Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece

[Nektarios]

Can some one give me a brief history or a reference to a book about the GOC of Greece. Not the Matthewites. Im considering moving over to the Old Calenderist.

Nektarios

[尼古拉前执事]

A few documents of note:

ROCOR Recognition of the GOC Bishops

18/31 December, 1969

To His Beatitude Auxentius,
Archbishop of the Church of the
True Orthodox Christians of Greece

Your Beatitude,

Your Beatitude’s fraternal letter of 25 November 1969, was read by us at a meeting of our Synod today.
The many trials which the Orthodox Church has endured from the beginning of its history are especially great in our evil times, and, consequently, this especially requires unity among those who are truly devoted to the Faith of the Fathers. With these sentiments, we wish to inform you that the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad recognizes the validity of the episcopal ordinations of your predecessor of blessed memory, the reposed Archbishop Akakios, and the consequent ordinations of your Holy Church. Hence, taking into account also various other circumstances, our hierarchical Synod esteems your hierarchy as brothers in Christ in full communion with us.

May the blessing of God rest upon all the clergy and faithful of your Church, especially during the coming days of the Nativity in the flesh of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The President of the Synod of Bishops
+Metropolitan Philaret

The Members:
+Nikon, Archbishop of Washington and Florida,
+Seraphim, Archbishop of Chicago and Detroit
+Vitaly, Archbishop of Montreal and Canada
+Anthony, Archbishop of Los Angeles and Texas
+Averky, Archbishop of Syracuse and Trinity
+Anthony, Archbishop of Western America and San Francisco
+Sabbas, Bishop of Edmonton
+Nectary, Bishop of Seattle
+Andrew, Bishop of Rockland
+Laurus, Bishop of Manhattan

[尼古拉前执事]

The 1935 Confession of Faith

To the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece

It is well known among the members of the Hierarchy of Greece that we have always been opposed to its views regarding the substitution of ecclesiastical calendar for the civil calendar.

Even while we did conform to the resolution of the majority of the Hierarchy, implementing even in our own dioceses the new calendar, we justified our conformity on two grounds: a) in order to avoid the consequences of a schism in the Church, and b) in the hope that the Hierarchy would grow to be compassionate enough to restore the old Ecclesiastical festal calendar in order to heal the division that has developed among the Christians, sacrificing even personal reputations in love for the faithful for whom Christ died.

But with the passage of twelve years, seeing that, on the one hand, an ecclesiastical schism was not avoided even without us, but was, nevertheless, created by a large portion of the Orthodox Greek people that remained faithful—with much zeal—to the festal calendar bequeathed to it by the Fathers, and, on the other hand, the fact that the Hierarchy has no intentions of restoring itself to the festal path from which it was displaced, we consider the grounds on which, until now, we based our conformity to the new calendar, through ecclesiastical economy, as obsolete.

Thus, acting according to our conscience and guided by our desire for the unity of all Greek Orthodox Christians on the basis of the tradition of the festal calendar and Orthodox tradition, we inform you of the following:

Because the Hierarchy of Greece, through the inspiration of the Presiding [Hierarch] , unilaterally and uncanonically introduced the Gregorian calendar into the Church despite the institutions of the seven Ecumenical Councils and the centuries old practice of the Orthodox Church;

Because the Ruling Hierarchy (Διοικούσα Ιεραρχία) of Greece, through its introduction of the Gregorian calendar into the divine ritual without the consent of all the Orthodox Churches, shattered the unity of the universal Orthodox Church and divided the Christians into two opposing calendar factions;

Because the Ruling Hierarchy of Greece, through its adoption of the new calendar transgressed the sacred and holy Canons, which order the matters of the divine ritual, and particularly the fast of the Holy Apostles, which periodically disappears [as a result of the reform];

Because the Ruling Hierarchy of Greece in unilaterally adopting the Gregorian calendar—as much as it claims to have left the Paschal cycle unchanged, claiming to celebrate Pascha with the old calendar—could not avoid transgressing the Paschal cycle through the change of the festal calendar and the corruption of the yearly cycle of Lectionary readings (Κυριακοδρόμιον) to which the Paschal cycle adopted by the First Ecumenical Council is inseparably connected;

Because the Ruling Hierarchy of Greece, shattering the unity of universal Orthodoxy through the unilateral introduction of the Gregorian calendar into the divine ritual and dividing the Christians into two opposing calendar factions, has contradicted the doctrine embodied in the Symbol of the Faith of the“One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church”;

Because the Ruling Hierarchy of Greece, in unilaterally and uncanonically adopting the Gregorian calendar without serious Ecclesiastical reasons, became a source of scandal among the Christians [and] a cause of religious division and strife between Christians, rejecting, on account of the new calendar, the unity in the faith, Christian love, and moral compassion in their relations between each other;

Because, last of all among the above listed reasons, the Ruling Hierarchy of Greece cut and walled itself off from the catholic body of Orthodoxy, according to the spirit of the Holy Canons, effectively declaring itself schismatic, as argued the special committee of National University legal scholars and theologians appointed to examine the calendar question, a member of which His Beatitude happened to be, serving then as a university professor;

For these reasons, in submitting to the Ruling Synod our annotated protest we make known that from henceforth, we sever all relations and ecclesiastical communion with the [Ruling Hierarchy] for as long as it maintains the calendar innovation, taking up the Ecclesiastical pastorship of the section of the Orthodox Greek people, organized in numerous communities, that renounced the State Church and remained faithful to the Patristic and Orthodox Julian calendar.

Bringing these things to the attention of the Ruling Hierarchy, in good faith we hope that, understanding the great responsibility that it bears before God, the Orthodox Church, and the Nation which it divided into two opposing religious factions without cause, the Ruling Hierarchy will reconsider its resolution regarding the calendar of the Church and will be moved to compassion and restore the Orthodox, Patristic, Ecclesiastical festal calendar, while the new calendar is kept in the affairs of the state, for the restoration of Orthodoxy and the peace of the Church and the Nation.

• Metropolitan Germanos of Demetrias
• Metropolitan Chrysostom of Florina, ret.
• Metropolitan Chrysostom of Zachynthos

[尼古拉前执事]

INTERVIEW WITH HIS BEATITUDE
THE ARCHBISHOP OF ATHENS AND ALL GREECE
OF THE TRUE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH
CHRYSOSTOMOS II

1
Please, tell about the present state of your Church: how many eparchies, monasteries and parishes do you have and in what countries?.

The statistical data you request can be found in detail in the annual almanac issued by our Holy Synod. In summary, I can tell you that our Holy Synod has 10 bishops in Greece and two in America. Under the Holy Synod there are around 180 parishes and 85 monasteries which are served by around 145 clerics in Greece and abroad. Abroad we have a presence in North America and some European countries. Our clerics are insufficient in number to meet the needs of our flock and many of them serve in more than one parish.

2
Do you have any contacts with other True-Orthodox Churches?

We were in dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. Following the schism which occurred within that Church there has been no progress and we have a ‘wait and see’ attitude until the situation becomes clearer.
Theological dialogue with the Matthewites was also terminated due to their own internal problems.

3
What differentiates your synod from other Greek True Orthodox Churches? Could you please explain the reasons of your recent division with the Synod of Metropolitan Kallinikos? Do you see any possibility of re-union with them?

There are no other local Churches in the same area. We are the True Orthodox Church of Greece from which the Matthewites, the Auxentiites, the Cyprianites, and the supporters of Kallinikos (Chaniotis) broke away.
We have no substantive difference on matters of faith with the Matthewites. There is - in my opinion - only a difference in mentality. We look upon them with a friendly eye but the unfortunate thing is that they do not do the same withus and they are extremely fanatical. Following their internal splits they have become extremely weakened and I do not consider that they have a future.
With the Cyprianites we have differences on ecclesiological matters. We condemn the theory of the ‘Mother Church” as put forward by Cyprian and his supporters in the New Calendarist Church. The Cyprianites have no real influence in Greece. Their flock are mostly New Calendarists. However, they do have good ‘public relations’, which is something which we lack.
The Auxentiites in Greece have split among themselves to a great extent and the remaining few are tending towards extinction.
The supporters of Kallinikos (Chaniotis) of Lamia are another case. They broke away from our Church in 1995 without there being any dispute over dogma. In their declaration the then 6 bishops cited two issues: the manner in which the case of the then Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Efthymios, was handled for canonical offences and the review of the Paisos - Vikentios case, who had renounced our Church going over to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and later returning under agonizing conditions. Those were the reasons for their secession in 1995 and the Synod deposed them. However, God has condemned those who broke away, resulting in many internal splits among themselves. Two of them, the Metropolitans of Chios (Stefanos) and Evripos (Justinos) returned having repented, and having been rehabilitated, were re-admitted into the Church, and are again members of our Holy Synod.
Another two, Paisos and Vikentios, betrayed their faith and went over to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, accepting re-ordination. That being a sign of the condemnation and abandonment of God.
The remaining two, Kallinikos (Chaniotis) and Efthymios (Orfanos) began performing ordinations and formed an anti-Synod and anti-Church. They gathered all the unruly clerics in order to give an appearance of power. It is for this reason their annual almanac includes all our parishes and monasteries to hide their own smallness. In reality they have a handful of followers. In relation to the matter of ‘re-union’ as you call it, we do not put it like that. Our Church is not divided. Whoever left from under its wing can return having repented. The door of repentance always remains open.

4
What is your opinion about the present canonical state of ROCOR and ROAC? Do you think that True Orthodoxy is represented in Russia?

We consider that following the imposition of Communism on Russia the True Orthodox Church of Russia is represented by the ROCA abroad and by the Church of the Catacombs in Russia. For the last 15 years the situation has become extremely complicated and great confusion reigns. We here in Greece, having so many problems to face, have not been involved to the extent that perhaps we should be, in examining the situation in Russia. For this reason we cannot give a categorical answer to your question. What we are sure off is that in Greece the True Orthodox Church is represented by our Church. Beyond that we cannot add anything.

5
The churches of "World Orthodoxy" have now withdrawn their participation in the Ecumenical movement. Several official churches have already left the World Council of Churches. The Moscow Partiarchate is also preparing for this step. Is it accurate to say that World Orthodoxy is slowly breaking with its heretical faith and is slowly self-purifying?

Your question is hypothetical. We have no indications to be so optimistic. I wish they would all return to True Orthodoxy. It would be our great joy. In relation to the process of self-purifying about which you speak, our opinion is that if the official Orthodox Churches returned to True Orthodoxy their canonical rehabilitation should be done via a Pan-Orthodox Synod which would vindicate the confessors of the faith and in which the entire body (if possible) of Orthodox Bishops upholding our traditions would participate, also with the participation of repentant bishops, who in the presence of the former would declare their repentance just like the Iconoclasts at the 7th Ecumenical Synod.

6
How possible is it, from your point of view, is a break between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Ecumenical Patriarchate? Will it be useful for Orthodoxy?

This question is also hypothetical. If the schism had occurred for matters of faith, namely the return to True Orthodoxy and the renunciation of Ecumenism, clearly it would be positive for Orthodoxy. However we do not see any such thing on the horizon.

7
The present head of New-Calendarist Greek Church, Archbishop Christodulos, is known as a "conservative". Does it influence the popularity of New-Calendarists in Greece and has it caused the reduction of Old-Calendarists?

Your information is probably not correct. Christodoulos is not considered ‘conservative,’ not even by New Calendarists. On the contrary he is considered a ‘reformer’ who wants to impose functional innovations and who recognizes the Pope as Bishop of Rome welcoming him to Athens.
The conservative New Calendarists are highly critical of him, lead by two priests, university professors, Father Georgios Metallinos and Father Theodoros Zisis.
We are not aware of any Old Calendarist who became a New Calendarist due to the attractive influence of Mr. Christodoulos! Anything but.

8
What do you think about the process Greece's integration of into the European Union? What spiritual dangers does this process present for True Orthodox Christians?

The risk of deconsecration lurks at all times either inside or outside the European Union. Our effort lies in building up the true faith of our followers. When the faithful are vaccinated with the spiritual anti-bodies of True Orthodoxy, when they are living members of our Church, then they can withstand any pestiferous environment. No one can harm our soul if we do not betray it ourselves. Spiritual alertness is required.

[romiosini]

Can some one give me a brief history or a reference to a book about the GOC of Greece. Not the Matthewites. Im considering moving over to the Old Calenderist.

Nektarios

Sorry to bother, but are you the Nektarios that converted in an Antiochian Parish by the help of the Father Averky of Blessed Memory of the Holy Trinity Monastery Jordanville?
If so, please PM me allright?

Romiosini

[Katina]

Dear Nektarios,

I don't know which jurisdiction you are presently in, but I will share with you Metropolitan Vitaly Oustinow's position on the Greek situation - I want to make it clear that this is his private opinion and does not represent the official opinion of either ROCOR (V) or ROCOR(L).

Vladika stated to me that at present it was not possible to commune with any Greek Old Calendar church. The reason for this is the great disunity of the Greek Old Calendar movement. He stated that if the day comes when the different factions will unite and and speak with one voice, then once again, there would be intercommunion.

In reality, there are a number of Greeks from Old Calendar churches that attend our (sadly few) parishes and commune - they have come to us because of the instability of the Greek situation and because of the solid confession of faith by Met. Vitaly and our bishops. We are also a rather friendly bunch

----It is very difficult in this day and age to find a good church with solid bishops. I pray that you will find what you are looking for and that you will not drift from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Yours in Christ,
Kat (ROCOR(V))

[1937 Miraculous Cross]

Dear Katina,

I appreciate your post overall, but you state:

The reason for this is the great disunity of the Greek Old Calendar movement.

I was baptized in ROCOR in 1992. sadly, the Russian's are in serious disunity that rivals the OC Greeks, having now multiple factions as well, with little hope of pulling together. (ROCOR-L, ROCOR-V, ROAC, MP, some independents in Russia, and now even AROC of Denver)

Nectarios - the "Matthewite"