Orthodox priest George Passias resigns over sex tapes of parochial school principal

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A high ranking Greek Orthodox priest was forced to resign last week after kinky sex tapes of his much younger parish school principal sitting on cakes in a thong and rubbing her feet in his face surfaced.

Father George Passias, 67, a married pastor at St. Spyridon in New York City at St. Spyridion church in Washington Heights is said to have impregnated Ethel Bouzalas, 45, with whom he had an alleged affair.

The New York Post reports that Passias was once the chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and was in charge of all Greek Orthodox priests in the US.

Pictured in 2013: Father George Passias (right), 67, a married pastor at St. Spyridon in New York City at St. Spyridion church in Washington Heights, was caught on camera having a kinky affair with Ethel Bouzalas (left)

Pictured in 2013: Father George Passias (right), 67, a married pastor at St. Spyridon in New York City at St. Spyridion church in Washington Heights is said to have impregnated Ethel Bouzalas (left), 45, with whom he had an affair. Passias resigned after sex tapes surfaced of the pair and confirmed their long suspected affair

The scandal came to light in September after Bouzalas' husband emailed the current chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Church in the United States, Bishop Andonios Paropoulos.

Bishop Paropoulos told The New York Post that Passias and Bouzalas came to meet with him and that Passias was suspended on September 16.

Bishop Andonios said he had not seen the sex tapes which were sent anonymously to the New York Post but that he 'learned of their existence during our meetings with both parties.'

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The sender of the videos wrote The New York Post that a private investigator was hired to follow the couple to New Jersey and Cold Spring in Upstate New York where they filmed their strange sexual encounters.

One of the videos sent to The Post features Bouzalas sitting on a banana bread load wrapped in cellophane until it's flattened while donning black stiletto heels and lingerie.

In another one of the videos Bouzalas rubs her feet all over the priests face while they both lie under a mirrored ceiling.

A third video shows the priest performing oral sex on Bouzalas while she is wearing sheer pantyhose.

High ranking: Passias, pictured here giving a sermon on evolution,  was once the chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and was in charge of all Greek Orthodox priests in the US

High ranking: Passias, pictured here giving a sermon on evolution,  was once the chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and was in charge of all Greek Orthodox priests in the US

Passias resigned after a weeklong suspension from the church and said he had to leave for 'personal health reasons' and

'Multitudinous sins and shortcomings.'

'I will now fade out of this world for a considerable time according to God’s will,' he wrote.

'He has chosen for me . . . that I should retire and follow the way of silence, prayer, fasting, and ­utter devotion to our Lord.'

'Please do not ask where I am going and where I will be. Then it would not be possible for me to fulfil what is my lot.'

A church official told The New York Post that he left his home in Flushing, Queens to stay at his daughter's home in Chicago.

Bouzalas still resides in Brooklyn and has three children.

This is not the first time the relationship between Bouzalas and Passias raised eyebrows.

In 2006 when Passias went to work for the Wadsworth Avenue church he took Bouzalas with him as his assistant and told other church officials that she was his 'spiritual goddaughter.'

Rumors of an inappropriate relationship surfaced in 2013 after a church handyman said he once saw Bouzalas sitting on the priest's lap.

Resigned: In 2006 when Passias went to work for St. Spyridion (pictured) he took Bouzalas with him as his assistant and told other church officials that she was his 'spiritual goddaughter'

Resigned: In 2006 when Passias went to work for St. Spyridion (pictured) he took Bouzalas with him as his assistant and told other church officials that she was his 'spiritual goddaughter'

Bouzalas said that she converted to the Greek Orthodox faith and that Passias baptized her while she wore a bikini before she went on to marry her husband who is also Greek Orthodox.

Shortly after becoming Passias' assistant Bouzalas was promoted to be the volunteer principal of the St. Spyridon Parochial School which goes from kindergarten to eight grade despite having no education credentials.

Bouzalas was also made a church treasurer and signatory on bank accounts.

Congregants grew suspicious of Bouzalas and questioned why so much money was going into repairs at the school.

Passias addressed the allegations in 2013 and told The New York Post that the rumors were thought up by 'evil minded people' who wanted him gone.

'They have been saying I’m having a private affair with her,' he said.

'She is a goddaughter to me. That’s it.'

The misconduct was brought before a 'Spiritual Court of the First Degree' last week and leaders of Greek Orthodoxy in the United States will review the findings.

All punishment, including possible defrocking, will be decided in Turkey. 

 

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