America is ecclesiastically Russian?

[Aristokles]

OOD,
The first people to establish a mission were 8 monks from Valaam in 1794, in Alaska.

That is correct. And the first Orthodox Church was established in Alaska on Kodiak Island in 1795. Alaska was bought, I think, in 1867.
I can understand OOD's quandry, but to be confused is only to look at a region as a national state. I just don't think that's how missions have been viewed historically.
To complicate your facts. Florida did not become part of the US until 1821, before that being first Spanish, then British (1767-1784; when New Smyrna colony existed), then Spanish again until 1821 (Ithink). By then the Greek colony had disappeared. While the Greeks in Florida left Europe as Greek Orthodox, they had no priest here and technically became Roman Catholic - except for one family who refused any Latin communion). To me, the St Photios shrine is a nice cultural thing and a wonderful trip (the destination of my honeymoon 17 years ago) but it's a weak attempt at forcing Greek precedence -very weak.
The first "Greek" parish was in 1864 in New Orleans (under the Russians, I believe) and the GOA proper wasn't founded until 1892 in NY.
Hence, technically, I still see the "Russians" as having precedence here - and I'm still in the GOA and will admit that.
Now if only the "Russians" could get their act together...
Demetri

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Demetri,

I would never be caught trying to establish Greek precedence, although everyone should know it was Eratosthenes, a Greek, who first calculated the circumference of the earth in c. 300 BC, about 1,800 years before another Greek, Christopher Columbus, had to prove it to the newly "civilized" Franks. I have no idea where the Russians were during all of this.

The first "Greek" parish was in 1864 in New Orleans (under the Russians, I believe) and the GOA proper wasn't founded until 1892 in NY.

Knowing whether or not this was under the Russians would go along way to establish Russian precedence.

In the end, I think the way the Americas developed, with so many huge ethic territories (ie. English, French, Portugese, Spanish, Russian) claiming independence, being purchased, ect. - and just the sheer size of it all, confuses the issue of who was the first, where that was, and what it encompassed according to and in the spirit of the canons.

I am not at all adverse to agreeing there was a Russian precedence, I just don’t understand how 1 all of the sudden equals 1000.
.

[ania]

You could always argue also that the original Orthodox in the North American continent were Irish, therefore under the Roman Patriarch, therefore America should be all Papists. :mrgreen: Just reading up on St. Brendan, pretty cool stuff. http://www.castletown.com/brendan.htm
Have a wonderful weekend ya'll.

[ania]

I am not at all adverse to agreeing there was a Russian precedence, I just don’t understand how 1 all of the sudden equals 1000.
.

1 kilometer equals 1000 meters, 1 kilogram equals 1000 grams... need I go on... I'm just being silly, and don't understand how that particular quote ties in with the rest of the thread.

[Aristokles]

Demetri,

I would never be caught trying to establish Greek precedence, although everyone should know it was Eratosthenes, a Greek, who first calculated the circumference of the earth in c. 300 BC, about 1,800 years before another Greek, Christopher Columbus, had to prove it to the newly "civilized" Franks. I have no idea where the Russians were during all of this.

Stop it OOD! You're making my sides hurt from laughter! Yes, I know about Eratosthenes. And I've read that ancedotal stuff about Columbus all over the internet. Back in 1964 I read a 1937 book by Spyros Coteras entitled "Christopher Columbus was a Greek and his Name was Nikolaos Ypshilantis". Same old Χιος Island stuff. I've been looking for a copy of that old book for years only finding it at the Library of Congress. Not that I seriously want to study its claims, but for the novelty - it's a scream.

The first "Greek" parish was in 1864 in New Orleans (under the Russians, I believe) and the GOA proper wasn't founded until 1892 in NY.

Knowing whether or not this was under the Russians would go along way to establish Russian precedence.

I'll see what I can find out. But, I guess I can see your general point -sort of. Back then priests came from the Church of Greece, not Constantinople; so technically it's arguable as to which Greek jurisdiction is even in the running here.

In the end, I think the way the Americas developed, with so many huge ethic territories (ie. English, French, Portugese, Spanish, Russian) claiming independence, being purchased, ect. - and just the sheer size of it all, confuses the issue of who was the first, where that was, and what it encompassed according to and in the spirit of the canons.

Perhaps. I see the Russians as true missionaries whereas the Greeks were only tending their own immigrant flock. Hence the EP claims "diaspora" and the Russians say no way, they were here first (and they are have a good case).

I am not at all adverse to agreeing there was a Russian precedence, I just don’t understand how 1 all of the sudden equals 1000.
.

I'm with ania here...I don't follow your point here.

Demetri