With the blessings of His Eminence, Metropolitan Pavlos of America, His Grace Bishop Demetrius of Boston, accompanied by Archdeacon Agathangelus visited the parishes of the Genuine Orthodox Christians in Michigan.
On Saturday Dec. 9/22, 2012 Bishop Demetrius presided over Vespers in the parish of Sts. Nectarios & George in Ecorse MI together with Fr. Longinos Kakavros, rector of the parish, and Fr. George Giannios. The next day, Sunday Dec. 10/23 he celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Sts. Nectarios & George together the above mentioned clergy. On Monday Dec 11/24 he presided over Vespers in the parish of St. Spyridon in Saint Claire Shores MI which also celebrated its Feast Day. The next day, Tuesday Dec 12/25, he celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the same parish upon the memory of our father among the saints, Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythus, the wonderworker. Concelebrating together with His Grace were Fr. Steven Allen, rector of the parish, and the above mentioned clergy.
After Liturgy in each church, the parish offered a trapeza for the visiting clergy and the parishioners. Many faithful attended all the services. His Grace visited with the faithful who were spiritually strengthened by the presence of an Orthodox hierarch.
In the early 20th century, the idea of promoting the union of Churches (Orthodox and heterodox) began to gain ground among circles in the Eastern Orthodox Church by establishing a "Communion of Churches" modeled on the League of Nations.
The Patriarchal Encyclical of 1920 foresaw a series of steps toward the “union of the Churches,” of which the first was the change of the calendar for the simultaneous celebration of feast days by all the “Churches.” The content of the encyclical was kept secret from the faithful and only after a few years became known. 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...
2025 Youth Conference
Please join us for the 2025 youth conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada! To learn more, visit the conference website.
Q. In considering becoming part of the GOC in America, I am getting warnings from various circles that the attitude of GOC people is that of being “walled off,” “arrogant,” “judgmental,” and “in your face” toward those not in the Genuine Orthodox Church, with accusations such as “World Orthodox” priests are “not even Christians” and the like. Could you give me your personal, realistic assessment of this dynamic and possibly refer me to an official statement on how GOC members should and do relate to and communicate with those in “World Orthodoxy”? Read more...