SYOSSET, NY [OCA] – On May 1, 2010, the Metropolitan Council and Holy
Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America approved settlement of lawsuits between the Church and its former
Chancellor, Robert Kondratick, and his wife Elizabeth. According to the
terms of the settlement, the OCA will pay $250,000.00 to the Kondraticks in
exchange for mutual releases of liability. The settlement does not
constitute an admission of liability by any party.
As background to this settlement, the following is
a timeline of events:
On March 16, 2006, Robert Kondratick was dismissed
as Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America.
On July 31, 2007, Robert Kondratick was
deposed as a priest by the Holy Synod, following a trial before a Spiritual Court.
On December 13, 2007, following his appeal, his
deposition was upheld by the Holy Synod.
On December 14, 2007, Elizabeth Kondratick filed
suit against the OCA, seeking payment with interest on a $250,000.00 promissory note relative to improvements made by the Kondraticks to the OCA-owned
residence in which they lived.
On May 16, 2008, the OCA filed suit against Robert and Elizabeth Kondratick, seeking an accounting of Church funds and other relief.
On August 15, 2008, Robert Kondratick filed suit
against the OCA, Faith Skordinski and Fr. Andrew Jarmus, seeking damages of $26
million and alleging, among other claims, he was defamed and wrongfully
terminated from his position as Chancellor.
On April 29, 2010, at a court conference
with a Nassau County, NY judge and the parties, a settlement of the pending
cases was discussed.
On May 1, 2010, in a conference with 27 of the 33
members of the Metropolitan Council and members of the Holy Synod participating,
a settlement agreement was discussed and approved by the Metropolitan Council,
and thereafter approved by the Holy Synod, subject to the details being worked
out by a committee representing the Church.
This settlement has today been signed and executed
by the responsible authorities of the Church.
