In the United States, a former Catholic priest and his family converted to Orthodoxy

In the United States of America, a significant event in religious life took place: former Catholic priest Sebastian Carnazzo, a father of seven children, came under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. He has been received into the clergy of the Greek Archdiocese of America, a result of his deep theological journey and his desire for full unity with the Orthodox Church.

According to the US edition of SPJ, the Patriarchate of Constantinople officially accepted Sebastian Carnazzo as a member of the clergy. He had previously served as rector of the Melchite (Eastern Catholic) Church of St. Elijah in San Jose, California. The decision to accept him was approved by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.

The new priest has been assigned a part-time ministry in San Francisco under the local archdiocese. The official message emphasizes that Carnazzo’s conversion to Orthodoxy is not a formality, but a deeply realized theological path, motivated by his desire for full unity with the Orthodox Church.

Recall that we previously reported that there is a marked increase in interest in Eastern Orthodoxy in the United States , especially among young people. However, against the background of this trend, the ecumenical initiatives of Archbishop Elpidophoros, head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, are causing mixed reactions and concerns about the dilution of the unique identity of the Orthodox Church.