Update on New York monastery scandal

Sister Christonymphi, 26, born Catherine Fitzpatrick.

BOSTON (TNH via Monomakhos) – The National Herald has learned that Sister Christonymphi Fitzpatrick, a nun at the St. Irene Chrysovalantou Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monastery in Astoria, NY, has left the monastic life and given a statement to the 114th Police Precinct on Saturday night November 6, 2010, where she revealed a great deal about the events that transpired in the monastery under the leadership of its abbot Metropolitan Paisios of Tyana throughout the years she spent there. TNH sources report that she gave a detailed account of licentious acts that included members of both sexes, some of whom were underage at the time that the events transpired. Sister Christonymphi also handed over to the authorities a briefcase containing approximately $500,000 in cash. At present, the 26-year-old nun has been taken to an unknown location to ensure her safety and protection, following police directives.

TNH spoke with Metropolitan Paisios, who declined to make any comment regarding Sister Christonymphi’s statement to the police. He clarified that that the money given by Sister Christonymphi to the authorities “is for the third floor we wanted to build.” He also stated that the approximate amount of money in the briefcase “should be around $285,000; something like that.” When asked why the funds were being held in cash, Metropolitan Paisios said “because we did not want them to be used.” Metropolitan Paisios also added that he knew nothing about Sister Christonymphi’s statement to the police.Sister Christonymphi spoke to authorities for over seven hours from Sat. Nov. 6, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. until about 2:00 a.m. the next morning.

Sister Christonymphi, born Catherine Fitzpatrick, joined the St. Irene Chrysovalantou Monastery at age 14 and was tonsured a nun two years later by Metropolitan Paisios, when she was renamed Christonymhpi. She is the second of twelve children born to Rev. Jacob Fizpatrick, who is a celebrant at the St. Irene Chrysovalantou Monastery in Astoria and at its dependencies on occasion.

Bishop Vikentios, the deputy abbot of the monastery, declined to speak to TNH, saying “the issue relates to the abbot, I have no comment.”

The Queens County District Attorney’s office declined to comment on the investigation, explaining that “it is unlawful to give out information prior to the issuance of an arrest warrant,” and that “information can be given only after charges are brought before a defendant in court.” The Queens DA’s office also noted that the case will be handled by the U.S. Attorney’s office because the FBI and other federal agencies are involved in the investigations.

Rev. Fitzpatrick went to the police station upon learning that his daughter was giving a statement to authorites and waited for her until 2 a.m., to offer her moral and parental support.

Sister Christonymphi holds a Master’s Degree in Education and was the director of the St. Irene Chrysovalantou Kindergarten program.

According to TNH’s sources, Sister Christonymphi had spent the past three or four days at the home of friends in New Jersey, until she finally relented and decided to go to the police on Saturday to give a statement. Sister Christonymphi, who said she feared for her life, was taken to a secure location, and will give a statement to the patriarchal delegation that is expected to arrive in New York on Nov. 8th to investigate the issue on behalf of the Church.