Greek Archdiocese to begin drafting new charter to replace the one suspended by Constantinople

New York, April 6, 2021

romfea.gr romfea.gr     

The Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America met online yesterday under the chairmanship of Archbishop Elpidophoros. Among the various items dealt with, the bishops decided to begin drafting a new charter to govern the Archdiocese.

The Archdiocese is within the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. In October, the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate “placed into abeyance the force of the Charter of the Holy Archdiocese of America, with the objective of constituting a joint Committee of representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Archdiocese for the composition of a new Charter.”

This decision proved controversial in the Archdiocese, and many believe the new charter will demote the metropolitans of the Archdiocese to vicar bishops, placing Abp. Elpiodophoros in direct control of the entire Archdiocese. The Archbishop and the Synod praised Constantinople, however, for the opportunity to draft a new charter.

Six months after the charter was suspended, the Archdiocese is ready to begin drawing up its new guiding document, aiming to draft a charter that “meets the visions and expectations of the clergy and laity in view of the 100th anniversary since its founding next year,” reports Romfea.

The new charter will be drafted by a wider committee representing all organizations and bodies of the Church and Greek diaspora, with four representatives from each diocese.

The faithful can offer their input via email to: charter@goarch.org.

The composition of the committee will be announced after the Patriarchate tells the Archdiocese how many members it can have.

The Synod was also officially informed that Hellenic College Holy Cross in Boston is no longer on academic probation. And in response to the request of the National Sisterhood of Presvyteras (priests’ wives), the hierarchs resolved that the Sunday closest to the feast of Sts. Martha and Mary be celebrated as a national day of recognition for Presvyteras.

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4/6/2021

See also
Constantinople suspends Metropolitan of Boston, transfers Metropolitan of New Jersey, suspends Archdiocesan charter Constantinople suspends Metropolitan of Boston, transfers Metropolitan of New Jersey, suspends Archdiocesan charter Constantinople suspends Metropolitan of Boston, transfers Metropolitan of New Jersey, suspends Archdiocesan charter Constantinople suspends Metropolitan of Boston, transfers Metropolitan of New Jersey, suspends Archdiocesan charter
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All of the Vicariate clergy are either canonically defrocked or suspended or associated with the defrocked or suspended clergy.
Comments
Raphael4/8/2021 2:51 pm
Yes, and to give them the dignity that you would give to a Bishop in good standing with the Holy Fathers of the Church is what exactly? You refer to their meetings as "Holy Synods", and call the EP "His All Holiness". Why? Do bishops and patriarchs that work for godless regimes, and sow division in the Church deserve such language from you? You can "report the news" without speaking of them as though they are real bishops who would not have been defrocked and excommunicated if the rest of the local churches were not afraid of their CIA masters! Please stop giving them titles that they do not deserve. If you insist on being a mouthpiece for their "news" then do it without giving them the titles and dignity that they should never have been given! Patriarch Alexi was wise enough to know how to deal with these people. I have no idea what Patriarch Kyrill is doing. His desire to legitimize Constantinople, has led him to the position he is in today! Makes NO SENSE!
Editor4/8/2021 11:27 am
Raphael, if it will help you understand: Journalism is the reporting of news. News reporting is supposed to be neutral. This person said this, this organization did that. Our news section is not an opinion blog.
Raphael4/8/2021 2:30 am
I really want to understand the mindset of the editors of this website who keep speaking out of both sides of their mouths when it comes to the EP. One the one hand they publish articles calling Bartholemew a heretic, and have Matushka's refusing to even call Bartholemew a bishop, and then publish news related to his community referring to his synod as "holy"? What are we to make of this? What point are you trying to make? Is this some sort of attempt at humility on your part? Does the Greek "Church" of Istanbul really need you to publish its news? Have they asked you to publish their news? I doubt that they even care whether you help them broadcast their "new charter" since they have made Russian Orthodoxy and the Russian Church irrelevant in their global ambitions. I really do not care what they do, and I do not believe them to have an iota of holiness, so PLEASE PLEASE pick a side and stick to it!! Your attempt at neutrality is sickening to men and women of dignity and honor!
David4/8/2021 1:25 am
Hopefully something good will come of it. Archbishop Elpidophoros has been a surprise in more ways than one. I see some people online waxing nostalgic for the days of Archbishop Iakovos, and then bristle and get angry when His Eminence Elpidophoros acts in a strong way. There are people in the GOA who are holding a grudge from the troubles in the 90s, and that bitterness has poisoned the water. The Patriarchate has also made mistakes, as America can be an unruly place that has to be treated differently pastoral wise (the American Catholic Church long had such a reputation in the Vatican, with Popes exasperated by it). The "Old World" mentality is not always understood or welcome in the "New World" (and vice versa). I think a "wait and see" attitude is better than throwing the usual stones. Many people were never going to give His Eminence a chance, because they have it in for Patriarch Bartholomew.
Claes4/7/2021 5:38 pm
What kind of nation-wide organization abolishes its governing charter and only begins talking about beginning work on its replacement half a year later? By any normal standard that would be considered malfeasant. GOARCH shows disdain for norms of civic life as well as ecclesiastical, true to form of its parent in Istanbul. The manner in which the latter justified abrogation of church order on a vast scale in Ukraine, as though church order were a mere matter of legal documentation that could be re-adjudicated after a third of a millennium, shows the Phanar and its agents live in an alternate reality where character and works are of no consequence, where words have no weight and a promise is a convenient fiction that expires whenever conditions change to ,are a new promise more convenient.
John D.4/7/2021 5:54 am
A picture paints a thousand words… Remember when we used to smash idols? Orthodox Bishop Praises Golden Idol of a Pagan Goddess (PHOTOS) Athena is the ancient Greek goddess of war, considered to be the daughter of Zeus. According to Holy Scripture, "all the gods of the Gentiles are devils". "Standing here, in front of the only full-scale replica of the Parthenon in the world, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride . . . complete with the magnificent effigy of Athena", Archbishop Elpidophoros said in his letter . . . Originally appeared at: Orthodox Observer ________________________________________ Editor's Note: The Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and his clergy were the center of a major controversy because of photos that were taken in front of a life-size replica of the Parthenon, which includes a statue of the pagan goddess Athena in gold. Athena is the ancient Greek goddess of war, considered to be the daughter of Zeus. According to Holy Scripture, "all the gods of the Gentiles are devils". In his letter to the Mayor Cooper of Nashville, Tennessee, due to the Proclamation of the 200th Anniversary of the Greek Revolution of 1821 (April 1, 2021), the Archbishop not only showed no embarrassment in posing for a photograph in front of an ancient pagan idol, but declared to 'feel an overwhelming sense of pride' of such a tribute to his Greek ancestry. Below is the content of the letter: ________________________________________ "Mr. Mayor, On behalf of the Greek-American Community of the United States America, and all those who love Greece, I want to thank you, and the Citizens of Nashville, for this special commemoration of the Bicentennial of the Greek Revolution. Furthermore, given the events of recent days, I want to assure you of our prayers for those who lost their lives and all those affected by the floods. Ye, standing here, in front of the only full-scale replica of the Parthenon in the world, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride. That here in this City – the heartland of America – such appreciation and love for Greece should be expressed so manifestly, is deeply moving and inspiring. Nashville has been called the 'Athens of the South,' and it has certainly earned that designation – όνομα και πράγμα as we say in Greek – in name and fact. The Greek Revival of this city is much more than its past; it is clearly its present as well. With the Nashville Parthenon, you have created an extraordinary tribute to Classical Greece, complete with the magnificent effigy of Athena Parthenos, the tallest indoor statue in the Western Hemisphere. This alone bespeaks your City’s love of Greece and all that She represents. Not to mention the cupola atop your State Capitol which I just visited, a distinguished copy of the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates that lies just below the Acropolis. Furthermore, because this monument of your City, created for your Centennial in 1897, also serves as a museum, complete with casts of the Parthenon Marbles, you are keeping alive the quest to return these historic treasures to the Greek People and to the Acropolis, where they belong. Let Nashville and her Parthenon be the megaphone that tells the world: The Parthenon Marbles deserve to go home! They are solidified soul of Greece, stone from Her mountains and miracles of Her intellect. They can only be truly honored in their native land. Today, Mr. Mayor, our presence with you, and the presence pf Ambassador Papadopoulou who embodies the Greek State, is a sign of the bonds of culture, philosophy, and faith that connect us, despite the miles from Nashville to Athens.Your observance of the Revolution of 1821, of the Greek 'Fourth of July' that for us is on March 25th, has great significance, Mr. Mayor. Your recognition of the Fight for Freedom
Gary Cox4/6/2021 10:23 pm
Hmmmm, Elpidophoros in total control of the Greek Church in America. So when Bartholomew dies will he become Patriarch? He will already be accustomed to being in charge so it would be easy for him to declare himself as pope of eastern Orthodoxy. I hope not. That would be sad indeed!
Peter 4/6/2021 7:50 pm
This should be interesting
Art Samouris4/6/2021 7:29 pm
What a joke. Meaningless meetings and photo ops. The "charter" is not worth the paper it is written on.
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