Monday, January 4, 2010

Beaten Greek Orthodox Priest in Florida Directed to Return to His Native Crete

Priest-monk Alexios Marakis, 29, assistant priest at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Tarpon Springs, Florida, will return to his native Crete immediately after the 2010 Epiphany celebration, as he has been directed to return by Archbishop Ireneos of Crete, according to the Orthodox Beacon website.

U.S. Marine reservist Jasen Bruce, 28, has been accused of attacking Father Marakis -- apparently with a tire iron -- after mistakenly identifying him as a terrorist because of his long beard, hair and Greek Orthodox clerical garb.

The incident occurred on November 9, 2009 at about 6:30 p.m., when Fr. Alexios was returning from a pastoral visit to a nursing home and got lost. He followed Lance Corporal Bruce into the garage of his Tampa apartment building and asked for directions, when Bruce allegedly struck the priest with a tire iron.

No comments:

Post a Comment