Announcement of Decisions of the Holy Synod of the Church of the G.O.C. of Greece Which Pertain to the Church in America

On Tuesday January 8/21, 2014 the Holy Synod of the Church of the Geniune Orthodox Christians of Greece convened in a regular meeting in the hall of the church “The Unfading Rose” in Piraeus discussed the following items on the agenda:

4. It discussed the procedure for the election of the successor to the retired Metropolitan Pavlos of America, emeritus. The Holy Eparchial Synod of America, according to Constitution of the Church of the G.O.C. in America compiled a list of candidates. The list was submitted to the Holy Synod in Greece, which approved the list as-is.

The election will take place on Wednesday February 6/19, 2014, the memory of St. Photios the Great, Patriarch of Constantinople, in the church of the Theotokos “The Unfading Rose” in Piraeus. The election will be preceded by a Divine Liturgy according to the By-Laws for the Election of Hierarchs.

According to these By-Laws, the Hierarchs in America may take part in the electoral process via absentee ballot sent to the offices of the Holy Synod in advance.

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Nov. 2013

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Oct. 2013

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On Tuesday Sept. 5/18, 2012 the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece convened in its offices in Athens and after the Holy Water Service upon the beginning of the new ecclesiastical year, reached the following decisions:

13. To accept the petition of admittance of Bishop Demetrius Kyriakou, coming from the Holy Orthodox Church of North America, leader of a group of monastics, clergy and about seven parishes in North America. The petitioner appeared before the meeting and he answered various questions put forth by the members of the Synod. After the confirmation of the petitioner's correct faith, he was elected unanimously, suffragan Bishop of Metropolitan Pavlos of America, with the title Bishop of Boston and it was also decided that his canonical restoration take place at the Holy Monastery of the All-Immaculate Virgin (Panachrantou) in Megara, on Friday, September 8/21 of the current year. The further details concerning the incorporation of the Parishes, Clergy and Monastics will be arranged by the Holy Eparchial Synod of America with the participation of His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos during his scheduled visit to New York on Sunday September 17/30 of the current year.

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On Thursday Feb. 10/23, 2012 the Holy Synod of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece convened and and reached the following decisions:

4. It was decided that from now on, the petitions for acceptance of Deacons and Priests from the American continent will be examined by the Holy Eparchial Synod of America, which will also decide concerning their reception.

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On Tuesday May 4/17, 2011 the Holy Synod of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece gathered in a festal meeting at the offices of the Holy Metropolis of Piraeus. In attendance where its new members, Metropolitan Moses of Portland and Bishop Sergios of Loch Lomond. The Holy Synod discussed the following:

1 Certain subjects were regulated such as the manner of commemorations of the new hierarchs which will follow the same manner which the hierarchs in America already follow. The modifications to the Constitution of the Church of the G.O.C. will occur with the participation of the other hierarchs in America. It has been decided that his Grace Bishop Gregory of Christianoupolis will travel to America for the concelebration in New York and the first discussions.

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On Thursday April 29/May 12, 2011 the Holy Synod of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece gathered in an extraordinary meeting at its offices in Athens and … decided to accept the petition for acceptance of the priests, Constantine Parr, Photios Cooper and George Psaromatis canonically managing all of the pertinent details.

The territorial region of the Holy Metropolis of Portland, which covers the western states of America (which are in the Pacific Time zone), may be rearranged by the agreement of Metropolitan Pavlos.

Metropolitan Moses & Bishop Sergios will take part in the Holy Eparchial Synod of America under the presidency of His Eminence Metropolitan Pavlos of America. Simultaneously, the decision was made that all of the hierarchs in America, the Metropolitans as well as the titular Bishops under them, whenever they are in Greece may canonically take part in the meetings of the Holy Synod as complete members analogous with the Bishops from Greece who already have the right to take part in the Holy Eparchial Synod of America of which His Grace Bishop Photios of Marathon continues to be a permanent member who travels to America for its regular meetings.

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On Tuesday April 20/May 3, 2011, the Holy Synod of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece gathered in an extraordinary meeting at its offices in Athens and discussed the following:

5 After much discussion the petition for acceptance into the canonical Church of the G.O.C. of Bishops Moses (Mahany) and Sergios (Black) of the “Holy Orthodox Church in North America” (HOCNA) and those clergy and laity with them was unanimously accepted.

The Holy Synod of the Church of the G.O.C. of Greece, having also the agreement of the hierarchs in America (Metropolitan Pavlos of America and Bishop Christodoulos of Theoupolis) proceeded to found the Holy Metropolis of Portland and the Western United States and elected Metropolitan Moses as Metropolitan of Portland and the Western United States and Bishop Sergios as his assistant bishop with the title of Loch Lomond, presupposing the confirmation of their Orthodox Confession of Faith and the canonical healing of their ordinations. For this reason an extraordinary Synod meeting is to be held on April 29/May 12, 2011 to which Metropolitan Moses and Bishop Sergios were invited.

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Orthodox Awareness

A Miracle of Saint Spyridon

This miracle of Saint Spyridon took place in Mandra, Greece in 1926.

It was 12/25 December, 1926. The state Church of Greece adopted the Papal calendar and with the help of the Greek government persecuted all those who did not accept the Papal calendar. The faithful Orthodox Christians of Mandra woke up and headed to their Church to celebrate the Feast of Saint Spyridon. When they reached the Church they saw that the door to the Church had been secured with chains and the faithful could not enter. Before leaving the Church to return to their homes they stuck their candles on the door. As soon as the last person placed his candles on the door

the chains broke and fell. The faithful, confirmed in their Faith, entered the Church and celebrated the Feast of Saint Spyridon.

The miracle was reported the next day by the newspaper Skrip.

Missions

Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Mission, Tucson, Arizona

Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church is a beautiful mission parish near downtown Tucson, a city in southern Arizona. It was started in 1997 by Father John Bockman, who was a missionary Priest formerly serving missions in Tennessee and Massachusetts since 1990. Father John served the faithful in Tucson and the surrounding area in his home Chapel until his repose in November of 2000. His wife, Presbytera Valerie, continued to make her home Chapel available for the mission, with clergy from Saint Nectarios Orthodox Church in Seattle and His Eminence, Metropolitan Moses of Toronto (then of Portland), visiting to provide the Divine Services.

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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.

Ask A Priest

Forty Day Memorial Service

Q. Can you please explain the significance of the forty day memorial service? An Evangelical family asked one of our relatives that question. We said that it’s best to ask a clergy member. Thank you in advance for your response. (We will forward it to them as soon as possible).
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