Difference between revisions of "John Karastamatis of Santa Cruz"

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[[Image:Ιερομάρτυς Ιωάννης της Σάντα Κρουζ.png|right|thumb|The New Hieromartyr John (Karastamatis) of Santa Cruz (1937-1985). ]]
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[[Image:Ιερομάρτυς Ιωάννης της Σάντα Κρουζ.png|thumb|Icon of Fr. John Karastamatis (1937-1985).]]
{{orthodoxyinamerica}}
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Father '''John Karastamatis of Santa Cruz''' (August 8, 1937 - May 19, 1985) was the first [[parish]] [[priest]] and one of the founders of the [http://propheteliassantacruz.org/?page_id=2 Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church] in Santa Cruz, California.  Although there is some veneration of him as a [[hieromartyr]], he has not been [[canonization|canonized]], and his veneration is controversial.
New Hieromartyr Father '''John (Karastamatis) of Santa Cruz''' (1937-1985) was the parish priest and one of the founders of the [http://propheteliassantacruz.org/?page_id=2 Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church] in Santa Cruz, California, and a fervent preacher of the [[Introduction to Orthodox Christianity|Orthodox Faith]], for which he was martyred by Satanists in 1985.  
 
  
His memory is celebrated on [[May 19]], on the eve of the feast of the translation of the holy relics of Saint [[Nicholas of Myra|Nicholas]] the Wonder-worker, because as a child Fr. John had great devotion to St. Nicholas, often visiting the [[St. Nicholas Monastery (Andros, Greece)|Monastery of St. Nicholas of Andros]], Greece.
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He was a fervent preacher of the [[Introduction to Orthodox Christianity|Orthodox Faith]] and "ministered to the unemployed, homeless and drug addicts of the city"<ref name=BLACKWELL>Ken Parry, et. al. (Eds.). ''[http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9780631232032_chunk_g978063123203214_ss1-14 John Karastamatis].'' '''The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity.''' 2001.</ref><ref group="note">"He was the kind who wanted to help everybody," Anastasia Karastamatis said. "They'd come to the door at 2 o'clock in the morning and I'd worry -- saying we didn't know what they'd been drinking, what drugs they were on. It was hard for me. But he'd say, 'They need me; that's what I'm here for.' "<br>
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:* {Joan Connell. SHATTERED PARISH REBUILDS CHURCH TRIES TO PUT SLAYING BEHIND IT. ''San Jose Mercury News.'' August 23, 1986.}</ref> before he was murdered in 1985.<ref group="note">According to ''The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity,'' the couple that murdered Fr. John had a history of mental illness. And in the words of District Attorney Art Danner, Anna Bowman was "clearly psychotic."</ref>
  
==In Greece==
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He has been credited with numerous miracles of healing since his death.<ref name="BLACKWELL"/>
Fr. John Karastamatis was born in 1937 in the Greek village of Apoikia, on the island of [[Metropolis of Syros, Tinos, Andros, Kea, and Milos|Andros]]. As a boy on the island of Andros, John witnessed many miracles with which [[God]] blessed the pious villagers, and thus he was made aware of the closeness of God to the lives of those who seek Him. The heavenly [[saints]], especially the local ones, also manifested their closeness and the power of their intercessory [[prayer]] by appearing to and helping the people.
 
 
 
John nourished his young soul by learning about the lives of these saints and [[martyrs]], whose unquenchable desire to be faithful to [[Christ]] in the face of deprivation, torment and physical death inspired him to also be a servant of God. Although he did not attend any theological school, he wanted to put his faith into practice by someday becoming a [[priest]].
 
 
 
==In America==
 
In 1957, at the age of twenty, John came to the United States. Five years later he married a young Greek woman, Athanasia Matsellis, and soon became the father of two children, Maria and Photios. The cities of the United States were in sharp contrast to the village of his birth, but his acute awareness of the nearness of [[God]] and the other world, given to him in childhood, never left him. He now found himself in the midst of those who not only did not want to be close to God, but who actively fled from Him. Still he hoped in God, knowing that the freedom of [[Christ]] can be found even in the most stifling and evil surroundings.
 
 
 
With the support and encouragement of Fr. George Bogdanos, a Greek priest who recognized in him the integrity and zeal of a true pastor, Fr. John was ordained to the [[Deacon|deaconate]] in 1971 with the blessing of Archbishop [[Iakovos (Coucouzis) of America|lakovos]], who supported him in this. Since both his love for the Church and the love of the churchgoers for him was so apparent, he was made a [[Presbyter|priest]] only a few weeks later by Bishop [[Meletios (Christianopolis) of San Francisco]].
 
 
 
He first served the Greek Orthodox community in Anchorage, [[Alaska]], the land of newly-canonized [[Herman of Alaska|St. Herman]], who thus became his guardian [[angel]] for the rest of his life. He was later assigned to the St. George parish in Vancouver, Canada, and then to All Saints parish in Anaheim, Pennsylvania.
 
 
 
He then moved to Santa Cruz, California, which had been named by the Spanish missionaries after the Holy [[Cross]] of the Lord. There he labored with enthusiasm to provide a haven of [[Orthodox Christianity]] for the faithful in the area, who had long been without a nearby church.
 
 
 
Because the community in Santa Cruz was too small to immediately acquire its own Orthodox church, Fr. John began to serve the [[Divine Liturgy]] in the nearby town of [[w:Aptos, California|Aptos]], in the [[chapel]] of a [[w:Poor Clares|Poor Clare]] convent. The [[nuns]] would have their services very early on Sunday morning, leaving the church free for Fr. John and his parishioners to use afterwards. The parishioners were at first hesitant: they would come to Liturgy late, and would all sit at the very back of the chapel, as if they were spectators and not participants. Fr. John knew that he had much work to do. He was sometimes disappointed at the lack of active interest among his flock. His was a burning faith, and lukewarmness had always been foreign to his soul. His task, he knew, was to ignite this fire within each of his parishioners, so that they themselves would struggle for the [[Paradise|kingdom of heaven]], the one thing needful, and not sit in the background and expect their priest to do their work for them. He could not demand too much at once, but had to be a gentle and loving pastor, condescending to the weaknesses of his flock so as not to overwhelm them and cause them to abandon the Orthodox faith altogether. The gap between shepherd and sheep had to be bridged gradually and carefully, and Fr. John had to spark the kinder in the hearts of his flock without scorching them with the consuming fire within him.
 
 
 
Sometimes Fr. John would speak forceful words of rebuke to awaken his people from their spiritual sleep, but mostly he would inspire them by his quiet and unobtrusive example. They began to see how hard he struggled and were moved to help him fulfill his godly dreams. His fervency and zeal, his unequivocal belief in the other world, was something that they did not fully understand, and yet that they inwardly -- and in some cases unconsciously - longed for. Having come to love him deeply, they were grateful that God had sent a harvester to their field.
 
 
 
===Founding of Prophet Elias Church, Santa Cruz===
 
By giving his parishioners new aspirations, Fr. John instilled in them the desire to start their own [[Parish|church]]. They collected and saved money and eventually found the perfect building for their church: a former funeral home in Santa Cruz, across from the public library and in the best part of town for [[missionary]] activity. Fr. John did much of the interior work himself, fashioning a beautiful white [[iconostasis]] and a large domed [[apse]] behind and above the [[altar]]. When completed, the [http://propheteliassantacruz.org/ newly-consecrated church] became a refuge from the noisy bustle of the world, an island of holiness in the middle of downtown Santa Cruz. The church was dedicated to the [[Elijah|Prophet Elias]].
 
 
 
With their new and beautiful church, the parishioners, comprised of over 75 families, now had a sense of accomplishment. They felt that they had come a long way from the days when they had little choice but to use a chapel which was outside of town. Now they could branch out into other activities.
 
 
 
===Missionary Activity===
 
Fr. John by no means wanted his Orthodox community to be a closed one, and he rejoiced to discover any fervent young souls which came to him in search of the fulness of [[Introduction to Orthodox Christianity|Christianity]]. Santa Cruz has been a gathering place not only of the darker and meaner elements of society, but also of idealistic young people who have desired something more meaningful than the American values of materialism and competition. By the time Fr. John started his church in Santa Cruz, a small but significant "Orthodox Christian movement" had already begun at [[w:University of California, Santa Cruz|the university there]]. This was primarily the result of the [[missionary]] work of Hieromonk Anastassy. Through him, many Santa Cruz university students embraced the Orthodox faith and dedicated their lives to serving [[Christ]].
 
 
 
In 1981, Fr. [[Seraphim Rose]], at the request of the Orthodox students there, gave two lectures at [[w:University of California, Santa Cruz|the university]] and further inspired young souls to enter what he called "the saving enclosure of the Church." The fellowship of Orthodox students turned also to Fr. John and his church in order to receive spiritual nourishment and to participate in the divine services, which lifted them above the worldliness of university life. Fr. John always greeted them with a radiant smile and warm love, seeing in their young faces the freshness and enthusiasm that would keep Orthodoxy alive for future generations. After these students graduated, Fr. John brought other young people to the Orthodox faith, giving them all that they needed for their growth in the faith and being to them a loving father who was concerned for their spiritual welfare.
 
 
 
Since the [http://propheteliassantacruz.org/ Prophet Elias Church] was in the middle of town, people would often come from off the streets to ask questions and attend the services. Fr. John kept an "open-door policy," making himself and his church available to anyone with a pastoral need. The people of Santa Cruz came to know him as being kind, trusting, full of love and open. He had great compassion for the poor, and was helpful to all who came to him, disregarding their religion or whether or not they were taking advantage of him. It was not uncommon for him to be awakened at odd hours of the night by needy people knocking at his back door. No one would be refused, but would always be given [[alms]] for a meal. In the most outcast and downtrodden of individuals, and perhaps especially in them, Fr. John saw the image of Christ. With deep-felt Christian love, he once wrote these words about the simple people who, although rejected by the world, are faithful to Christ and follow the voice of their hearts:
 
:''"We see them lonely within the crowd, or following the life of a [[hermit]] as they become symbols of truth and beacon lights of Christianity, praying for peace and brotherly love on earth."''
 
 
 
Orthodox Christianity was not just something "for Greeks," but rather was universal. His love for God induced him to earnestly desire to bring forth fruits for Him, as a son strives to please his father, and this made him a zealous [[missionary]] to all peoples. He had services in public parks, where the townspeople would stop to attend something, which, although foreign to them, they found to be divinely beautiful. Hearing Fr. John, with his full and resonant voice, chanting the ancient [[Byzantine Chant|Byzantine melodies]] along with his [[cantor]], would unexpectedly catch a vague and half-remembered glimpse of that sacred realm which their souls knew but their minds had never been exposed to. In such a way was Fr. John able to introduce the riches of Orthodoxy to the spiritually impoverished American people.
 
 
 
While Fr. John's fervent pastoral work served to convert many non-Greek people, his first job was, of course, to "convert" many of his own people - those who were [[Cradle Orthodox|baptized Orthodox]] but whose commitment to Christ meant, at most, only an external commitment to church attendance and activities. By his own faith he demonstrated to them that Orthodoxy is not merely a ritual, a system of [[Dogma|dogmas]] or a behavior pattern, but is instead a transforming power, which is tapped by conscious spiritual struggle.
 
 
 
===Desecration of the Church===
 
The good works of Fr. John were too numerous and his outreach too extensive not to evoke malicious actions from the haters of God. The visibility of Fr. John and his church in the middle of Santa Cruz made them more accessible not only to those in need of help, but also to those who wished to destroy all that is holy. A few months before Fr. John's death, the church was desecrated by unknown occultists, who painted "[[666]]" and the five-pointed satanic star on the front entrance. When the desecration was discovered, Fr. John [[Consecration of a church|reconsecrated the church]].
 
 
 
Later he received anonymous threats, but was undaunted by them. His preaching angered some who began to threaten him by phone and in letters to cease preaching. But Father John became even more passionate about his ministry saying:
 
 
 
:''“As long as my eyes have tears, I will preach [[Christ]] and [[Orthodoxy]].”''
 
 
 
He advised the faithful to guard themselves against the pitfalls of the [[Antichrist]] and not to take the mark. Then the telephone threats on his life become even more intense, however Father John did not fear any of this.
 
 
 
===Miracle of the Blossoming White Lilies===
 
It was through Fr. John that the Most Holy [[Mother of God]] bestowed a [[Miracle|miraculous]] blessing on the [http://propheteliassantacruz.org/ Prophet Elias Church]. This occurred after Fr. John brought some bulbs of the "lily of the Panagia" back from his native island of [[Metropolis of Syros, Tinos, Andros, Kea, and Milos|Andros]], where he visited with his family. He went to the [[St. Nicholas Monastery (Andros, Greece)|Monastery of St Nicholas]] on the island and asked Abbot Dorotheos for few dried lilies.
 
 
 
The lily of the [[Panagia]] ("Most Holy") is so named because of the tradition, often depicted in [[icons]], concerning the [[Archangel Gabriel]] presenting the Mother of God with this species of lily at the time of the [[Annunciation]]. In the monastery on Andros which Fr. John visited,<ref group="note">[[St. Nicholas Monastery (Andros, Greece)|Monastery of St. Nicholas of Andros, Greece]].</ref> stems from these lilies, being many years old, sometimes bud miraculously at the time of the [[Dormition|Feast of the Dormition]].
 
 
 
Fr. John instructed his son Photios to plant the lily bulbs in pots and to water them only with [[holy water]], which Photios did. After the lilies had grown from the bulbs in May of 1983, Fr. John cut one of the flowers and placed it by the icon of the Mother of God, which leaned against the iconostasis of his church. The flower did not wilt for three or four weeks, although it had been cut and removed from both water and earth. When it finally dropped its petals (the first one having fallen on a radiant day when one of Fr. John's [[Conversion|converts]] from the university was [[Baptism|baptized]]), Fr. John told his wife not to vacuum up any of them, but to save them and place them by the icon where the flower stem was still leaning. Aпd then, within three weeks, some fresh sprouts appeared on the stem!
 
 
 
The stem continued to produce new stems for many months, until the winter of 1983-4. Fr. John interpreted the [[miracle]] as an image of life coming out of [[death]] through the [[Resurrection]]. This miracle strengthened the faith of many to have more reverence towards the Blessed Virgin.
 
 
 
Father John was a sensitive and beautiful soul. At the instruction of Elder Dorotheos, he wrote poems and religious hymns, and was deeply touched by the miracles of the Virgin and the lives of the saints.
 
 
 
===Martyrdom===
 
[[Image:MartyrJohnofSantaCruz.jpg|right|thumb|New Martyr Father John Karastamatis (1937-1985), standing at the entrance of the Church, almost the very spot where he met his martyric death.]]
 
Before his martyric death, three wonderful things had happened:
 
 
 
# One week before his martyrdom the blossoming lilies of the Virgin wilted at once and they never blossomed again.
 
# The Icon of the Blessed Virgin wept, and traces of her tears can still be seen on her image.
 
# On three consecutive [[Lord's Day|Sundays]] before his martyrdom, during the [[Divine Liturgy]], the altar boy while giving him the warm water (to prepare the [[Holy Communion]]) saw a strange phenomenon - his father’ face was shining and scattered rays of light - but father John told him strictly not to reveal anything.
 
 
 
On the evening of May 17, 1985 Fr. John telephoned Abbot Dorotheos and asked him about the miracles of the myrrh-streaming icon of the Blessed Virgin (Myrrhovlytissa), because he wanted to preach a sermon on her for the following Sunday. Then on the night of Saturday, May 18, 1985, the eve of the feast of the translation of the holy relics of Saint [[Nicholas of Myra|Nicholas]] the Wonder-worker, Fr. John was in the church building, preparing the [[Homily|sermon]] for the following morning. His wife was in Los Angeles at that time visiting her daughter, who had just given birth to her first child.
 
 
 
Shortly before [[Midnight Office|midnight]],<ref group="note">The midnight hour is the supposed time of the satanic [[w:Black Mass|Black Mass]], [[w:Witching hour|Witching hour]], and [[w:Witches'_Sabbath#Dates|Witches' Sabbath]]. Some authors have hypothosized that the Witches' Sabbath would take place during the night of the Sunday before the time the Christian mass was celebrated.</ref> one or more assailants entered the church. Evidently they had been watching Fr. John, for they came at a time when he was alone, when both his wife and 17 year-old son were gone. They attacked Fr. John in his church office, stabbing him with a knife. During the struggle Fr. John was severely beaten, and then was finally killed by a heavy blow on his head.
 
 
 
His son, who had dined with him earlier that evening, arrived at 1:30 a.m. at the church. Outside the office he discovered the body of his murdered father, and on the walls -- the blood of a [[martyr]].
 
 
 
<blockquote>There, the boy was faced with a terrible sight: his father was found on the floor slaughtered and unrecognizable…he had been hit in the head with a hammer and his whole body was butchered with knifes. As the police had later discovered, because father John didn’t die right away, the criminals took the [[cross]] he was wearing around the neck and hanged him with its chain. The [[blood]] poured from his wounds and flooded the floor of the Holy [[Shrine]]. The Satanists used his blood to write their slogans and the mark [[666]] on the walls of the Church. The blessed father John suffered martyrdom in the very place where he was photographed with the cross in his hand, almost prophesizing of what would follow.<ref name=PANTAKRATOROS>[http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/the-new-hieromartyr-john-karastamatis-of-santa-cruz/ The New Hieromartyr John Karastamatis of Santa Cruz]. Orthodox Word. May 19, 2011.</ref></blockquote>
 
 
 
Because Fr. John's face and fingers were so disfigured and mutilated, his [[relics]] could not be displayed at the funeral service, therefore his body was covered in the usual gold-[[vestments]] and the coffin was sealed.
 
 
 
===Assailants===
 
The police searched for the killers and found three people, a couple and the son of the man from another woman. They were priests and worshipers of Satan. They drank cobra venom while they were arrested and two of them died, and the third lost his mind and could not testify.<ref name="PANTAKRATOROS"/>
 
 
 
In the absence of a more plausible reason for the crime, it is most likely that the killing, like the church desecration a few months prior to it, was done at the hands of those who hated Fr. John for his holy work, of those who are the enemies of God and rebel against Him because they serve the first rebel, Satan. But whether Fr. John was killed for overtly satanic purposes or for other, irrational reasons, he had without doubt a [[Martyr|martyric]] death, giving his life for [[Christ]] and dying in the very church in which he had diligently served Him.
 
 
 
==Apparitions of Blessed Father John==
 
When Abbot Dorotheos learned about the martyrdom of Father John, he wrote to the [[Presbytera]] asking her to send his priestly [[vestments]] from when they had celebrated together the feast of [[Dorotheos of Gaza|Saint Dorotheos]] at the Monastery in 1981. Some time passed but he received no response from father John’s family.
 
 
 
On the eve [[July 4]], at the [[St. Nicholas Monastery (Andros, Greece)|Monastery of St. Nicholas]], a Athonite [[All-Night Vigil|vigil]] was celebrated in honor of St. [[Athanasius of Athos|Athanasius of Mt.Athos]], with many [[Pilgrimage|pilgrims]] who had come from Athens. As the vigil was about to end, the monastery [[bells]] began to beat themselves as for a solemn feast. They stopped for awhile, but the bells started ringing again so harmoniously that everyone was astonished.
 
 
 
Seized with fear and awe, the faithful started to pray the [[Paraklesis|paraclesis]] of [[Nicholas of Myra|St. Nicholas]], waiting for a miracle to happen. That afternoon, elder Dorotheos got a call from Mary, the daughter of Father John, who had come specifically to the monastery bearing the vestments of her father. She brought them into the monastery and they were received with joy by all the pilgrims there. The bells had been ringing in the monastery that morning exactly at the time when the ship entered the harbor carrying the Martyr's vestments.
 
 
 
The apparitions of blessed father John after his martyric death are many. On the eve of the feast of St. Nicholas, in 1986, abbot Dorotheos together with several women was preparing for the monastery's patronal feast. At one point, they saw blessed father John walking through the monastery gardens and heading towards them. They all were frightened and began to shout: ''“Papa Iani!”'' Then he disappeared from their sight. Immediately after this to their surprise, came the postman with a package from Switzerland containing a wooden carved image (icon) of Father John, from some Russian believers that honored him as a saint. Father John had asked that his [[icon]] may be spread to all Christians so they may learn about his martyrdom and missionary work.
 
 
 
In addition, in February 1987 while abbot Dorotheos went to Switzerland for surgery, while he was talking to the faithful there about Fr. John and his martyrdom, Fr. John appeared to them, blessed them, and then disappeared from their sight.
 
 
 
==Legacy==
 
:"His life inspired and enlightened and cheered us!" wrote one of his spiritual children. "His death has served to confirm in a most direct way the realities of not only our Orthodox faith, but of the bizarre and truly anti-Christian ways of our times."
 
       
 
''Holy New Martyr Priest John of Santa Cruz, pray to God for us!''
 
 
 
==Hymns==
 
'''[[Troparion]] – Tone 1'''<br>
 
Having cultivated the fruit of God’s knowledge by thy labors,<br>
 
thou hast plucked out the root of godlessness and proclaimed in our land the true faith.<br>
 
Anointed with grace thou hast tended the flock entrusted thee,<br>
 
and in shedding thy [[blood]] thou waterest the seeds of Christ’s true faith in our land,<br>
 
O New Martyr John of Santa Cruz.<br>
 
Glory to Him Who hath granted thee strength;<br>
 
glory to Him Who hath crowned thee;<br>
 
glory to Him Who granteth healing for all through thee.
 
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
Line 116: Line 13:
 
<div><references/></div>
 
<div><references/></div>
  
==Sources==
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==Further reading==
* [http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/the-new-hieromartyr-john-karastamatis-of-santa-cruz/ The New Hieromartyr John Karastamatis of Santa Cruz]. Orthodox Word. May 19, 2011.
+
* Ken Parry, David J. Melling, Dimitri Brady, Sidney H. Griffith and John F. Healey (Eds.). ''[http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9780631232032_chunk_g978063123203214_ss1-14 John Karastamatis].'' '''The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity.''' 2001. eISBN 9780631232032
* [http://www.prescottorthodox.org/2010/10/new-hieromartyr-john-karastamatis-of-santa-cruz/ New Martyr John Karastamatis of Santa Cruz]. St. George Greek Orthodox Church, of Prescott. October 2, 2010. (''Source: The Orthodox Word, #122 / 1985'')
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* [http://www.prescottorthodox.org/2010/10/new-hieromartyr-john-karastamatis-of-santa-cruz/ New Martyr John Karastamatis of Santa Cruz]. St. George Greek Orthodox Church, of Prescott. (''Source: '''The Orthodox Word, #122 / 1985''' '')
* [http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php?topic=13397.5;wap2 Orthodox Priest from California canonized a Saint]. OrthodoxChristianity.net. (''Source: The Orthodox Word, #122 / 1985'')
+
* [http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/the-new-hieromartyr-john-karastamatis-of-santa-cruz/ The New Hieromartyr John Karastamatis of Santa Cruz]. '' '''Orthodox Word. May 19, 2011.''' '' (''Source: Translation of [http://www.impantokratoros.gr/84A7DC93.el.aspx Greek article]'')
* [http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010/02/fr-john-karastamatis-murderer-denied.html Fr. John Karastamatis' Murderer Denied Parole]. MYSTAGOGY - The Weblog of John Sanidopoulos.
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* [http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4261906/Fr.%20John%20Karastamatis-1.pdf Saints of America: A New Blossom of American Sanctity: New-Martyr Priest John of Santa Cruz]. (''Various articles compiled; .pdf format; 24 pp.)
* Jennifer Squires. [http://www.orthodoxnews.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=usnews.one&content_id=18416&CFID=72092943&CFTOKEN=53644936&tp_preview=true Man who killed Santa Cruz priest denied parole for five years]. Santa Cruz Sentinel. February 8, 2010.
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* Claude Lopez. [http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2011/05/miracles-of-saint-john-karastamatis-of.html Miracles of Saint John Karastamatis of Santa Cruz]. ''MYSTAGOGY: The Weblog of John Sanidopoulos.'' October 6/19, 1989.
'''In Greek'''<br>
+
* Nun Cornelia (Rees). [http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/080205103442.htm Interview with Archimandrite Meletios (Webber)]. ''PRAVOSLAVIE.RU.'' 05/02/2008.
* [http://www.impantokratoros.gr/84A7DC93.el.aspx Ο νεοφανής Ιερομάρτυς της Ορθοδοξίας Ιωάννης της Σάντα Κρουζ]. Ο ΟΣΙΟΣ ΦΙΛΟΘΕΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΠΑΡΟΥ. ΤΕΥΧΟΣ 17, Μάιος-Αύγουστος 2006, Θεσ/νίκη. (''Holy Monastery of Pantokratoros (Impankratoros.gr)'')
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* [http://www.ahepa20.org/~chapter243/2010/01/please-help-us-keep-cold-blooded-killer.htm Please help us keep a cold-blooded killer behind bars]. ''Santa Barbara AHEPA Chapter 243.'' January 8, 2010.
 +
* [http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=283854374950 Justice for Father John Karastamatis]. ''Facebook (group).''
 +
 
 +
'''Newspaper Sources'''
 +
* ''Our Correspondent.'' Santa Cruz - Slain Priest Was 'Severely Beaten'. ''The San Francisco Chronicle.'' May 21, 1985.
 +
* [http://articles.latimes.com/1986-01-09/news/mn-14136_1_greek-orthodox-priest Court Hearing - the State]. ''Los Angeles Times.'' January 09, 1986.
 +
* Joan Connell. SHATTERED PARISH REBUILDS CHURCH TRIES TO PUT SLAYING BEHIND IT. ''San Jose Mercury News.'' August 23, 1986.
 +
* Darrel W. Cole. Priest’s killer set for parole hearing. ''Santa Cruz Sentinel.'' June 12, 2001.
 +
* Jennifer Squires. [http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/education/ci_14308329 Parole hearing stirs memories of the murder of the Santa Cruz Greek Orthodox Church's first priest]. ''Santa Cruz Sentinel.'' February 1, 2010.
 +
* Jennifer Squires. [http://www.orthodoxnews.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=usnews.one&content_id=18416&CFID=72092943&CFTOKEN=53644936&tp_preview=true Man who killed Santa Cruz priest denied parole for five years]. ''Santa Cruz Sentinel.'' February 8, 2010.
 +
 
 +
'''Greek Sources'''
 +
* [http://www.impantokratoros.gr/84A7DC93.el.aspx Ο νεοφανής Ιερομάρτυς της Ορθοδοξίας Ιωάννης της Σάντα Κρουζ]. ''Ο ΟΣΙΟΣ ΦΙΛΟΘΕΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΠΑΡΟΥ.'' ΤΕΥΧΟΣ 17, Μάιος-Αύγουστος 2006, Θεσ/νίκη.  
 +
* [http://kyrigma.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html Ὁ ἅγιος Νεομάρτυς καί Ἱερομάρτυς Ἰωάννης τῆς Σάντα Κρούζ]. Θείον Κήρυγμα: Κηρύγματα καί ὁμιλίες τοῦ πρωτοπρεσβυτέρου Γεωργίου Ρ. Ζουμῆ, Γενικοῦ Ἀρχιερατικοῦ Ἐπιτρόπου τῆς Ιερᾶς Μητροπόλεως Ἐδέσσης, Πέλλης καὶ Ἀλμωπίας. Δευτέρα, 21 Ιουνίου 2010.
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* [http://kyrigma.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_6716.html Ἀκουλουθία Αγίου Ιωάννη της Σάντα Κρούζ]. Θείον Κήρυγμα: Κηρύγματα καί ὁμιλίες τοῦ πρωτοπρεσβυτέρου Γεωργίου Ρ. Ζουμῆ, Γενικοῦ Ἀρχιερατικοῦ Ἐπιτρόπου τῆς Ιερᾶς Μητροπόλεως Ἐδέσσης, Πέλλης καὶ Ἀλμωπίας.
  
[[Category:Priests]]
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[[Category:Priests|Karastamatis]]
[[Category:Martyrs]]
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[[Category:Missionaries|Karastamatis]]
[[Category:Saints]]
 
[[Category:American Saints]]
 
[[Category:Greek Saints]]
 
[[Category:Modern Saints]]
 
[[Category:Missionaries]]
 
  
 
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[[el:Ιωάννης (Καρασταμάτης) της Σάντα Κρούζ]]

Latest revision as of 01:13, November 18, 2015

Icon of Fr. John Karastamatis (1937-1985).

Father John Karastamatis of Santa Cruz (August 8, 1937 - May 19, 1985) was the first parish priest and one of the founders of the Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Santa Cruz, California. Although there is some veneration of him as a hieromartyr, he has not been canonized, and his veneration is controversial.

He was a fervent preacher of the Orthodox Faith and "ministered to the unemployed, homeless and drug addicts of the city"[1][note 1] before he was murdered in 1985.[note 2]

He has been credited with numerous miracles of healing since his death.[1]

Notes

  1. "He was the kind who wanted to help everybody," Anastasia Karastamatis said. "They'd come to the door at 2 o'clock in the morning and I'd worry -- saying we didn't know what they'd been drinking, what drugs they were on. It was hard for me. But he'd say, 'They need me; that's what I'm here for.' "
    • {Joan Connell. SHATTERED PARISH REBUILDS CHURCH TRIES TO PUT SLAYING BEHIND IT. San Jose Mercury News. August 23, 1986.}
  2. According to The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity, the couple that murdered Fr. John had a history of mental illness. And in the words of District Attorney Art Danner, Anna Bowman was "clearly psychotic."

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Ken Parry, et. al. (Eds.). John Karastamatis. The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity. 2001.

Further reading

Newspaper Sources

Greek Sources