Holy Synod in Resistance

The Holy Synod in Resistance or True Orthodox Church of Greece, also called the Cyprianites are a resistance, Old Calendar Synod, which separated from the Church of Greece, regarding the latter as being in error.

History

In 1979, a schism occurred in the Synod of the so-called Florinites or Church of Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece (GOC). Metropolitan Callistos of Corinth and Metropolitan Anthony disagreed with the 1974 Declaration by Archbishop Auxentius, which declared that the new-calendar Church of Greece has no grace. Callistos and Anthony ordained eight other bishops, declared Auxentius to be deposed, and registered their Synod as the Church of Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece(GOC, so-called "Callistoites").

In 1980, the Synod entered into communion with the Synod of the Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Romania. However, in 1983, the Synod disintegrated. Metropolitan Callistos quit the Synod, Bishop Maximos and two others returned to the Florinites and the other bishops joined the synod of the True Orthodox Church of Greece (so-called "Gerontiites").

Two members of the disintegrated Synod, bishops Cyprian of Fili and Giovanni of Sicily organized the Holy Synod in Resistance.

Ecclesiology

Unlike the other Old Calendarist Greek jurisdictions, the Holy Synod in Resistance has a markedly distinct ecclesiology. While opposed to ecumenism and the New Calendar, the Synod maintains that the 1974 Declaration was an error, and that the Church of Greece and other New Calendar jurisdictions have grace, despite the anathema against the New Calendar issued in the Sigillion of 1583. To support this view, the Synod points to the views expressed by the father of Greek Old-Calendarism, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Florina.

Status

Since 1994, the Synod has been in full communion with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), though relations have cooled recently because of the recent negotiations between ROCOR and the Church of Russia. The Synod also maintains communion with the Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Romania (Synod of Metropolitan Vlasie). In 1993, the Synod ordained, and maintains communion with, Bishop Photii of the Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Bulgaria.

Structure

The Synod has five dioceses, including the Metropolis of Oropos and Fili, the Archdiocese of Etna (California), the Diocese of Sydney and New South Wales, the Diocese of Nora (Italy), and the Diocese of Luni (Italy). There are also missions in Austria, Sweden, Italy, Czech Republic, Georgia, South Ossetia, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Africa.

Serving and praying in the Synod's parishes, missions, and monasteries are 74 priests (including 17 hieromonks and 57 married priests), 15 deacons, 43 monks and 60 nuns.

There is also one publication house, the Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies.

External links

• Official Website
• Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies (Etna, CA)
• Convent of Saint Elizabeth the New Martyr (Etna, CA)

Hierarchs

• Cyprian, Metropolitan of Oropos and Fili, President of the Holy Synod in Resistance
• Chrysostomos, Archbishop of Etna (California), Member of the Synod
• Chrysostomos, Bishop of Sydney and New South Wales, Member of the Synod
• Michael, Bishop of Nora (Sardinia), Member of the Synod
• Silvano, Bishop of Luni (Italy), Member of the Synod
• Chrysostomos, Bishop of Christianoupolis
• Auxentios, Bishop of Photiki
• Ambrose, Bishop of Methone
• Symeon, Bishop of Lakedaimonia
• Johannes, Bishop of Makarioupolis, Assistant for Missions in Sweden