On March 5/18, 2014 in the hall of the church of the Most-Holy Theotokos “The Unfading Rose” in Piraeus 14 Galatsion Street, the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians convened in an extraordinary meeting under the Presidency of His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens.
The Synod meeting took place in two parts.
Present at the first part were the members of the Holy Synod, namely: Justin of Euripus and Euboea, Gerontios of Piraeus and Salamina, Chrysostomos of Attica and Boeotia, Gregory of Christianoupolis, Photios of Marathon, Ambrose of Philippi, and Theodosios of Bresthena.
At the second part, the following hierarchs were also present: Cyprian of Oropos and Phyle, Ambrose of Methone, and Clement of Gardikion.
The Holy Synod discussed the following issues:
Part 1
1. The text of the document of the Orthodox Ecclesiastical Community in Resistance entitled “The Lifting of the Walling-Off” was discussed.
In the document it was repeatedly stressed that the ever-memorable Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos and Phyle desired the lifting of those in Resistance’s Walling-Off of 1984, because it was temporary.
Therefore, through this document they communicated their decision to lift their Walling-Off of 1984, as well as their petition to the Holy Synod for the lifting of the penances laid upon the leadership of Those in Resistance in 1986.
The Holy Synod, after reviewing the fourteen-month Dialogue
and taking into consideration the above mentioned document (“The Lifting of the Walling-Off”) which is very meaningful,
taking into account the whole situation and noting the ecclesiological agreement upon the basis of the Ecclesiological Document which the Holy Synod accepted in principal during its meeting on February 21/March 6, 2014,
taking into consideration as well, among other things, the By-Laws for Ecclesiastical Justice,
After all these things, deliberating, they decided thus:
a. To lift the penances (Decision number: 5/1986 – Date: November 5/18, 1986) laid upon the reposed Metropolitans Cyprian of Oropos and Phyle and Giovani of Sardinia, the serving of a Trisagion at the tomb of the ever-memorable Metropolitan of Oropos and Phyle with the reading of the forgiveness prayer for the reposed on Thursday March 7/20, 2014 was assigned to His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos, and the names of the Hierarchs, Cyprian and Giovani are to be added into the Diptychs of the reposed Hierarchs of our Church for continual commemoration.
b. To lift the penances (Decision number: 5/1986 – Date: November 5/18, 1986) as well as every other penance laid upon the Bishops ordained at that time, Bishops Chrysostomos (at that time) of Oreoi (John González-Alexopoulos), and Chrysostomos of Christianoupolis (Charalampos Marlases), together with those who followed them at that time, as well as those clergy and laity who are now in communion with them.
As a consequence of the preceding decision, the Holy Synod, after further deliberation, decided to recognize the ordinations and the rest of the liturgical actions which were performed by Those formerly in Resistance from 1986 until now. This decision does not apply to those who during this time separated from the Community in Resistance, following other paths, schisms, and parasynagogues.
Especially concerning the hierarchs, the ordinations of those hierarchs coming to us are recognized, namely: Cyprian (Peter Gioules), Michael (Michele Piredda), Silvano (Francis Livi), Auxentios (Matthew Chapman), Ambrose (Adrian Baird), Clement (Cyril Papadopoulos), Johannes (Deurloo), and George (Alexander Pukhaev).
Part 2
3. In continuation, the newly-incoming Hierarchs: Cyprian, Ambrose and Clement were invited into the place in the church where the Synod of the Hierarchy was meeting, the decisions which were made were communicated to them which they accepted, and after heartfelt salutations and replies etc. they remained and took part in the meeting.
It is noteworthy that in his response, His Eminence, Cyprian, among other things, characterized the union as a great miracle of the Most-Holy Theotokos, who became the bridge between Heaven and earth, uniting that which was formerly divided, wherefore it is not insignificant that our union accomplished today is finalized in the church dedicated to her.
Also, His Eminence, Cyprian, before the Holy Synod, assumed that part of the responsibility which is apportioned to the (until recently) Community in Resistance for the existence of division in the Church for the past thirty years.
In continuation, the Holy Synod addressed the jurisdictional reorganization of the Holy Synod based on the suggestions of the relative Memorandum which was submitted by Those formerly in Resistance.
His Grace, the Chief-Secretary first read the following statement from the Memorandum:
“The Hierarchs of our Orthodox Ecclesiastical Community, not being able, anymore, to convene another/second Synod with this same geographic land are completely included in the Holy Synod under Archbishop Kallinikos, recognizing that the jurisdiction under him is the auspicious (κυρία), lawful and canonical continuation of the convocation after 1924 of the Body of the Orthodox who have struggled against the Calendar Innovation and the Heresy of Ecumenism.”
Subsequently, suggestions were read concerning jurisdictional reorganization, and the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy decided the following:
a. To accept as retired Bishops those who have come from Those in Resistance: Chrysostomos (Marlases) as the Bishop of Christianoupolis, Johannes (Deurloo) as the Bishop of Makarioupolis, and George (Pukhaev) as the Bishop emeritus of Alania.
2. To found two positions for Titular Bishops, subject to the Holy Synod, and to elect for them from among those hierarchs who have come from Those in Resistance: Ambrose (Bernt) as Bishop of Methone, and Clement (Papodopoulos) as Bishop of Gardikion.
3. To found a Holy Metropolis in America with the title of Etna and with jurisdiction over all the parishes and monasteries of the, until now, Exarchate in America of the Community in Resistance.
He who bore the title of the Archbishop of Etna, Chrysostomos (González-Alexopoulos) from Oreoi is elected the Ruling Bishop of this Metropolis, and he is named a Metropolitan.
The Metropolis of Etna, with its seat in the Monastery of St. Gregory Palamas in Etna, California, will be subject directly to the Holy Synod of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece.
In the future, this Metropolis will be named a Diocese, and the successor to His Eminence, Metropolitan Chrysostomos will be named and enthroned as the Bishop of Etna, and he will be the Ruling Bishop of the Diocese of Etna which will be subject to the Holy Metropolis of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of America, and the borders of its canonical jurisdiction will be determined by the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece.
4. To found the position of an Auxiliary Bishop for the Metropolis of Etna with the title of the once illustrious Diocese of Photike of Epirus.
His Grace, Bishop Auxentios (Chapman) who is from among those incoming Hierarchs from Those in Resistance is elected to this position.
5. To found the Diocese of Nora with its seat in Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy with the borders of is canonical jurisdiction being the island of Sardinia
His Grace, Bishop Michael (Piredda), who is from among those incoming Hierarchs from Those in Resistance is elected the Ruling Bishop of this Diocese.
6. To found the Diocese of Luni with its seat in Pistoia, Italy with the borders of is canonical jurisdiction being the country of Italy, except the island of Sardinia.
His Grace, Bishop Silvano (Livi), who is from among those incoming Hierarchs from Those in Resistance is elected the Ruling Bishop of this Diocese.
7. To found the Diocese of Alania, with its seat in Tskhinvali, South Ossetia with the borders of its canonical jurisdiction being the land of Southern Ossetia.
His Grace, Bishop Ambrose of Methone is appointed its Locum Tenens.
8. The reëstablishment of the Holy Metropolis of Oropos and Phyle.
To be precise, the borders of the new Metropolis of Oropos and Phyle coincide with the Municipality of Phyle (Municipal Unities of Phyle, Upper Liosa and Zepherion) adding one part of the Municipality of Oropos west of the Ethniki Odos as well as adding a small area of the Metropolis of Attica and Boeotia including the Monastery of St. Paraskevi in Acharnae, and removing one small area of the Municipality of Phyle including the church of St. George in Upper Limni, Upper Liosa.
His Eminence, Cyprian (Gioules), who is from among those incoming Hierarchs from Those in Resistance is elected the Ruling Bishop of this Metropolis.
In the Dependencies, Churches-Monasteries-Hesychasteria of the Holy Monastery of Sts. Cyprian and Justina in Phyle, which is also the seat of the new Metropolis the local Bishop is commemorated at the Great Litany and “Among the first…” and in the Litany of Fervent Supplication the Metropolitan of Oropos and Phyle is also commemorated who will also have the spiritual and jurisdictional responsibility always in coöperation with the local Bishop.
In the Churches-Monasteries-Hesychasteria that are not dependencies of the Holy Monastery of Sts. Cyprian and Justina in Phyle, the local Bishop is commemorated but the jurisdiction remains for an easy transition period with the Metropolis of Oropos and Phyle always in coöperation with the local Bishop.
An exception to the above-mentioned: the parish church of the Holy Unmercenaries in Eleusis shall continue to remain jurisdictionally and spiritually in the Metropolis of Oropos and Phyle, commemorating, for the time being, the Metropolitan of Oropos and Phyle.
9. The reconstruction of the hierarchs’ order of seniority is as follows:
Active Hierarchs:
1. † Archbishop KALLINIKOS of Athens
2. † Metropolitan AKAKIOS of Attica and Diauleia
3. † Metropolitan MAXIMOS of Thessalonica and Demetrias
4. † Metropolitan ATHANASIOS of Larisa and Platamon
5. † Metropolitan JUSTIN of Euripus and Euboea
6. † Metropolitan GERONTIOS of Piraeus and Salamina
7. † Metropolitan CHRYSOSTOMOS of Attica and Boeotia
8. † Metropolitan MOSES of Toronto
9. † Metropolitan DEMETRIUS of America
10. † Metropolitan CHRYSOSTOMOS of Etna
11. † Metropolitan CYPRIAN of Oropos and Phyle
12. † Bishop GREGORY of Christianoupolis
13. † Bishop PHOTIOS of Marathon
14. † Bishop SERGIOS of Portland
15. † Bishop AMBROSE of Philippi
16. † Bishop AMBROSE of Methone
17. † Bishop MICHAEL of Nora
18. † Bishop SILVANO of Luni
19. † Bishop CLEMENT of Gardikion
20. † Bishop THEODOSIOS of Bresthena
21. † Bishop CHRISTODOULOS of Theoupolis
22. † Bishop AUXENTIOS of Photike
Retired Hierarchs
23. † Metropolitan PAVLOS of America, emeritus
24. † Bishop CHRYSOSTOMOS of Christianoupolis
25. † Bishop JOHANNES of Makarioupolis
26. † Bishop GEORGE of Alania, emeritus
10. The reorganization of the Synodal Missionary Council, with His Eminence Metropolitan Cyprian as President and the members: Their Graces, Bishops Photios of Marathon, Ambrose of Methone and Clement of Gardikion, as well as the formation, in time, of Operational Bylaws for this Committee.
In the areas outside Greece which are assigned to the Synodal Missionary Council if there already exist or coexist parishes and monasteries from (what was until recently) both sides, the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy, moving between strictness and œconomy will decide at a future meeting which bishop will be commemorated, until then the commemorations continue as is.
At the report of the Synodal Missionary Council, which missionary areas outside Greece it is more beneficial to promote to Dioceses and elect Ruling Bishops, or temporary Locum Tenens, is left to the judgment of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy.
The Synodal Missionary Council also may cooperate with the two Dioceses in Italy and the Metropolis of Etna in America, supporting them, and heretofore, it also constitutes the link of communication with the Holy Synod.
11. The inclusion of His Grace, Bishop Clement into the Synodal Committee of the Chief-Secretariat as Secretary with Archimandrite Gregory Taularios remaining as the Recording Secretary.
12. The celebration of the Synodal Concelebration of Unity and Confession on the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, March 10/23 in the Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas in Paiania.
13. The convocation of an Inter-Orthodox Deliberation on Friday March 8/21 in the Holy Monastery of the All-Immaculate Virgin in Megara with Hierarchs from the Genuine Orthodox Churches of Romania, Bulgaria, and the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, in order to discuss, article by article, the Ecclesiological Document which has already been sent to them and has been approved in principal. Once an agreement is reached on the Document as well as whatever other issues are placed for discussion, the planned Concelebration will have an Inter-Orthodox character.
From the Chief-Secretariat
Translated from the Greek
