Holy Synod of Milan

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The Holy Synod of Milan originated as a diocese for Western Europe of an Old Calendarist Greek Orthodox Church (see also [Florinites]). The full name of this jurisdiction is the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Milan, Western Europe.

History

The diocese was granted a tomos of autonomy in 1984 from Archbishop Auxentios in order to pursue missionary work among the non-Orthodox people of the West. The title of the Synod at this time was the Metropolia of Western Europe. After the transference of its first Chief Hierarch, Metropolitan Gabriel of Portugal, to the autocephalous Church of Poland, Bishop Evloghios of Milan was chosen as second Chief Hierarch and elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

Today Metropolitan Evloghios remains at the helm of the Holy Synod of bishops of the Church of Milan, which comprises eight dioceses, five in Europe, as well as missionary deaneries in England, France and South Africa.

As of 2008, the current makeup of the Synod is as follows.

In Europe:

Metropolitan EVLOGHIOS of Milan, First Hierarch

Archbishop ONUPHRIUS of Bergamo (Titular; the Archbishop is the Representative to Eastern Europe for the Synod)

Bishop ABBONDIO of Como

Retired or Withdrew:

Bishop PABLO of Italica, bishop for Spain and Portugal

Bishop Ildefonso of Valencia

Bishop BORIS of Germany

Prior to the American Archdioceses becoming an independent Metropolia and ceasing communion with the Milan Synod, the ranks were formerly as follows:

Archbishop HILARION of Austin

Archbishop JOHN of New York and New Jersey (now Metropolitan of the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles)

Bishop PAVLOS of Maspeth (+2011)


The Milan Synod uses the Julian calendar exclusively, and "firmly resists the heresies of false ecumenism and trans-religious syncretism."[1]

Since 1997 the Milan Synod includes a number of Western Rite communities, mainly in the United States, who worship according to pre-schismatic (historically Orthodox) liturgical traditions with the support of the Metropolitan and of the Holy Synod of Bishops. The principal rite of the Synod of Milan is the Byzantine Rite of the Orthodox Church, celebrated most commonly in the Slavic style but in some parishes in the Greek style.

On February 14/27, 2011, the Synod announced that it had granted full autonomy to its American Dioceses, elevating Archbishop JOHN of New York to the rank of Metropolitan and erecting the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles. Communion between the Autonomous Metropolia of the Americas and the British Isle and the Milan Synod ceased effectively April 4, 2011. The Milan Synod was required by Patriarch Kyril to cease communion with any previous sister churches. The American Metropolia responded by confirming the cessation.

Ecclesiastical status

As with all of the Old Calendarist jurisdictions, the Milan Synod is not currently in communion with the mainstream Orthodox churches. It is currently in dalogue with the Moscow Patriarchate, and it has ceased communion with its sister synods in America, Greece, and Bulgaria.

Related articles

External links