GREEK REPUBLIC
CHURCH of the G.O.C. of GREECE
HOLY SYNOD
KANINGOS 32 (3rd floor)
106 82 ΑΘΗΝΑΙ
TEL. 21038 28 280 - FAX 21038 47 365
ΕΛΛΑΣ - GREECE
ecclesiagoc.gr
Protocol no. γ-1828
ENCYCLICAL
To all the clergy and the people of the Holy Metropolis of America:
Most Reverend Fathers, most honorable Parish Council Members and all the blessed Christians of the Holy Metropolis of America who hold fast to the sacred traditions: Grace and peace be unto you from God, and prayer and blessing from us.
Given the unfavorable condition of his health, being plagued by illness due to a stroke he suffered eight years ago, His Eminence, Metropolitan Pavlos of America, stated once again before the Holy Synod of the Church of the G.O.C. during its meeting on October 10/23, 2013, his inability to exercise his pastoral responsibilities smoothly. He therefore asked that his resignation from the throne of the Metropolis be accepted. The Holy Synod accepted the request, but it asked His Eminence to continue exercising his pastoral duties until a Locum Tenens is appointed at the next Synod meeting.
The Holy Synod, meeting on November 6/19, 2013, discussed at length the issue of the pastorate of the Holy Metropolis of America after the acceptance of His Eminence, Metropolitan Pavlos's resignation. After discussion, the Holy Synod decided to appoint His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens and all-Greece, as the Locum Tenens of the Holy Metropolis of America. Therefore, with the promulgation of the present encyclical all the clergy of the Holy Metropolis of America will commemorate the name of His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens, until the election of a new Metropolitan by the hierarchy of the Church of the G.O.C. of Greece. Until then, His Beatitude will instruct his representative hierarchs in the settlement of issues, and he or his representative will preside over the Holy Eparchial Synod and the Metropolitan Council of America.
Diocesan priests wishing to communicate with His Beatitude concerning developing pastoral issues may communicate with His Grace, Bishop Photios of Marathon. His Grace, Bishop Demetrius of Boston, is given the responsibility of dealing with the extraordinary liturgical needs and movements of priests within the parishes. Those with issues concerning the Holy Eparchial Synod of America may communicate with Hieromonk Savvas Anastasiou. Those with issues concerning the Metropolitan Council may communicate with the Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Council.
His Eminence, Metropolitan emeritus Pavlos of America enjoys the respect and trust of all the members of the Synod, but it was completely understood that his being loaded down with jurisdictional responsibilities was extremely burdensome to his health. We hope that, finally being delivered from the onerous burden of pastoral responsibilities, he will better confront his health issues.
We call on all clergy and laity of the Holy Metropolis to pray for His Eminence, Metropolitan Pavlos’s health and also for the emergence of a worthy hierarch to the Metropolitan throne. In this regard, bestowing the prayers and blessings of our Holy Synod upon you all, we pray that the Giver of every good thing always provide you with rich gifts and His grace. May His grace and infinite mercy be with you all.
THE HOLY SYNOD
In the year of salvation MMXIII the 23rd of November / 6th of December
THE HOLY SYNOD
The Archbishop
† KALLINIKOS of Athens
The Members
† AKAKIOS of Attica and Diauleia
† MAXIMOS of Thessalonica and Demetrias
† ATHANASIOS of Larisa and Platamon
† JUSTIN of Euripus and Euboea
† PAVLOS of America
† GERONTIOS of Piraeus and Salamis
† CHRYSOSTOMOS of Attica and Boeotia
† MOSES of Toronto
† GREGORY of Christianoupolis
† PHOTIOS of Marathon
† THEODOSIOS of Bresthena
† SERGIOS of Portland
† DEMETRIUS of Boston
† CHRISTODOULOS of Theoupolis
Why do we follow the Old Orthodox Calendar?
a Because based on it, the First Ecumenical Council established the Paschal Canon and appointed that the feast of Holy Pascha may fall anywhere from March 22nd until April 25th, while with the New (Papal) Calendar it can fall as late at May 8th.
b The Gregorian (Papal) Calendar has been condemned by three Pan-Orthodox Councils under Patriarch Jeremiah Tranos (1583, 1587, 1589) Read more...
St. John of Kronstadt Orthodox Church began as a mission parish in the year 2000, in a home chapel in Palm Coast, FL – a small town on Florida’s northeast coast located between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. After two years, it became necessary to have services in area community centers, rented for Sundays and other Holy Days. Read more...
2023 Youth Conference
Please join us for the 2023 youth conference in Chicago, IL! To learn more, visit the home page or visit the conference website.
Q. I noticed that we call the angels Michael and Gabriel "Saint." I thought the title "Saint" was only given to humans who have proven themselves Godly. Do you mind clarifying this for me? Is there a deeper meaning to "Saint" that I am not aware of?
-S.L. Read more...