Restoring the Image of God
All persons are made in the Image of God. When we abuse our sisters and brothers in Christ, we deface the image of God in the other person. The face of an individual is equivalent to the person: prosopon (Greek) and persona (Latin).
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Prosopon Healing has come into existence to bring awareness to the dynamics and reality of clergy abuse within the Orthodox church community. Because such abuse causes a rupture within the community, healing more easily takes place within the relational aspect of a community. Research shows that healing is quicker and healthier in communities that acknowledge the abuse and wrongdoing. This requires education for both clergy and laity. ​
Please note that this is not intended to be an expose site. Our main focus is compiling and reporting data. We also provide supportive resources for survivors.
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​​Subscribe to the ProsoponHealing Substack.
Prosopon Healing data and research is the mutual work of Dr. Hermina Nedelescu and Katherine Archer. About us.
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Clergy abuse occurs in all religious contexts, including within Orthodox churches. Clergy abuse can be spiritual abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, or sexual contact between a priest, bishop or deacon and parishioner/counselee. There is no consent involving unequal power, and clergy are always in a position of greater power.​
​​Welcome to the Prosopon Healing Orthodox Sexual Misconduct Database. ​This database is intended to serve as an open access resource, available to all. This database is an aggregator of public information only. All access to, and use of, this database is governed by disclaimers and terms of use (at the bottom of the page).
Research is fundamental to educating about clergy abuse, preventing clergy abuse and responding to clergy abuse in the Orthodox Church.
The unequal power between a clergy and a parishioner means there can be "no consent". Therefore, any unwanted sexualized touch in this circumstance is sexual assault. The first call should be to law enforcement.
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It is strongly recommended that a survivor seek legal counsel before considering a report to church administration.
Clergy abuse is a defacement of God's image. Survivors often experience a double injury from the community where the abuse occurred. This double abuse, which may include shame, blame, and aligning with an offender, may cause more injury than the original abuse. In some cases, especially for adults, the abuse may continue for years. The injury caused by clergy abuse is profound. Looking at research, there are therapeutic modalities that may be more effective than others and some approaches that may in fact be harmful for a survivor and exacerbate the injury. ​​
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Learn how to recognize abuse within the Orthodox Church.
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Evidence on how often false allegations happen and what is the cost of this skepticism is.
Clergy abuse is predatory behavior by those who masquerade as priests. The Office of the Holy Priesthood has high standards. ​
Clergy abuse occurs in all religious contexts, including within Orthodox churches. Clergy abuse can be spiritual abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, or sexual contact between a priest, bishop or deacon and parishioner/counselee. There is no consent involving unequal power, and clergy are always in a position of greater power.​
Books on the dynamics of clergy abuse and healing from clergy and church abuse.
