Anchorage, USA - Orthodox Church in America officials say they are investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against the second-highest ranking church official in Alaska.
Church spokesman Father Andrew Jarmus says Archimandrite Isidore is accused of inappropriate sexual conduct with a former male missionary in Kodiak.
He says Bishop Nikolai, who heads the Alaska Diocese, is also facing allegations of misconduct, though the nature of those allegations has not been revealed.
Nikolai denied he is the subject of any accusations, and says Isidore is in treatment and couldn't be reached.
Jarmus says the senior church official in the country requested the investigation, which will focus on the "extraordinarily serious" allegations.
Criminal charges have not been filed.