Bring Back Father Nick Arlington Protest Moves To Brookline

ARLINGTON, MA— The fight continues for a number of confused and angry parishioners and supporters of Father Nick, more than a month after he was abruptly told he was to step down from serving at the church he'd served for nearly three decades.

Supporters were shocked and motivated to respond to do something to show their support and find answers by way of reaching out to the governing board of the church, taking to social media and by hosting protests, but feel like they haven't been heard out by those with decision making authority.

So, still seeking answers, they organized a peaceful protest at Hellenic College/ Holy Cross Chapel in Brookline. After alerting the Brookline Police Department to the fact they were planning to protest along Goddard Avenue, they rented a bus and the nearly 100 people took their signs reading "Bring Back Father Nick" to the Orthodox Greek College campus the day before a holy day.

Their mission then and now? To get answers, to get the higher ups to listen and respond.

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"Not much has changed" Corina Kapetanakis told Patch ahead of the protest. Supporters planned to hold signs along the street outside the college and then go into the 5 p.m. vespers service wearing "Bring Back Father Nick" shirts, but when they started lining the busy Goddard Street at rush hour, the school's CFO told police he was concerned for their safety and allowed them to come on property as long as they didn't bring their signs past a certain point.

The team of protesters lined the driveway on two sides and stood, holding their signs relatively quietly.

"We just want answers. There's still no explanation as to why this all happened," said Sandra Mastorakos one protester.

Mastorakos and others said they wanted their popular church leader back. He was a man that made people want to go to church at a time when many church congregations are declining, they said.

But they also wanted their sense of community back, too.

The congregation, which used to be made up of some 800 families coming to church regularly, now only pulled in 30 to 40 people on a given Sunday.

"It doesn't make sense. This was the most popular church, it had to be bringing in lots of money, too," she said.

Christiana Chalapatas agreed. "It would be hard to rebuild it without him," she said.

Those lining the driveway at the college said they hoped the Arch Bishop or others from the Metropolitian would come to the vespers event held on campus and that they might get their message.

"A lot of people have left the church," said Chalapatas. "And we worry about our young people considering leaving," she said.

What happened?

Parishioners were given short notice - some by email, some by word of mouth - that Kastanas was to give his last sermon a just more than a month ago. In response, they packed the church, sent out an online petition, raised money and took to social media in frustration. They hosted a vigil in the rain at the church less than a week out. And when the governing members came back from abroad met them at the airport to air their grievances.

Eventually someone from the local governing body of Greek Orthodox churches (the Metropolis based in Brookline) posted another note on their website, that parishioners called vague. The immediate and very vocal response from his supporters seemed to be met with very little response. An alleged promise to Kastanas that he could go and retrieve his belongings was reneged, according to supporters and his lawyer.

Supporters expressed credulity after they discovered Kastanas was not permitted to gather his items from the church, and the church changed the locks and kept his mail, according to a letter from Kastanas' lawyer.

"I have never heard of a case where a Church authority sought to strip mine a priest’s private and confidential
computer as punishment for the love and upset expressed by the congregation he is leaving! I have never heard of a case where a Church authority has boxed up a priest’s vestments and books, and held a priest’s blessing cross, sacred volumes and personal cash without allowing him to gather these possessions and bring them to his home," wrote John Scheft, Kastanas' lawyer, to the community.

Scheft said Kastanas came to him after he realized the Metropolis confiscated his private materials. Scheft said he took out a restraining order against the church after attempting to contact them to resolve the issue out of court.

The Metropolis in the area made the announcement in an email that was posted to the church's website that weekend indicating it had to do with some turmoil in the church. But Kapetanakis said the term "turmoil" doesn't seem to fit her experience with Father Nick.

"He's helped a lot of families. When my dad was in the hospital he stood by him day and night. He's that kind of man. And he's probably done it for hundreds of other families," said the Medford resident who has known him most of her life.

Eleanor Profis is one of those parishioners who said she can't imagine the church with another priest. "He's totally selfless. He gives to the needy, he is really the most kind, loving, charitable person you will meet in your life," she told Patch at the vigil last month.

UPDATES to come

RELATED STORY: Hundreds Pack Church In Protest

Arlington Protest Continues In Rain After Abrupt Ouster Of Father Nick

Photos by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff