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325
The First Ecumenical Council
The first ecumenical council adopted one universal calendar for the Church. It set forth, among many other things, the Menologion (fixed portion of the calendar) and the Paschallion (Pascha reckoning and movable parts of the calendar) for the Church. Those who rejected the Church calendar were called Quartodeciams. -
381
Second Ecumenical Council
The second ecumenical council condemned the quartodecimans as heretics, therefore we can see that by not adopting the calendar of the church, one becomes a heretic. Canon 7: Those who from heresy turn to Orthodoxy…we receive according to the following method and custom…Quartodecimans…we receive upon their giving a written renunciation and anathematizing every heresy…Thereupon, they are first sealed or anointed with the holy oil -
681
Sixth Ecumenical Council
The 6th Ecumenical Council also condemned the quartodecimians as heretics: Canon 95: Quartidecimans…we receive on their presentation of certificates and their anathematization of every heresy which does not hold as does the holy Apostolic Church of God: then first of all we anoint them with holy chrism on their foreheads, eyes, nostrils, mouth, and ears; and as we seal them we say, ‘The seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit -
Oct 4, 1582
Pope Gregory changes the calendar
On October 4th 1582, Pope Gregory introduced the new papal calendar. The next day was October 15th, jumping forward 10 days. As soon as the Orthodox Church heard about this, it was put forth by Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremias that anyone who adopted the new papal calendar was to be excommunicated. A letter was sent to the Orthodox Church of Poland with a statement to that effect since they were considering adoping the new papal calendar -
Orthodox Church Condemns the Papal Calendar
On November 12th (OC) 1583, The Orthodox Church gathered for the first Pan Orthodox Council which condemned the new papal calendar. the text can be found here: Sigillion of 1583 -
Sigillion of 1583
this comes from codex #772 which contains the sigillion. It can be found in the Russian monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mt. Athos: “The Sigillium of the Patriarchal Encyclical to the Orthodox in every land commands them under penalty of punishment and anathema not to accept the new Paschallion, or the new calendar, but to remain with that which was well defined once and for all by the 318 Holy and God-bearing Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council” the other post has a link to the full text -
Second Condemnation of the New Calendar, 1587
the Church repeated her condemnation of the new calendar in a second Pan-Orthodox Council. In the Ecclesiastical History (Constantinople 1912. Vol. III. p. 125), written by Metropolitain Philaret of Didymotichon, we read: “Likewise in 1587, a council at Constantinople was convoked where, in the presence of Jeremy II, Meletius Pegas and Sophronius of Jerusalem, the correction of the calendar was condemned as being perilous and unnecessary and as being, rather, the cause of many dangers.” -
Third Pan Orthodox Council condemns the New Calendar
This is the third condemnation of the new calendar by a Pan-Orthodox Council. Canon 8: Concerning the rejection of the new calendar, that is, the innovation of the Latins regarding the celebration of Pascha. We wish that that which has been decreed by the Fathers concerning Holy and Salutary Pascha remain unshaken…Let all those who have dared to transgress the definitions regarding the Holy Feast of the Salutary Pascha be excommunicated and rejected from the Church of Christ. -
Council of Jerusalem condemns the new calendar
Patriarch Dositheus said: "The sixteenth century gave birth to four great beasts: the heresy of Luther, the heresy of Calvin, the heresy of the Jesuits, and the heresy of the new calendar. The heresies of Luther and Calvin were refuted by [such and such] . . . As for the heresy of the new calendar, this was condemned by a decision of the great Ecumenical Council that met in Constantinople in 1593" -- Dositheus, Patriarch of Jerusalem, Confession of the Orthodox Faith, p. 4) -
Patriarch Dositheus of Jerusalem condemns new calendar
Patriarch Dositheus also said: "Tenth and last of all, that Pascha must take place, according to the way in which the First Synod had appointed it, and the new calendar which was invented by the Latins, to be Anathematised." -- The commentary of Dositheos II of Jerusalem (1641-1707), regarding the Pan-Orthodox Synod of 1593. -
Regional Council of Constantinople condemns new calendar
Under Patriarch Agathangelus -
Council of Constantinople condemns new calendar again
under Patriarch Anthimus -
Pan Orthodox Council of 1902-1904
The EP called all the local churches to Constantinople to discuss several items including if the new calendar. They were all instructed to go home and have councils disuccing the matter. All the churches were unanimous in condemning the new calendar. Once they all came back to constantinople in 1904, they had a joint council and decreed the same, that the new calendar was condemned. in participation: the EP, MP, JP, Romania, and Greece. -
St. Matthew is elevated to an Archimandrite
St. Matthew who was one of the most beloved elders in Greece, was elevated to the status of an Archimandrite by St. Nektarios, who was his Spiritual Father. St. Matthew was called by the faithful "the holy father". All loved to see him and to come to him for help and healing. -
St. Nektarios Reposes in the Lord
St. Nektarios condemned the New Calendar: "we should not change the calendar because all the feasts of our Church have been established, and especially the eternal Paschallion.You remain as you are, you will not follow the reformers because the Gregorian calendar has been condemned by three Pan-Orthodox sessions under Patriarch Jeremiah of Tranus 1592-1593 and Anthimus in 1848. It is impossible for Orthodox Christians to accept change. I do not accept or follow anyone, even if I stay alone." -
False council of Constantinople
In 1923, there was a false council headed by the Ecumenical Patriarch declared that they should change the calendar to have false union with heretics. They first allow the Church of Finland to accept the Gregorian calendar which they use to this day. This false council also allowed many other innovations. It was even attended by an anglican bishop. -
The Calendar is changed in Greece and Constantinople
false Patriarch Meletios Metaxakis and false Archbishop Chrysostom papadopolous change the calendar of the church to the new calendar. Over 1 million Greeks refuse to accept the change and break communion with the state offical church -
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Initial Struggles of the Remnant of the Church which stayed faithful to Orthodoxy (The Genuine Orthodox Church
After the calendar change in 1924, Mount Athos organised a synod of priests to help govern the people during this time of confusion. It was Led by St. Matthew. During this time, over 800 parishes of the GOC were established throughout Greece. -
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Persecution of the Genuine Orthodox Church in Greece
Between 1924-1960, the Genuine Orthodox Church was hevily persecuted. Priests were arrested and beaten and sometimes killed. The Bishops were exiled and threatened. Notiable cases would be St. Katherine in 1927, Fr. Stergios in 1935, Fr. Theonas in 1936 (who was beaten to death by a new calendar bishop Joachim), and Mother Mariam in the 1950's. -
Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Athens
On the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, A large Orthodox Cross appears and illumines the sky above the Genuine Orthodox Church of St. John the Theologian outside of Athens. There were 2000 faithful gathered to celebrate the feast. However, the Greek Police were sent by the new Calendarist Archbishop to try to break up the service and arrest the priest, however they converted back to Genuine Orthodoxy -
St. Katherine, the protomartyr of the GOC
St. Katherine Routis, married woman with two children, is martyred by the Greek police who were sent to shut down a Genuine Orthodox Parish and arrest the Priest who was serving. She refused to leave and was among many laity who were blocking the police from arresiting the Priest. She was hit over the head with a rifle butt and died a few days later from her wounds. -
Repentance of the Three Bishops
Three Bishops left the schismatic Church of Greece. They repented of their Schism and were received back by the whole Genuine Orthodox Christians. They were Chrysostom of Florina who was a retired bishop from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Germanos of Demetrias, and Chrysostom of Zakynthos. They give a confession of faith that the new calendarists are in actual schism from the Church. since, Bishop Chrysostom of Zakynthos was ordained AFTER the calendar schism, he is reordained as a Bishop -
Ordination of new Bishops of the GOC
The 3 bishops then consecrate 4 new bishops. One of them was St. Matthew. Now there are 7 Bishops of the GOC. Under persecution, 3 of the bishops left and went back to the new calendarists. The 4 remaining bishops come together in a council and officially condemn the new calendarists as being schismatic and without God’s grace. Their sacraments no longer have grace. Their baptisms are graceless, their chrismations are graceless, their ordinations are graceless, and their communion is graceless. -
Second appearance of the Holy Cross
in 1937, the Holy Cross appeared over the Church on the top of Mt. Kofinas in Crete, Greece. This church was under St. Matthew. This is the second appearance of the Cross over a church in greece. the first happened in 1925. Ironically, the florenites accept the first appearance, but not the second since it happened over a parish that was under St. Matthew's care -
Falling away of Bishop Chrysosom of Florina.
Bishop Chrysostom of Florina started teaching that the new calendar church was potentially and not actually schismatic, therefore they still had grace. this is in contradiction to the council of the GOC in 1935 which says that the NC church is schismatic and without grace. St. Matthew tried to get Chrysosom to repent, but he would not. St. Matthew and Bishop Germanos had to break communion. https://www.thegenuineorthodoxchurch.com/1935-after-trial-by-state-church -
Chrysostom of Florina confirms his belief
Chrysostom of florina relases another encyclical affirming his belief that the new calendar is not schismaitc, but only potentially schismatic and still has grace -
Chrysostom says he will not ordain more bishops
Chrysostom of Florina states that he will never ordain bishops for his group, because they do not constitute a seperate church, but rather a guard of tradition within the state church of greece -
St. Matthew Consecrtates Metropolitain Spyidon
After trying to get the other old calendar bishops in greece to repent of their heresy without success, and contacting Genuine Ortrhodox Bishops abroad, who approved but were unable to come to assist, St. Matthew Consecrated Met. Spyridon of Cyprus with 12 Archimandrites as witnesses. Thereafter St. Matthew and Archbishop Spyridon consecrate the remaining four bishops together. read: http://genuineorthodoxchurch.com/1948consecrations.htm -
St. Matthew Reposes in the Lord
May 14th OC 1950, Saint Matthew Reposes in the Lord. Myrrh streams from his feet. Metropolitan Demetrios is elected as his successor -
Persecution againt the GOC increases
All of the Bishops of the GOC are arrested, imprisioned, and some are exiled. Many Priests, monks, and nuns are also arrested and imprsioned. One notable nun is Mother Mariam, who was a spiritual child of St. Matthew. She is impriosned, tortured, and murdered. When her body is given back, they still find needles stuck in her skin. -
More Bishops Ordained for the GOC
Bessarion of Tricca and Stagae, John of Thebes and Lebadia, Chrsysostom of Messenia, and Meletios of Attica. The GOC now has 8 bishops. also, the Florenite bishops all tried to retire in that same year, out of frustration and protest of themselves. Since again they thought that the old calendarists were not a church. two florenite bishops go back to the new calendar. Chrysostom is left as the remaining bishop of his schismatic group. -
Chrysostom of Florina dies
Chrysostom of Florina dies leaving his group without any bishops. -
Declaration against New Calendarists, Modernists, and Ecumenists
in 1957 the Holy Synod of the GOC condemned the new calendarists, modernists, and ecumenists, read here: https://www.thegenuineorthodoxchurch.com/1957-synodical-act-of-the-goc -
Archbishop Demitrios of Athens reposes
Archbishop Demitrios of the GOC reposes in the Lord. Archbishop Agathangelos is elected -
The florenites receive their first bishop from the ROCOR
To get a detailed history of the events of the florenite hierarhcy please read: http://genuineorthodoxchurch.com/histFloriniteAkakian.htm -
Archbishop Agathangelos Reposes in the Lord
Archbishop Agathangelos reposes in the Lord, Archbishop Andreas is elected. By the time Archbishop Andres dies in 2005, he will be one of the oldest Orthodox bishops in the world and the longest reigning. -
The GOC comes into contact with ROCOR, Note 1
In 1971, two bishops of the GOC go to america and come into contact with the ROCOR. These two bishops were misled by a particular priest to belive that the ROCOR held the same confession of faith as the GOC, which wasn't true. The ROCOR accepted our apostolic succession. However the florenites were angry with the ROCOR for accepting our succession. Our bishops read the confession of faith to the ROCOR bishops and they accepted by saying "now we believe as you do" -
GOC and ROCOR, Note 2
Since the Florenites were upset with ROCOR for accepting our succession, the ROCOR wanted to say a prayer of forgiveness or a blessing on our bishops. At first they rejected, but did so ONLY with the understanding that the ROCOR held the same confession as us. Today this is spun that the ROCOR reordained our bishops but this is not the case. We have writings from ROCOR and eyewitness accounts which dispell this lie. -
GOC and ROCOR, Note 3
When the two bishops came back to greece, and they told the rest of the synod what happened. They rejected and did not approve of what happened in america. It was accepted out of Ekonomia, given that we believed that ROCOR held the same confession as us and that we would end the schism between us and the florenites. -
ROCOR does not give us their confession of faith
One condition for unity was that the ROCOR verbally and in writing give us their confession of faith and that it be identical to ours. They did give their verbal confession of faith, but would not send one in writing. in 1974, they finally give us a confession of faith which states that the new calendar is not schismatic. The Church rejects the ROCOR and begins the offical process of breaking communion. -
The GOC severs commnion with ROCOR
The GOC severs communion with ROCOR because they refused to uphold the confession of faith which they promised to the GOC. One thing to note is that the whole time (1971-1976) the GOC never accepted what happened in america and hence did not accept the union. It was based on false pretenses and lies from the ROCOR and florenites. Read: http://genuineorthodoxchurch.com/GOC_ROCOR_feb1976.htm -
Condemnation of old calendar ecumenism
In 1983, the Holy Synod of the GOC condemn the heresy of Old Claendar Ecumenim. Please read: https://www.thegenuineorthodoxchurch.com/1983-synodical-act-against-old-cal- -
Condemnation of Ecumenism
in 1985, the Holy Synod of the GOC condemned the heresy of Ecumenism and anathematised it. please read: https://www.thegenuineorthodoxchurch.com/1985-declaration-against-ecumenism -
Beginning of the disputes regarding which icons are proper or not
around this time, some people began discussing the nature of the icon of the Ancient of Days and of the Holy Resurrection. The main idea is if the Ancient of Days (as in daniels vision) refers to Christ or God the Father, and if God the Father can be depicted in icons. The other debate was which was the correct icon of the resurrection, the typical one we see or the western influenced one (typically shows Christ coming out of the tomb holding a flag, and the guards being afraid). -
5 Bishops of the GOC fall away into schism
5 bishops (called "the five") of the GOC leave the church over their insistance that the Ancient of Days has to be God the Father and they sought to anathematise anyone who said it was Christ (thus condemning many Church fathers). They also insist that the correct icon of the Resurrection is the western one (previously described in the last note) They later adopt many more extreme positions and fall further into heresy Please Read: 1995 schism -
More Bishops Ordained
After the five bishops left the Church and fell into schism, the remaining bishops with the existing Archbishop Andreas elected and consecrated more bishops to replace the ones who had fallen away. One of these men was Metropolitan Kirykos -
The Schism of Metropolitan Nicholas
at this point, it had been discovered that Bp Nicholas secretly betrayed his apostolic succession when he was sued by the new calendar church in the 1970's. Because of this, Nicholas is being called to go before the synod to explain. He refuses to repent, and as a scapegoat, he accuses the theologian Goutzidis of the "eternal Church heresy" (this is a perfectly Orthodox teaching). Met. Kirykos defends Mr. Goutzidis. Nicholas forces Archbishop Andreas to Retire. Many protest and call Anaxios. -
Archbishop Andreas Reposes in the Lord
Archbishop Andreas reposes in the Lord. Due to the schism and falling away of bishop Nicholas (falsly called archbishop) and the other bishops with him, Metropolitan Kirykos becomes the head the Synod of the Genuine Orthodox Church -
Metropolitain Kirykos Severs communion from Metropolitan Nicholas
since 2003, Met. Nicholas has usurped the archepiscopal throne and was uncanonically "elected" as archbishop. Many bishops reject this and are protesting. Due to the more serious issues of Nicholas rejecting his apostolic succession, denying the confession of faith of the GOC, and overtures of old calendar ecumenism, all without repentance. Met. Kirykos sorrowfully severs communion from Met. Nicholas and all bishops who stay with him. http://genuineorthodoxchurch.com/MetrNicholas.htm -
Metropolitan Kirykos trys to get Nicholas to repent
Before severing communion tries to get Nicholas and the others to repent without success. He writes many epistles, calls for synod meetings, all to no avail. they are not interested in hearing him. they refuse to let him speak in the synod meetings. -
Unity with the Genuine Orthodox Church of Romania.
A catacomb Romanian Church had found our Synod and began talks with Met. Kirykos. This Romanian synod had kept a pure confession of faith but due to persecution against them, they remained in the catacombs until recently. Read here for more info on the Church and the Romanian Hierarchy: apologia -
Pan-Orthodox Confession of Faith (Ecclesiology) of the Genuine Orthodox Church
After the union with the GOC of Romania, the entire Church put forth a confession of faith. Read the Confession of faith here: 2008 Confession of Faith -
Period: to
The Church today
from the unity which occured in 2008 until today, the Church has experienced relative peace. The Church has grown and is prospering. Many new missions and communities popping up around the world. The only signifigant struggle the church is facing is the steffanite synod (the successor to bishop nicholas) has been trying to steal Church properties under Met. Kirykos' care.
