Restoring Trust and Safety
​​Prosopon Healing is a nonprofit organization recognized as a 501(c)(3) public charity, dedicated to advancing awareness, research and education on clergy-perpetrated (sexual) abuse within the Orthodox Church and beyond. The name "Prosopon" derived from the Greek terms for "person" or "face", reflect the organization's commitment to restoring dignity, identity, and voice to survivors. The addition of "Healing" emphasizes a focus on recovery, similar to the continuum of care model in the biomedical sciences, and long-term peer support within a community. The name emerged during early conceptual discussions of the organization's mission.
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Prosopon (πρÏŒσωπον) is an Ancient Greek term meaning “face,” “mask,” or “person,” referring to the outward manifestation of identity as it is presented to and recognized by others. The face is a central component of personhood and social identity, serving as the primary interface for interpersonal connection, communication, and recognition. In the context of sexual abuse, this outward sense of self can become destabilized or fractured. From a neuroscience perspective, facial perception and recognition are fundamental to social cognition, with specialized neural systems dedicated to processing faces, underscoring the face’s critical role in how we understand both ourselves and others.
Prosopon Healing focuses on research and education for the benefit of communities and the public.​
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Please note that we do not provide legal advice or therapeutic counseling.
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​​Subscribe to the ProsoponHealing Substack.
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.​
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 recommended that a survivor seek legal counsel before considering a report to church administration.
Healing resources.​​
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Learn how to recognize abuse within the Orthodox Church.
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Information on how often false allegations occur.
When a survivor reports abuse, the first response is critical.
