Orthodox archbishop testifies in his own defence at Winnipeg sex assault trial

WINNIPEG – An Orthodox archbishop accused of sexually assaulting two brothers is taking the stand in his own defence.

Seraphim Storheim told a Winnipeg court he remembers his accusers as obedient, vivacious and hard-working boys when he first met them in 1983.

The 67-year-old testified he saw the boys and their single mother at least once a week when he was posted in London, Ont.

Storheim is accused of sexually assaulting the pre-teens when they lived with him in Winnipeg three decades ago.

The men have testified Storheim walked around naked and asked them to touch him sexually.

Storheim became the Orthodox Church in America’s top cleric in Canada in 2007 and is currently on leave.

The church is separate from other Orthodox religions such as the Greek Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.