Greek Orthodox priest accused of using gay dating app Grindr in Melbourne

A Greek Orthodox priest in Melbourne has been temporarily sent on leave after allegations that he used the gay dating app Grindr to meet men and of receiving “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in donations.

Archimandrite John Christodoulos of the Archdiocese of Australia, also known as Father John Vasilaris, was accused of receiving “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in donations from elderly parishioners and using the gay dating app, The Advertiser reported.

The Neos Kosmos newspaper quoted sources close to Christodoulos to deny the report and claimed it was a case of identity theft.

In a statement to the media, the Archdiocese said that it was conducting a confidential internal investigation into the allegations.

Messages Sent On The App

The Advertiser reported that Father Christodoulos used Grindr to chat with men and send them graphic descriptions of sexual acts and pornographic images.

The publication claimed it had obtained surveillance video recorded by a private investigator that showed multiple men visiting Father Christodoulos’ Seacombe Gardens home in Adelaide. The rapport claimed that one of the men confirmed that the person they met was the priest.

The profile photo and the account to the dating app have since been deleted.

Parishioners from St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church in Noarlunga, South Australia have spoken out in defence of Father John Christodoulos amid allegations he led a sordid double life.

“He’s a good person,” one parishioner told The Advertiser after the Sunday service at the church in Noarlunga.

Fellow priest at the Noarlunga church, Father Mark, said he was “in shock” at the allegations, but denied they were true as Father Christodoulos’ behaviour was “always appropriate.”

“If someone is gay you cannot hide it,” he said and added that if the allegations were true, Father Christodoulos “would be disordained.”

READ MORE: Greek Orthodox Priest Suspended for Allowing Girls to Serve in Church Altar.