12:44 am

There are also videos in defense of Father Joachim Parr showing that all the accusations were vain and false (unfortunately they are only in Russian yet): http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHDCvyyRHJUIZWRjiIuc4Vl1G4plqWBv3

I tried to post a comment in protection of Father Joachim at Russian website www.blagogon.ru, but they didn't accept it, accepting only abusive comments. Thanks to God, there are still people who like Father Joachim and pray for him. The persecutors of this righteous man are now celebrating their victory, but we know that it is Christ who will win after all the winners, and He will wipe away every tear from the eyes of those persecuted now...

Daniela10/28/2016 9:30 am

В защиту схиархим. Иоакима Парра: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHDCvyyRHJUIZWRjiIuc4Vl1G4plqWBv3

Я пыталась разместить комментарий в защиту о.Иоакима на сайте журнала "Благодатный огонь", но не получилось. Они принимают в основном только ругательные комментарии. Я писала, что, слава Богу, есть еще люди, которые любят батюшку и молятся за него. Гонители праведника сейчас торжествуют победу, но мы знаем, что после всех победителей победит Христос. И Он отрет всякую слезу с очей гонимого ныне...

Constantin10/27/2016 12:37 pm

Christ in our midst!

We are looking a way to reach Fr. Joachim Parr. We want to invite him to a confference for students and young families.
You can help as?

ascor_cluj@yahoo.com

Mary10/14/2016 7:08 am

Dear all,
I have great news for all the faithful Christians out there! The slandering of Father Joachim is not only making him more famous around the World, but it will help his Light shine above all the mean, tormented souls who are trying to hurt him, a defender of true Orthodoxy. I have friends in Greece, Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria, and Romania who have reached out to me or some of my friends to ask about him. Lay people and clergy around the world are praying for Father Joachim. Two Saturdays ago, after this article came out, Mercy house was filled with tens of people who came from New Jersey, Long Island, and Connecticut to shower Father Joachim with their love and show their support. People believe in Father Joachim because he taught us all about LOVE and how to LOVE.

mary10/14/2016 6:10 am

I leave you all with St. John Chrysostom's last words in mind - " " (Glory be to God for all things) - and I wholeheartedly invite you to ponder on the meaning of love and how a true Christin should act and behave. I leave the Scriptures talk for me...

Leviticus 19:18
'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.

Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

John 15:12
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I loved you.

John 15:17
This is My command to you: Love one another.

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

Romans 13:8
Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.

Romans 13:10
Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.

Galatians 5:14
The entire Law is fulfilled in a single decree: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Ephesians 5:2
and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.

1 Thessalonians 4:9
Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

Mary10/14/2016 6:09 am

His story reminds me of the story of St. John Chrysostom, who was popular with the common, poor people, but unpopular with the wealthy and the clergy. His speaking the truth resulted in his deposition and banishment. He died in exile - yet he is one of the greatest Saints of our Church, who will be glorified as long as this Earth lives.
Like Father Joachim, his straightforward understanding of the Scriptures meant that the themes of his talks were practical, explaining the Bible's application to everyday life. This is why I feel blessed to have met Father Joachim. He taught me to love - love others more than myself and love God above ALL! I was lost when I went to see him and he helped me gain faith, balance, forgiveness and wisdom. I pray for him every night and day and I hope that all the love he has given me will fall back on him.

I do not worry for Father Joachim; being slandered will make him stronger and his light will shine even more. I invite you all to follow Christ's commandment of love:

Galatians 6:2 Bear you one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

If Father Joachim is guilty of all these things, he needs my love to heal - I cannot abandon him; If Father Joachim is NOT guilty of all these things, then I shall not receive forgiveness for judging and blaming an innocent man - I will stay strong by his side.

Denis10/6/2016 9:06 pm

Please, correct the article. Fr Joachim is not SUSPENDED FROM THE PRIESTHOOD. He is suspended from serving for 3 (three) years.

Slobodan10/3/2016 7:27 pm

I have also tried to leave 2 comments on "Mercy House Abuse" facebook page dedicated to slandering of Fr Joachim - but those comments were deleted within 30 min. I just said that i know Fr Joachim for many years, and knowing him and the number of people that he helped, i dont believe in any of these accusations until they are proven and he has chance to say something about it.
I‚ve seen other people commented positively about Fr Joachim and expressing their concern that videos posted there are fake - and those comments were also expressly deleted.
I am absolutely positive that the Lord will show who is the Christ`s follower and who is slanderer and liar here, but i`m sad that many will fall into judging and hate because of this page.

Annie Troy10/2/2016 2:40 am

I worked with Fr. J years ago with the poor. He lived simply, worked tirelessly, spoke honestly, and the poor loved him and grew under his mentoring. Yes, several friends were recently hurt by their experience with Mercy House and I send everyone involved many hugs.

- Annie Troy atroy3@gmail.com

Dismas10/1/2016 6:45 pm

Brethren,

There is a website dedicated to the slander of Fr. Joachim started by a former monk. They have blocked all users that had positive remakarks for Father Joachim including me. Humble monks!

Dismas

Monk James Silver9/29/2016 12:37 am

Dear Vladyka John of Naro-Fominsk --

It's sad to hear of this. I realize that what Fr Joachim did was very wrong, but he has his good points, too.

I hope that you will be able to find a suitable place for him, as well as for his monks and nuns, perhaps even in collaboration with the OCA.

Please remember me in your holy prayers.

Monk James Silver (OCA)

Archimandrite Joachim (Parr) suspended from the priesthood

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