Chiesa Ortodossa in Italia
The Chiesa Ortodossa in Italia ("Orthodox Church in Italy") is an effort to establish a national Orthodox church in Italy. It was originally a part of the Holy Synod in Resistance, but then joined Patriarch Pimen's Alternative Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and adopted the Revised Julian Calendar. It is currently out of communion with the mainstream Orthodox Church.
It is not to be confused with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy, the primary presence of mainstream Orthodoxy in Italy.
History
The Orthodox Church in Italy was founded in 1991 by Antonio (de Rosso), bishop of Aprilia and Latium, under the jurisdiction of Metr. Cyprian. Bp. Antonio was a former Roman Catholic priest.
In 1993, the church joined Patriarch Pimen's Alternative Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and in 1995 Bp. Antonio was enthroned as Bishop of Ravenna and Italy. After 1997, Bp. Antonio was elevated to Metropolitan of Ravenna and Italy. During that year, the group was recognized by the Alternative Synod as an autonomous church, and Metr. Antonio became a full member of Pimen's Holy Synod. The Chiesa Ortodossa in Italia is in full communion with the Bulgarian Alternative Synod, the Church of Ukraine (Kiev Patriarchate), and some other small churches.
After Metropolitan Antonio's death, the Church become an association in memory of his deceased Primate (obtaining the exclusive use of the "Chiesa Ortodossa in Italia" denomination) and during 2011 it joined the Metropolis of Milan and of Aquileia. After 2013, it became part of the Nordic Catholic Church, member of the Western Orthodox/Traditional Old Catholic Union of Scranton.
