The New Archbishop of Athens: Kallinikos of Achaia

Details: Created on Wednesday, 06 October 2010 15:13

Today, Tuesday September 22/October 5, the Holy Synod of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece met in an extraordinary session; the sole item of discussion was the election of the new Archbishop.

The election took place in the historic church of St Paraskeue in Athens (Dioskouri 6, Plaka), behind closed doors, proceeded by a hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated by the youngest bishop in seniority; His Grace Bishop Theodosios of Bresthena.

His Eminence, Metropolitan Maximos of Thessaloniki presided over the Synod as the Locum Tenens of the widowed Archepiscopal throne. All of the members of the Synod were present; His Eminence Metropolitan Pavlos of America was represented by His Grace Bishop Christodoulos of Theoupolis, a member of the Eparchial Synod of the Church of the GOC in America.

In the first round of voting; of the 11 voting hierarchs, all of the 11 ballots were valid, and from the tally of the votes:

His Eminence, Metropolitan Kallinikos of Achaia and all the Peloponnese received 5 votes,
His Eminence, Metropolitan Maximos of Thessaloniki and Demetrias received 3 votes,
His Eminence, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Attica and Boiotia received 3 votes.

The by-laws in force in this situation called for a new ballot between His Eminence the Metropolitan of Achaia and one of the two candidates who had tied; to be decided by lot. However, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Attica and Boiotia stated that he withdrew his candidacy and therefore the election process was carried out between the two remaining candidates, the Metropolitans of Thessaloniki and Achaia.

In the second round of voting; of the 11 voting hierarchs, all of the 11 ballots were valid, and from the tally of the votes:

His Eminence, Metropolitan Kallinikos of Achaia and all the Peloponnese received 8 votes,
His Eminence, Metropolitan Maximos of Thessalonica and Demetrias received 3 votes.
Therefore, Kallinikos of Achaia and All the Peloponnese was elected Archbishop of Athens and All Greece.

The announcement of the results took place amidst applaud by clergy and laity present who were visibly moved. The rite of the Great Message followed, and it was decided that the enthronement of the new Archbishop should take place in two Sunday, October 4/17 at 12:00 pm in the Church of St. Athanasios in New Philadelphia, Athens.

From the Press Office of the Holy Synod.

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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