Synodal Announcements of the GOC-AB Kallinkos

[Maria]

Important details: Met. Pavlos has resigned for reasons of health. This resignation was accepted by the GOC Synod. The encyclical on the pseudo-saints of the World Orthodox should be very helpful and welcomed.

• Monday, 25 November 2013 21:51

  On Wednesday, October 10/23, 2013, the Holy Synod of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece convened in a regular session in the hall of the church “The Unfading Rose” in Piraeus. All the hierarchs in Greece were present save their Eminences Metropolitans Akakios of Attica & Diauleia, Maximos of Thessalonica and Demetrias and Justin of Euripus & Euboea who were ill.

  The presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Pavlos of America was touching, after a many-year absence due to health issues.

  The Holy Synod discussed the following items on the agenda.

  1. It was informed by His Grace, Bishop Photios of Marathon concerning those things which occurred during his recent visit to Australia.

  2. It discussed the issue of the pseudo-saints of the Ecumenists and the danger of the deception of the faithful from the Ecumenists’ systematic propaganda. The Holy Synod decided to publish a special informative announcement in the form of an encyclical.

  3. The progress of the dialogue of the Church of the G.O.C. with the Orthodox Ecclesiastical Community of Those in Resistance was discussed as well as the discussion with the Romanian hierarchs under Metropolitan Vlasie.

  4. The problems of the pastorate of the Holy Metropolis of America were discussed. His Eminence, Metropolitan Pavlos of America, plagued by illness due to a stroke he suffered eight years ago, stated once again his inability to exercise his pastoral responsibilities smoothly. He asked that his resignation be accepted from the throne of the Metropolis. After discussion, the Holy Synod accepted the request, but it asked His Eminence to continue exercising his pastoral duties until a Locum Tenens is appointed at the next Synod meeting.

  5. Matters of ecclesiastical justice were discussed, for clarification and interpretation of certain procedural details.

http://www.hotca.org/eparchial-synod/an ... 0-23,-2013

[Maria]

Important details: Archbishop Kallinkos has been appointed as the Locum Tenens of the HOTCA in America until such time as an election for a new Metropolitan can be held.

• Monday, 25 November 2013 22:46

  On Tuesday November 6/19, 2013 the Holy Synod of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece convened in a regular session in the hall of the church “The Unfading Rose” in Piraeus and discussed the following items on the agenda:

  1. The Holy Synodal body was informed of the progress of the dialogue of the Church of the G.O.C. with the Orthodox Ecclesiastical Community of Those in Resistance.

  2. The issue of the pastorate of the Holy Metropolis of America was discussed after the acceptance of His Eminence Metropolitan Pavlos' resignation. After discussion, the Holy Synod decided to appoint His Beatitude Archbishop Kallinikos as the Locum Tenens of the Holy Metropolis of America. In the Holy Metropolis of America, the name of the Locum Tenens will be commemorated who will instruct his representative hierarchs in the settlement of issues which arise until the election of a new Metropolitan. The validity of the decision shall commence with the publication of a relevant encyclical to the clergy and people of the Holy Metropolis.

  3. The subject of organizing an event about the issue of the Holy Monastery of Esphigmenou was discussed.

  4. The petition for acceptance of a certain clergyman was discussed and it was decided to invite him to appear in person before the Holy Synod before making the decision to accept him or not.

http://www.hotca.org/eparchial-synod/an ... 6-19,-2013

[Maria]

Summary: This is the promised Encylical concerning the resignation of Met. Pavlos and the appointment of Archbishop Kallinkos as the Locum Tenens until an election can take place.

• Encyclical Nov 23/Dec 6 2013

  Code: Select all

  Holy Synod of Greece 
  Friday, 06 December 2013 15:20 

  GREEK REPUBLIC
  CHURCH of the G.O.C. of GREECE
  HOLY SYNOD
  KANINGOS 32 (3rd floor)
  106 82 ΑΘΗΝΑΙ
  TEL. 21038 28 280 - FAX 21038 47 365
  ΕΛΛΑΣ - GREECE
  ecclesiagoc.gr

  Protocol no. γ-1828

  ENCYCLICAL

  To all the clergy and the people of the Holy Metropolis of America:

  Most Reverend Fathers, most honorable Parish Council Members and all the blessed Christians of the Holy Metropolis of America who hold fast to the sacred traditions: Grace and peace be unto you from God, and prayer and blessing from us.

  Given the unfavorable condition of his health, being plagued by illness due to a stroke he suffered eight years ago, His Eminence, Metropolitan Pavlos of America, stated once again before the Holy Synod of the Church of the G.O.C. during its meeting on October 10/23, 2013, his inability to exercise his pastoral responsibilities smoothly. He therefore asked that his resignation from the throne of the Metropolis be accepted. The Holy Synod accepted the request, but it asked His Eminence to continue exercising his pastoral duties until a Locum Tenens is appointed at the next Synod meeting.

  The Holy Synod, meeting on November 6/19, 2013, discussed at length the issue of the pastorate of the Holy Metropolis of America after the acceptance of His Eminence, Metropolitan Pavlos's resignation. After discussion, the Holy Synod decided to appoint His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens and all-Greece, as the Locum Tenens of the Holy Metropolis of America. Therefore, with the promulgation of the present encyclical all the clergy of the Holy Metropolis of America will commemorate the name of His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens, until the election of a new Metropolitan by the hierarchy of the Church of the G.O.C. of Greece. Until then, His Beatitude will instruct his representative hierarchs in the settlement of issues, and he or his representative will preside over the Holy Eparchial Synod and the Metropolitan Council of America.

  Diocesan priests wishing to communicate with His Beatitude concerning developing pastoral issues may communicate with His Grace, Bishop Photios of Marathon. His Grace, Bishop Demetrius of Boston, is given the responsibility of dealing with the extraordinary liturgical needs and movements of priests within the parishes. Those with issues concerning the Holy Eparchial Synod of America may communicate with Hieromonk Savvas Anastasiou. Those with issues concerning the Metropolitan Council may communicate with the Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Council.

  His Eminence, Metropolitan emeritus Pavlos of America enjoys the respect and trust of all the members of the Synod, but it was completely understood that his being loaded down with jurisdictional responsibilities was extremely burdensome to his health. We hope that, finally being delivered from the onerous burden of pastoral responsibilities, he will better confront his health issues.

  We call on all clergy and laity of the Holy Metropolis to pray for His Eminence, Metropolitan Pavlos’s health and also for the emergence of a worthy hierarch to the Metropolitan throne. In this regard, bestowing the prayers and blessings of our Holy Synod upon you all, we pray that the Giver of every good thing always provide you with rich gifts and His grace. May His grace and infinite mercy be with you all.

  THE HOLY SYNOD

  In the year of salvation MMXIII the 23rd of November / 6th of December

  THE HOLY SYNOD

  The Archbishop

  † KALLINIKOS of Athens

http://www.hotca.org/documents/encyclic ... dec-6-2013

[Maria]

Encyclical from Met. Pavlos

• Friday, 06 December 2013 15:23

  Gregory of Agrigentum & Amphilochios of Iconium

  Nov. 23/Dec.6, 2013

  ENCYCLICAL

  To all the clergy and laity of the Holy Metropolis of America

  Beloved Children in the Lord,

  Grace and peace be unto you from God, and prayer and blessing from us.

  Glory be to God Who recently deemed me worthy to visit our fatherland of Greece for the first time in eight years and to be present at various ecclesiastical events there, such as the transfer of the remains of our ever-memorable elders and predecessors Metropolitan Petros of Astoria and Archimandrite Niphon Astyfides, and the celebration of the memory of St. Pachomios of Chios († 1905).

  While in Greece I also took part in the convocation of the Holy Synod of the G.O.C. of Greece under the presidency of His Beatitude Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens and all-Greece. During the meeting of the Holy Synod on October 10/23, 2013, I once again expressed my inability to smoothly exercise my pastoral responsibilities in the Holy Metropolis of America given the unfavorable condition of my health, being plagued by illness due to a stroke I suffered eight years ago, I asked that my resignation from the administration of the Holy Metropolis of America be accepted. The Holy Synod accepted my resignation and on November 6/19, 2013, appointed His Beatitude Archbishop Kallinikos to be the Locum Tenens of the Holy Metropolis of America. Archbishop Kallinikos, as Locum Tenens, shall administer the Metropolis until the election of a new Metropolitan; he posses all of the rights and responsibilities of the ruling Metropolitan during the interim, and as such he is commemorated in the Divine Services.

  My resignation takes effect, and simultaneously His Beatitude becomes the Locum Tenens, when the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece issues an encyclical concerning this.

  My decision to resign from the administration of the Holy Metropolis of America was not one I took lightly, but it has become abundantly clear to me that being loaded down with jurisdictional responsibilities was extremely burdensome to me. I felt that the Metropolis of America could be better administered by His Beatitude and the Holy Synod around him.

  In resigning from the position of Metropolitan of America, I have not ceased to be a hierarch of the Church, I have simply ceased to exercise administrative functions within the Metropolis. I have not abandoned you, rather, I have handed the reins of the Holy Metropolis of America to those better equipped to administer it.

  I am still with you and I call upon you to support His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos, and those hierarchs whom he has appointed to assist him in the administration of the Metropolis, just as you have faithfully supported me all these years.

  Exhorting you in the Holy Spirit to remain steadfast in Orthodoxy, I ask you to pray for me, that being delivered from the onerous burden of pastoral responsibilities I will able to find the peace of soul which I so desire. Pray that my resignation may be for the salvation of my soul and for the benefit of the Holy Metropolis of America.

  Your fervent intercessor before the Lord,

  † Metropolitan Pavlos of America

http://www.hotca.org/documents/encyclic ... dec-6-2013

[Maria]

• Monday, 25 November 2013 21:51

  On Wednesday, October 10/23, 2013, the Holy Synod of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece convened in a regular session in the hall of the church “The Unfading Rose” in Piraeus....

  The Holy Synod discussed the following items on the agenda. ...

  1. It discussed the issue of the pseudo-saints of the Ecumenists and the danger of the deception of the faithful from the Ecumenists’ systematic propaganda. The Holy Synod decided to publish a special informative announcement in the form of an encyclical.

From the HOTCA website (see link in OP above)

Now there is this announcement apparently from sources on Mt. Athos, suggesting that the notorious Name-Worshipper, Fr. Sophrony, and other "saints" might be canonized by the EP.

Lord have mercy.

http://morningoffering.blogspot.com/201 ... ng-to.html

[jgress]

These pseudo-saints had a false ecclesiology, but they were all anti-ecumenist. This move might backfire.

[jgress]

Tangent on Elder Sophrony can be found here:

http://www.euphrosynoscafe.com/forum/vi ... 12&t=10612