I got an explanation from a relative of mine, who is an Orthodox priest in the OCA. The reason for Fr. Hodges being suspended is because he “abandoned the altar” on a major Orthodox holiday, Theophany. He was obligated to serve his church on that day.
You are 100% correct I was in Church that day.
thank you for that. But if Archbishop Paul Gassios had just come out and said something like the leave wasn’t approved, etc., instead of ‘guilt by association,’ it wouldn’t have made a ripple in the pond much less a headline
......The reason for Fr. Hodges being suspended is because he “abandoned the altar” on a major Orthodox holiday, Theophany. He was obligated to serve his church on that day......
You are right!! That is—provided his and neighboring parishes were not closed due to covid!!! We had a miserably minimal fest day around here!!!!