8,923
edits
Changes
m
→Stage 4: The Modern Period: add map;
===Stage 4: The Modern Period===
[[Image:Patrik-Rum.jpg|right|thumb|Contemporary map of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's jurisdictions in Turkey and Greece.]]
In 1864, the Ionian islands were added to the Church of Greece and in 1881 the diocese of Thessaly and parts of Epirus were also added. Also in this year, the first Greek Orthodox church was founded in America. Under an agreement made in 1908 between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Holy Synod of Athens, jurisdiction of the churches in America was given to the Church of Greece. In 1927, the statutes regarding the Church were modified resulting in the government controlling the church and attending the Holy Synod meetings. So during the 20s and 30s, the turbulent political events in Greece divided the Greeks of America and this resulted in Archbishop Athenaogoras of Corfu to be appointed to head the Greek Church in America.