View source for 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 [[Bulgarian Alternative Synod|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 [[Archdiocese of Italy and Malta|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) of Ravenna|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 (Italy)|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 [[Holy Synod of Milan|Metropolis of Milan and of Aquileia]]. After 2013, it became part of the [[Nordic Catholic Church]], member of the [[Western Rite|Western Orthodox]]/Traditional Old Catholic [[Union of Scranton]].

==External links==
*[http://coi.chiesavecchiocattolica.it/ Orthodox Church in Italy - Official site]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church_in_Italy Orthodox Church in Italy (Wikipedia)]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Orthodox_Church_in_Italy  Wikipedia: History of the Orthodox Church in Italy]

[[Category:Jurisdictions]]