ChristianShame.com

A worshipper arrested on his priest’s orders faces up to a year behind bars after a Cook County jury Wednesday found him guilty of criminal trespass for attending his aunt’s memorial service.

Emanuel Papadopoulos, 52, was banned from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in August 2007 after a long-running feud in which he made allegations of financial misconduct.

Oak Lawn police arrested him at the church, 10301 S. Kolmar Ave., when he tried to attend a service to honor the 40-day anniversary of his aunt’s death last year on Feb. 17.

His priest, Father John Artemas had written to him, warning he would be arrested if he showed up to worship, and police had once before removed him from the church, jurors heard during a two-day trial at the Bridgeview Courthouse.

As the trial drew to a close Wednesday afternoon, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Nicole Hempel – one of two prosecutors assigned to the misdemeanor case – said the case was “simple” and the jurors should consider only the question of whether Papadopoulos trespassed.

“This is the same law that allows every property owner to prevent unwanted people from coming onto their property,” Hempel said.

But Papadopoulos’ attorney, Mark Besbekos, said the only reason Papadpoulos was banned, arrested and charged was because he “spoke out about financial misconduct.”

‘Heart and soul’

Papadopoulos, a parishioner at St. Nicholas for more than 40 years, had given his “heart and soul” to the church, raising funds and serving on event committees, Besbekos told the jury.

“The same people who he stood by and built that church with him are now asking you to call him a criminal – that’s wrong legally and wrong morally.”

“This trial has gone on a long time,” he said. “Ask yourselves, ‘Why are we here?’ ”

Testifying in his own defense Wednesday afternoon, Papadopoulos, a financial adviser, argued that Artemas lacked the authority to ban him.

“Only the archdiocese can do that – there is a spiritual court, and a process they have to follow,” he said.

Artemas had testified Tuesday that “the 2,000 year history of the Christian church” did in fact grant him the authority to ban Artemas.

Jurors debated Papadopoulos’s fate for two hours before delivering their guilty verdict at 5:30 p.m.

Neither Papadopoulos nor Artemas showed any emotion as the verdict was announced.

Both men vigorously debated the case in Greek in at times heated exchanges with other former church elders while the jury considered its verdict.

A breakthrough?

A moist-eyed Artemas, wearing his priestly garb and a large gold crucifix, clutched at Papadopoulos’s shoulder and told him “Let’s get together,” as Papadopoulos left the courtroom Wednesday evening.

Speaking outside court Papadopoulos said that he was “surprised” by the verdict but that he was “open to” a reconciliation with Artemas.

Artemas said he was “glad” the jury had reached the “right verdict” because “authority and order in the church must be respected.”

But, Artemas said, “I’m sad that it had to come to this.”

The allegations of financial wrongdoing that Papadopoulos and five other parishioners pursued in two civil lawsuits were “unsubstantiated,” Artemas said, adding that he also was open to a reconciliation.

Papadopoulos is due to be sentenced by Judge Colleen Ann Hyland Feb. 25.

Cited From:

http://www.southtownstar.com/news/1403178,012909stnicholas.article