American Confirmation to Be Forthcoming

(NFTU) The True Orthodox Russian Church under Metropolitan Rafael of Moscow and the True Orthodox Church of the Patristic Calendar under Metropolitan Anghelos of Avlonos have issued a Tomos for each Synod dated August 30 and September 2 (New Style) recognizing the Old Calendar Metropolia of Italy under Metropolitan Onufrius of Bergamo  and independently entering it into full communion.
Metropolitan Onufrius of Bergamo, earlier this year, had contacted the American Metropolia and requested its protection as it restructured the parishes and areas in Italy formerly under the Milan Synod, which collapsed after Metropolitan Evloghios and Bp Abundius of the Milan Synod abandoned their respective episcopal rank to join the Moscow Patriarchate. Metropolitan John of New York immediately issued a tomos recognizing the Italian Metropolia, for the moment, as an independent Metropolia under its protection. Today’s news indicates that the Sister Churches of the American Synod have finally chosen to recognize the Italian Metropolia independently– a step which Metropolitan John of New York indicates is a last step before recognition of the Italian Metropolia as a successor to the Milan Synod and equal to the American Synod, while recognizing the primacy of the more ancient see.

Metropolitan John has indicated he will be sending a Tomos to Metropolitan Onufrius this week. It is expected that the Tomos will confirm the Synod of Metropolitan Onufrius of Bergamo as the canonical successor to the Metropolia of Milan. His response to the news was one of great joy, seeing that all the Synods in the united True Orthodox Communion are of one mind and one heart concerning the restoration of the Church in Western Europe and that the trials that surrounded what was once the Milan Synod have finally ended.

Below are the confirmatory documents.

Metr Onufrie with Bp Seraphim of Sicily and Fr Egidio Cali

(NFTU; Original Source) The Autonomous Old Calendar Metropolia of Italy was granted autonomy by Metropolitan John of New York, Primate of the Americas and British Isles (of the United True Orthodox Communion) on August 14/27 (NS), the American Metropolia website reported yesterday with a digital copy of the Tomos.

The Tomos released indicates that Metropolitan Onufrie of Bergamo leads the Autonomous Church in Italy, thereby restoring the damage caused to the Church’s governing structure by the defection and “self-deposition” of Metropolitan Evloghios of Milan and his vicar, Archbishop Abundius of Lecco late in 2011 and early this year.

The first True Orthodox Communion was between the Milan Synod and the True Orthodox Church of the Patristic Calendar in 2009. When formal union occurred between the True Orthodox Church of the Patristic Calendar and the True Orthodox Church in Russia under Metropolitan Raphael in 2011, it was revealed that Metropolitan Evloghios intended to join the Moscow Patriarchate. The American Metropolia, formerly comprised of two Archdioceses of Milan, entered the communion in their place after Milan’s apostasy last year.

Earlier this year, Metropolitan John and Metropolitan Onufrie restored their bonds of communion, and the former notified the Greek and Russian Churches of the intent to restore what was lost through the defection of the Milan Bishops.

Metropolitan Onufrie was Archbishop of Sondrio and Bergamo previously as a member of the Milan Metropolia and refused to go along with the plans of Metropolitan Evloghios, which appeared to be driven by a desire to be taken in by the Moscow Patriarchate.

American Metropolia Bishops and clergy (L. to R. Rdr Antony, Bp Seraphim of Manhattan, Bp Fanourios of Lincoln, Metropolitan John of New York, Bp Christodoulos of Miami, Bp Joseph of Edmonton, Dcn Finbarr)

Metropolitan Onufrie, after discussion with the leadership of True Orthodox Church of the Patristic Calendar under Metropolitan Anghelos of Avlonos and the True Orthodox of Russia under Metropolitan Raphael of Moscow, was accepted into their communion this week and will go to Greece on November 8/21 for the formal signing of a Tomos of Intercommunion.

The Autonomous Old Calendar Metropolia of Italy has three Bishops including the Metropolitan, 10 missionary priests and priestmonks,  deacons and 1 subdeacon in the regions of Bergamo and Sicily, as well as organized missionary centers in both regions.

The elevation now brings the number of Primates in the Autonomous True Orthodox Communion to four, and restores independent administration to Western Europe. The United True Orthodox Communion has 44 Bishops throughout Russia, Greece, Italy, the Americas, Georgia, and France.

A new ordination took place for the Metropolis of Avlona and Boetia at a festive liturgy with Metropolitan Anghelos, Bishop Poryphyrios, and other clergy present. Hieromonk Seraphim (Karam) was ordained Sunday to the rank of priest at the “Theogennitoros” Monastery in Avlona.

Pictures of the event are below.

Many years to the new Hieromonk Seraphim!

Metr Raphael of Moscow and Dcn Veniamin Banin (l.)

M’Nogaya L’eta! 

Yesterday, September 19 (NS) Metropolitan Raphael of Moscow, head of the TOC-R, turned 65. The daily liturgy was celebrated at the central Church of the TOC-R in Moscow, after which greetings were read from the other Primates of the United True Orthodox Churches in their communion.

Metropolitan Onufrie of Bergamo, primate of the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Italy sent an email note, writing “Your Beatitude, the occasion of your birthday, the Synod and the whole clergy of Italy wishes you good health, happiness, and Happy New Year!

Primate Metropolitan Onuphrius

And the whole sobor 17.00.2012″

Metropolitan Anghelos of Avlonos, First-Hierarch of the True Orthodox Church of the Patristic Calendar in Greece, as well as Metropolitan John of New York, head of the Autonomous Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles, sent letters commemorating the occasion.

Why You Just Can’t Trust Snopes

The gay agenda play “Corpus Christi” has made it to Greece– and True Orthodox are not happy about it.

The play centers around the production of a play written in 1998 by Terrence McNally depicting Jesus Christ as a homosexual. Its release in Greece has sparked protests from True Orthodox around the country. On October 5, Bishop Porphyrios of Martyropolis led a protest against the release of the play, along with a number of community leaders.

The play first became well-known as a “false rumor” in supposed fact-checking site Snopes due to the fact that the film “Corpus Christi”, based on the play, is a documentary about the sacreligious play’s production, as opposed to an adaptation of the film itself. Snopes is funded by George Soros, a financier of liberal causes.

For the primates of the True Orthodox Church of Russia and Greece in the united True Orthodox Communion, a concelebration marked a shared feast day.

On November 8/21, in celebration of the Archangel Michael and of the Council of the Heavenly Powers, concelebrations were held  - the day commemorates Saint Raphael, patron saint of Metropolitan Raphael of Moscow, having meaning as well for Metropolitan Anghelos of Avlonos, the head of the True Orthodox Church of the Patristic Calendar. 

Also present for the festivities was Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Ecuador and South America, the TOC-PC Representative Bishop for Latin America. It was the fifth visit to Greece for the Metropolitan.

From November 22-27, 2012, Met. Daniel of of Volokolamsk and Kolomna made a working visit to to the TOC (PC) under Metropolitan Angelos of Avlona.  Aside from the discussion of continued visits between the different Sister Churches during their respective major feast days, two clergy were tonsured to the Great Schema.

Visits were made to several churches and holy sites in Athens.

The communion of four True Orthodox Churches has been ruptured, as is now evident from the fact that a Bishop of the Autonomous European Synod has been “accepted” by the Synod of the True Orthodox Church of the Patristic Calendar and granted the title of Exarch of Italy without a release from his previous Bishops the week of January 24 (New Style).

Despite behind-the-scenes wrangling to maintain peace among the Bishops of the four Synods, serious questions now remain as to the communion of the Churches, with both the Greeks and the Russians rescinding their previous acceptance of the union with Metropolitan Onufrie of Bergamo at the head of the Church in Italy. Metropolitan John of the Americas for his part has spoken against the uncanonical absorption of Bishop Seraphim (Del Fattore) by another Synod. The Greek Synod claims there is no longer a Synod for him to be accountable to.

According to internal documents, after discussion with Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Ecuador, Bishop Seraphim, previously Bishop of Sicily, decided to transfer allegiances, informing Metropolitan Onufrie of Bergamo after the fact.

Attempts at peace are now rapidly becoming impossible, with all sides accepting a status quo of separation. For their part, the Russian Synod under Metropolitan Raphael of Moscow has also broken communion with Metropolitan Onufrie on the claim that Metropolitan Varsanufie (Sopolov) of Chernivsi had been involved with the “Marian Center” run by the former Bishop John of Bereslavl of the Seraphimo-Gennadites. We await a response from their authorities on the veracity of the claim.

While some hope that these matters will be resolved in the typical July meeting of the hierarchs of Greece, Russia, and America, hopes are quickly dimming that peace will last that long.

In a surprise move, the lately suspended Fr Michael (Wood) of the ROCOR-MP announced today that he had been accepted by the TOC of Metropolitan Raphael of Moscow. Fr Michael subsequently announced that Metropolitan Daniel of Volokomansk had been authorized to establish Western rite missions in the United Kingdom– where there are already Western rite communities under Metropolitan John of the American Metropolia. A further complication is Fr Michael’s wholesale endorsement– while under the ROCOR-MP– of Anglican liturgy under the guise of an “Orthodox Western Rite”.

The move follows the acceptance in January of a suspended Bishop of the Metropolia of Italy and Western Europe by the TOC-PC of Metropolitan Anghelos of Avlonos. In both this case and the previous one, neither Metropolitan– whether in Italy or the United States– were notified.

In the ROCOR-MP, until his suspension, Fr Michael (Wood) established about a dozen missions in Europe, Asia, and the United States.

Prior to January of this year, the understanding had been that Greece and Russia had their respective spheres from which to begin missionary work, with Latin America having remained in dispute since 2010. There, a number of Bishops exist from both Synods, and Metropolitan John was elected as Metropolitan of “North and South America and the British Isles”. However, in correspondence, both the Greek and Russian Synods referred to the Metropolitan without “South America” in their official correspondence.

Meanwhile, both Synods have broken communion with the Metropolia in Italy, while Metropolitan Onufrie stated that he remained in communion with the American Metropolia.  Relations between the two Metropolias have been strained since, as Metropolitan John has done his best to keep together what was rapidly falling apart.

It is with this background in mind that initial plans were in the works for the annual meeting in Greece between the heads of the three Churches. That was, of course, before the reception of a priest who had actually convinced clerics of the former Milan Synod Archdioceses just a few years ago to secretly commemorate the Moscow Patriarchate, eventually leading to small schisms from what would become the American Metropolia. Already clerics have expressed suspicion that Fr Michael’s move was carefully orchestrated to attack the Metropolia “from inside”.

Sources within NFTU have heard Metropolitan John’s immediate concern is that the Russians may inadvertently allow the use of Anglican services into the communion and has asked, on the basis of his experience and jurisdiction, to review Fr Michael’s plans.

Considering the treatment of Metropolitan Onufrie in January, and considering the TOC-R has just moved into the British Isles not with the intent of establishing a metochion but a British mission, we are forced to ask if perhaps he should have a different primary concern.

Full Disclosure: the author is a member of the American Metropolia.

On the Feast of the Holy Annunciation, March 25 (OS), April 7 (NS), Hieromonk Kleopas (Daclan) was consecrated by Metropolitan Angelos and his bishops (Avlona Synod), to be the True Orthodox Bishop for the Philippines.  Fr. Kleopas (now Bishop) had originally been a priest in World Orthodoxy, but departed some years ago because of his belief in traditional Orthodoxy.

Bishop Kleopas has been a tireless evangelist for the true Gospel of Christ, bringing in many hundreds (if not more) of persons to the Faith, despite the fierce death threats and violence shown by the Islamic population of some sections of the Philippines.  Bishop Kleopas has several missions and a few hieromonks, with at least one monastery.  With the consecration of a new Bishop, and with Bp. Kleopas’ missionary zeal (even in the worst of circumstances) he will undoubtedly be able to expand Orthodoxy in this region.

Bishop Kleopas was consecrated by Met. Angelos, with co-consecrator being additional bishops of the Avlona Synod (Bp.Porphyrios, Bp. Cherubim), along with Met. Daniel (who acted as a representative of the Russian Synod under Met. Raphael of Moscow). Also present was Bp. Seraphim of Sicily.

The Avlona Synod (officially called the True Orthodox Church of the Patristic Calendar), is in communion with the True Orthodox Church of Russia whose primate is Met. Raphael of Moscow, and the American Metropolia who first hierarch is Met. John of New York.

In another surprise move, Archpriest Ambrogio Ciotta, formerly of the Milan Synod, has left the TOC of the Patristic Calendar under Metropolitan Anghelos of Avlonos for the former ROAC Archbishop Gregory of Colorado. The move comes a little over a year after his reception by the TOC-Avlonos Synod, apparently having been decided the second week of June.

For everyone involved or having witnessed last year’s reception of Fr Ambrogio by the TOC-PC, it occurred during the joint celebration of the communion of the Churches of Russia, Greece and America. At the time, Fr Ambrogio applied during a short interregnum period when Metropolitan Evloghios of Milan had formally renounced the True Orthodox Episcopate. At the time, the Greek Synod privately announced their intent to enter into the Italian territory, which was protested by your editor as illegal, and which the Metropolitan for America noted that he was not consulted– as would have been proper procedure as the highest ranking remaining member of the Synod at the time.

Fr Ambrogio, having originally left Metropolitan Evloghios years ago for Colorado, joined ROAC proper before returning to the Milan Synod, only to watch it collapse months later. He indicated no interest in joining Metropolitan Onufrie of Bergamo, the canonically elected successor to Evloghios of Milan. The Greek mission in Italy, pointed out by anyone with a knowledge of the canons as basically illegal under the circumstances, is now left with a single Bishop without a church, having been illegally taken from Metr Onufrie of Bergamo.

Gregory (Abu-Assaly), ROAC’s former Archbishop of Colorado was formally removed by the ROAC Synod in 2004 after attempts to serve him with papers for a canonical trial proved fruitless. He has since operated in relative isolation, claiming jurisdiction over all inhabited populaces outside the Russian Federation proper. Besides unique ecclesiological positions, he holds a similar revisionist position to Holy Transfiguration Monastery and HOCNA, of which he was originally part.

Former Metr. Evloghios vested as a priest while attempting to enter the MP. (site:ortodossiainoccidente.com, March 2013)

payday loans

UPDATE (8/28 NS) The public forum on the Euphrosynos Cafe has moved Fr Roman’s polemic to the private fora. Although the Evlogians consider the Sergianists to be without fault and recognize the Moscow Patriarchate as their mother Church, they are still inexplicably counted among the True Orthodox on the Cafe.

Clergy of the American Metropolia received emails Sunday and Monday from a Fr Roman Lubsky under former Metropolitan Evloghios of Milan, claiming that they wish to place the clergy “under their protection” while asserting that Metropolitan John of New York and Bishop Fanourios of Lincoln will be “tried and deposed” in December. The emails directed the reader to a rambling website claiming that Metropolitan John will be–unbelievably considering the circumstances under which he and Metropolitan Evloghios broke communion in 2011– “charged and deposed for heresy”.

Both Fr Enoch and this writer have received the letter, apparently sent to clergy throughout the American Metropolia. The only public forum to allow publicity for Fr Roman’s “polemical website” (and move any disagreement to private forums) was the Euphrosynos Cafe, which has since moved any discussion of the matter to the private forums.

The Metropolia declined to make any official statement; however, a source close to the Metropolitan summarized the situation rather incredulously as follows: “Former Metropolitan Evloghios, at the instigation of Archbishop Abundius, publicly and notoriously abandoned his episcopate, claiming that he was solely a priest due to that being his rank in the Moscow Patriarchate before he joined himself to the True Orthodox Church. When our Metropolitan Church was so raised, Evloghios told Vladika John that ‘we are now equals’. The documentation of [Evloghios'] renunciation and petition to the Moscow Patriarchate is public. So now he and former Bishop Abundius plan to get together and ‘depose’ us by themselves? Does he have another 12 Bishops who are going to try us one by one?”

The letter from Fr Roman Lubsky to multiple clergy– including this writer–reads as follows:

Reverend Father,

I am writing this informal letter, to ask You to consider that the attitude anticanonical and against the peace, of your church in the name of the “bishop” of New York (consisting of a widespread disinformation via the Internet), is leading our church to consider that the best way is “the defense of the orthodoxy of the Holy of Milan and Aquileia”, is clarity. From what you can read on the Internet (http://athanasiospress.wordpress.com), the Synod of Milan is about to meet, to judge the case of “bishop” J. of New York and to safeguard the spiritual health of the Parishes at the moment under his “omophor”. The Tomos of autonomy (not autocephaly) which you have received, is stricly related to the STATUTE OF THE HOLY METROPOLITAN CHURCH OF WESTERN EUROPE AND CANADA (October 13, 1996). I remind You that Your Mother Church is in Milan and Aquileia (but I think You know this very well). In the many and many blogs used by the “bishop” of New York to defame our (mine and Yours) Metropolitan of Aquileia, is never mentioned the “statute of our Church” drafted in 1996 and reconfirmed by the Great Synod in 1997 and currently “still valid”. This is a serious failure on the part of the “bishop” in New York. According to the Step I and VI of the Statute the attitude of “bishop” New York is clearly aticanonical (for anything he done so far towards its mother church). I should point out that our church holds serious interference of the “bishop” in New York on his Mother Church, the Apostolic See of Milan and Aquileia. – As stated in the October 13, 1996, the statute appears to be inviolable and there are acts that have been added ADDENDA.

The reasons for judgment will be communicated with clarity, I assume, after the Synod of September.

Parishes of Western rite or byzantine rite, that wish to resume contact with their Mother church of Milan and Aquileia, in order to avoid canonical [sic]judge, can do so, before and after the decisions of the Holy Synod in September. If the parishes canonical, who have remained faithful to their Mother Church of Aquileia and Milan, wanted Spiritual Protection, can already do so by contacting the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Church of Milan and Longobardia – Metropolitan of Aquileia, Western Europe and Canada (http://www.mediolanum.me). First [sic]immediatly to commemorate the name of the Metropolitan of Aquileia and Archbishop of Milan and It temporarily remove the name of “bishop” in New York from the diptychs of the churches since the final judgment of the Holy See of Milan and Aquileia.

I hoped until the end that we could not reach these extremes, but unfortunately the Lord did not want to calm the ardor of the defamatory former “bishop” New York.

The reasons for the allegations will be thoroughly justified and nothing will be left to chance.

Your Brother in Christ,

Father Roman

We pray that the “bishop” of New York should repent and [sic]returne to the orthodoxy of the Faith.

Amen!

This letter is private, informal and [sic] unuffivial -

You can read some informetion on the web site of the Free Western Orthododox Observer – ATHANASIOS PRESS – http://athanasiospress.wordpress.com/

Apparently this “Orthodoxy” on the website listed still includes recognition of the acts of ROCOR-MP, meaning that the very reason that former Metropolitan Evloghios  abandoned True Orthodoxy remains wholly unchanged.

Metropolia sources indicate the response of the Metropolia’s Sister Churches in Greece and Russia was that former Metropolitan Evloghios is to be regarded as a simple and unrepentant monk.

October 18, 2013

On October 11th, 2013, a letter of response, written by the American Metropolia’s Commission for Inter-Orthodox and External Relations was posted to their website. It was issued in response to the rather bizarre and strange missive sent out to a number of clergy several weeks ago.In full disclosure, the author of this short post is himself (myself-Hieromonk Enoch) one of the members of this commission and composers of this letter.

In an interview with Portal-Credo today, Metropolitan Raphael of Moscow (who, since his confession of the Imyaslavie heresy, has become more and more of a “go-to” man on the website), made a few claims that need to be addressed for the sake of honesty.

Were one to take his words at face value, he would appear innocent of any wrongdoing over the past year– he claims now to have not ever “changed his position”, and claims full responsibility for his new “confession of faith”. As though to strike at the central justification for Metropolitan John of New York’s assumption of his innocence of the heretical text, he tells Alexander Soldatov, “If we have the same confession of faith (by the way, compiled without the involvement of Bishop Gregory and his assistants), if we belong to the same True Orthodoxy, then how can we not converge?”

If the above is true, well, that settles that. Despite the double-tongued answers sources tell us he’s been giving to the Synod of the True Orthodox Patristic Calendar Church under Metropolitan Anghelos of Avlonos to hold this fragmented communion together, Metropolitan Raphael’s position is straightforward and unapologetic: since his involvement with the heresiarch Gregory Lourie, he proudly confesses his new “faith”.  He spends some time discussing the ridiculous possibility of union with Gregory Lourie, while then claiming that ROAC and Lourie’s “church” are one and the same:

Participants in the Council of Bishops really only have one question: why does ROAC have two administrative centers? If Bishop Gregory is Orthodox and canonical, and Metropolitan Theodore of Suzdal is also Orthodox and canonical, why they do not recognize each other, and should our church to take someone’s side in their dispute? These are legitimate and reasonable questions. But, unfortunately, what first was published on the Internet was a preliminary version of the protocol of our Council, which does not quite accurately convey the conciliar decision on these issues. We do not set Bishop Gregory’s transition into submission Suzdal Synod of ROAC as a condition for dialogue with us. Who is who and what is subject to ROAC and what are administrative centers is an internal affair of the Church. We did not create their general synod, each church is independent, maintains its administrative structure itself and must solve its internal problems. At our Sobor Bishop Gregory offered a full and clear explanation of how there was a ROAC Bishops’ Conference, and why it is not subject to the [ROAC] Synod of Bishops. Most of our bishops did not follow closely enough the events in RPATs in 2005-07, which led to the appearance of the two administrative centers there.

We would suggest perhaps the good Metropolitan (much as it pains me not to put that in quotes, he still hasn’t been formally condemned by the other Churches in the True Orthodox communion: neither the Metropolia, nor the TOC-PC) read a little bit about the history behind Gregory Lourie’s schism before assuming “oh, it’s all the same church!” The good Metropolitan is likely aware that the major reason the two “sides” don’t recognize each other is because one “side” is composed of two deposed ROAC bishops and a deposed, excommunicated ROAC priest “consecrated” after his deposition by said deposed bishops. Of course, since Archbishop Andrei of Pavlovskoe has been banned from visiting Russia, and it’s increasingly difficult to reach “the Suzdal Church” from outside, there’s no telling what’s happening.

On that matter, Portal-Credo, pretending to be a “news organization”, has been virtually silent on the existence of ROAC– the last articles on Metropolitan Theodore were about a lawsuit against a newspaper’s slander, and the giving of an award at St Xenia of Petersburg parish in Novaya Kupavna– where Bishop Alexander (Egorov) of Metropolitan Raphael’s Synod just “happened” to be a guest!

However, for those who think “what, me worry? No worries because I’m under Metropolitan Agafangel,” you wouldn’t believe where good Metropolitan Raphael has set sights next:

Of course, no one offered us a canonical communion with the ROCOR (A) right now, as some mockingly claim online. But we would very much like to hope and pray for such communications in the future. We all pray for each of the Liturgy “the unity of all” – in faith, in love, at one Chalice of Christ. And if the present Confession ROCOR (A) brings us closer to that goal, then why should we not welcome such a confession, and express a wish for dialogue? Of course, to start such a dialogue , all the conditions that push the ROCOR (A) should be heard and taken into account. At the level of individual bishops, because we have long been in contact with this church, it’s just necessary to develop new ground.

I have heard rumors of one or two ROCOR (A) priests in Russia sympathetic to the name-worshipping heresy. Already Portal-Credo has set its sights on Metropolitan Agafangel, looking for any idiot to condemn him on a local level after the Metropolitan clearly stated that name-worshipping is a heresy– something that some Americans are afraid to flatly state, perhaps lest they lose their name-worshipping “friends”.

Be assured– if Raphael Motovilov, Gregory Lourie and his “newspaper,” Portal-Credo,  are posturing for union, the rats are already about.

Just don’t say people didn’t warn you.

On December 14 (NS), Metropolitan Raphael (Motovilov) of Moscow (of the TOC-R) sponsored another meeting with “Bishop” Gregory Lurye, the most prominent representative of the Russian Imyabozhist sect, this time in a more formal setting, along with other name-worshippers.

The theme of the meeting was, somewhat ironically, “What is True Orthodoxy?”

After reading from a variety of papers, the meeting was “friendly”, according to the official website of the TOC-R. After a friendly exchange of gifts, Archimandrite Adam, in charge of external relations of the TOC-R, was simply gushing. “By the results of last conference, I can to tell without disguising my joy that at the least, the program’s objectives were reached one hundred percent, namely – we found a common ground,” he said.

Gregory Lurye (sometimes spelled as “Lourie” in English) is a former priest of ROAC who was deposed for heresy and glorifying suicide among Russian youth. After his deposition, he found two deposed ROAC Bishops, convincing them to make him “Bishop of St Petersburg”. Lurye’s reception of communion at Holy Transfiguration Monastery in 2011 precipitated a split in the HOCNA, where the majority of the parishes fled to the Synod of Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens.

Metropolitan Raphael’s Synod is currently in communion with the American Metropolia, which has become increasingly insistent in its condemnation of the heresy of name-worshipping, as well as the Synod of the Patristic Calendar in Greece, which– according to Metropolitan John of New York– has condemned the heresy anew in Synod, although no formal statement has appeared in print on their part that we could confirm.

Following the repose of Metropolitan Anghelos of Avlona and Archbishop Porfyrios, secretary of the Synod earlier this year, the remaining members of the Synod of the Church of the Patristic Calendar (generally referred to as the “Avlona Synod”) elevated vicar Bishop Cherubim of Pentapolis (pictured, center) to the rank of First-Hierarch of the Synod on May 16 (n.s.), the Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women. The Feast generally commemorates the Communion between the Greek Synod in Avlona as well as sister Churches in Russia and America, as well as territories subject to them.

This year was in that respect no different, as Metropolitan Seraphim of Moscow was present and participated in the elevation of the New Metropolitan of Avlona. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Tomos establishing the International Communion of True Orthodox Churches.

Hieromonk Agathangel of the Avlona Monastery was also consecrated to the Episcopate as Archbishop of Euchaiton (pictured, bottom right).

(source) The Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia has issued a statement rejecting communion with the “Montenegrin Orthodox Church,” an independent body sponsored by NATO but having no canonical jurisdiction in Orthodoxy. While Metropolitan Seraphim of Moscow has accepted them into communion, the position of the Metropolia is that this was not decided by the member Churches in conference.

The notice reads:

“We would like all Clergy and Laity of our Church to be made aware of the fact that our Synod is only in communion with those Churches that have been approved by both our Synod of Bishops and by our wider Synaxis of Churches unanimously. It is beyond the competency of a single member of the Synaxis of Churches to unilaterally add another member to our wider Synaxis of Churches, therefore, any statements to the contrary are regarded as null and void.

In this regard, we do not consider the so-called “Montenegrin Orthodox Church” to be part of our Synaxis of Churches for various canonical and dogmatic reasons; appropriate actions are being taken to ensure the protection of our Clergy and Laity.”