@OrthodoxHistory Where is your evidence that there were any women who testified against him? There were no witnesses, as there was no full trial because Bowman pled No Contest in order to avoid the death penalty.
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Jim Boubonis
3 posts
Were those women lying under oath? I have no idea. But even if they WERE lying, Fr John was not a martyr. He was just a murder victim and we should be praying for him, not to him.
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I feel like I have to repeat this like once a year: Fr John Karastamatis was not martyred. He was murdered, yes, but it had nothing to do with Orthodoxy and didn't involve a satanic ritual. His killers were a married couple who had been connected with his parish. At the murder trial, multiple women testified that Fr John had engaged in sexual activity with them. He was definitely a victim of a horrific act, but he shouldn't be on icons.
Why do some think he's a saint? It's because, immediately after his murder (and before the police found the killers), Platina (which was then in schism) published an article claiming that Fr John had been martyred in a satanic ritual. If they had waited a couple more months, this article would never have been published, because it turns out that those claims were false.
Orthodox Christian@orthodox_33ad
🔸 May 19 - The New Hieromartyr John of Santa Cruz 🔸 Today, we also commemorate the New Hieromartyr John Karastamatis of Santa Cruz. Fr John was born in 1937 on the Greek island of Andros. From a young age he nourished his soul by reading the lives of the saints and martyrs, whose unwavering faith inspired him to become a servant of God. In 1957, at age 20, John came to the United States. After 5 years he married and soon became the father of 2 children. The cities of America were in sharp contrast to the village of his birth. He found himself among many who not only did not seek God, but actively fled from Him. Still he hoped in God, knowing that the freedom of Christ can be found even in the midst of evil surroundings. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1971, and became a priest only weeks later. After serving in Alaska, Vancouver and Pennsylvania, Fr John moved to Santa Cruz, California. Eventually, the community purchased a former funeral home in downtown Santa Cruz and transformed it into the Church of the Prophet Elias. Fr John himself completed much of the interior work, helping turn the church into a refuge of holiness amidst the chaos of the world. Fr John kept an “open-door policy”, welcoming university students, the poor, and those searching for meaning in life. In the most outcast and downtrodden individuals, Fr John saw the image of Christ. He often delivered missionary services in public parks, introducing many Americans to Holy Orthodoxy. The visibility of Fr John eventually drew the attention not only of those seeking Christ, but also of those who hated Him. A few months before his death, occultists desecrated the church by painting “666” and satanic pentagrams on the entrance. Fr John continued his ministry undaunted, despite also receiving anonymous threats. On the night of May 18, 1985, Fr John was alone in the church preparing his sermon for the next morning. Shortly before midnight, one or more assailants entered the church and brutally murdered him in his office. After being stabbed and severely beaten, Fr John was finally killed by a heavy blow to the head. His body was found by his son who arrived later that night.
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@Cossie696 @OrthodoxHistory You should not assume Fr. John ever committed adultery. There is no evidence of it.
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@OrthodoxHistory Its a shame they published this story. First off, ritual killings do happen. But, the publishers chose to use it to tell a lie. Adding insult to injury, a man degraded himself and the priesthood by adultery. Thats not a martyr What is going on with Platina back then?
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@OrthodoxHistory Where do you get the information that any women testified of having sexual relations with Father John?
The case never went to full trial because Edward Bowman pled No Contest to the charge in order to avoid the death penalty.
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