In late July 2017, Methodios gained local media attention after firing longtime priest Father Nicholas Kastanas of the St Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church in Arlington, Massachusetts. While no specific reasons were stated in his letter to the community, Methodios cited "turmoil" for which Kastanas "bears the greatest responsibility". Following the notice of firing, the community banded together, creating a petition in the hope of reversing Methodios's decision and packed the church for the priest's last service as a show of solidarity. It was later reported that the cause of the dismissal was Kastanas's failure to "preserve the orderly life and unity of the parish" as he was reportedly unable to control growing disputes between the Parish Council and a group of parishioners. On November 17, 2017 the Metropolis published "A Message from the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston Concerning St. Athanasius the Great of Arlington, MA" that included "Frequently Asked Questions" and an accompanying "Timeline of Events," documents which detailed the events leading up to Father Kastanas' removal from his pastoral duties in Arlington.