The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, a New York
religious corporation (the "OCA"), has concluded an investigation into
the allegations made by Paul Sidebottom regarding actions by
Archimandrite Isidore (Brittain) which took place in Kodiak, Alaska on
May 16–17, 2007. While the OCA does not admit liability for any of
the matters involved in Mr. Sidebottom's allegations of sexual
harassment, those allegations have been found to be credible by the
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") in its
investigation of Mr. Sidebottom’s allegations, and the Holy Synod
recognizes that the consequences of the protracted investigation have
been a source of much distress to Mr. Sidebottom. The Holy Synod
regrets any adverse impact these circumstances have had on Mr.
Sidebottom. The Holy Synod also regrets that Mr. Sidebottom was
discharged from his position at St. Herman’s Seminary by the
now-retired Bishop of Alaska, Nikolai, in retaliation for filing the
complaint with the OCA, as found by the EEOC in its investigation of
Mr. Sidebottom’s allegations. In bringing this unfortunate case to a
conclusion, the Holy Synod prays that the parties hurt and affected
will partake of the merciful love, healing and peace that Our Lord
Jesus Christ grants to all. The Holy Synod willingly embraces its
Christian duty to facilitate healing, forgiveness and reconciliation,
and it prays that these and other steps taken will, by God’s grace,
lead to that end.