The Canadian Eparchy has been the scene of a scandal in recent weeks at the epicenter of which is Protopresbyter Jovan Marjanac, the now-former Secretary of the Eparchial Council and Board, who is accused of embezzlement and misappropriation of a large sum of money, with estimates ranging between 250-300,000 Canadian dollars, Serbian Times has learned from very reliable sources close to the Eparchy.
Protopresbyter Marjanac has in the meantime been removed from all functions, and by an eparchial act signed by the Bishop of Canada, Mitrofan, a prohibition of priestly ministry was imposed on him until he returns the money for whose disappearance from the treasury he is accused.
SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS: Protopresbyter Jovan Marjanac
-Two acts were passed and sent to all priests and church administrations in the Canadian Eparchy. In the first, based on Article 22.7 of the Eparchy Statute, and based on a request that Marjanac in the meantime sent to the bishop, he is relieved of his duties as secretary of the Council of the Canadian Eparchy as of February 21. In the second, also passed on February 21, the Eparchy, based on Article 34.21, makes the decision to “place Protopresbyter Jovan Marjanac under prohibition of priestly ministry from February 19 until further notice, i.e., until he settles his debts toward the Canadian Eparchy,” our source relays the allegations from the eparchial acts.
FACING DIFFICULT DECISIONS: Bishop of Canada Mitrofan
Also, the acts further state that his duties will be taken over in the future by Deacon Petar Marjanovic and a nun, Mother Paraskeva from the Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration (Milton, Canada), and that the salary of the former secretary will be divided into equal parts.
Nowhere, however, is it stated whether Jovan Marjanac will be brought before the Church Court, which is the standard procedure and protocol in such situations when a serious criminal offense under church canons has been committed.
Regarding this case, we contacted the Canadian Eparchy, but the kind Mother Paraskeva informed us that “for now they do not have a blessing to give any information to the public until the case is resolved.”
More information coming soon…
Author: Antonije Kovačević Photo: Youtube/Serbian Toronto TV, Wikipedia