About Us
The Orthodox Church is the original Christian Church established by Jesus Christ in A.D. 33. From that time on, the successors to the Apostles, the bishops, have maintained incorrupt this holy faith.
The Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians in America was established in the 1950's with the arrival of the ever-memorable Archimandrite Petros Astyfides (1915-1997), who later became Metropolitan of Astoria. In 1954 he founded the church of St. Markella in Astoria NY, which later became his Cathedral.
The Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of America is a part of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece, under His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos.
In the Church of the G.O.C. in America there are now 58 parishes and missions, 6 men's monasteries and sketes, 4 convents, 7 bishops (3 retired), 72 priests (8 retired), and 21 deacons throughout North and South America.
The ruling hierarch of the Metropolis of America is His Eminence, Metropolitan Demetrius of America. His Eminence is assisted by his auxiliary bishop, His Grace, Bishop Christodoulos of Theoupolis.
The Metropolis of Toronto, whose ruling hierarch is His Eminence, Metropolitan Moses of Toronto, extends throughout southern Ontario.
The Diocese of Boston, whose ruling hierarch is His Eminence, Metropolitan Demetrius of America, extends throughout the states of New England.
The Diocese of Etna and Portland, whose ruling hierarch is His Grace, Bishop Auxentios of Etna and Portland, extends throughout the western United States which are in the Pacific and Mountain Time Zones. It also includes, in Canada, Alberta and British Columbia, as well as Alaska and Hawaii.
We invite you to visit one of our parishes or to get in contact with us if you have any questions about our Church.
Orthodox Awareness
A Brief History
In the early 20th century, the idea of promoting the union of Churches (Orthodox and heterodox) began to gain ground among circles in the Eastern Orthodox Church by establishing a "Communion of Churches" modeled on the League of Nations.
The Patriarchal Encyclical of 1920 foresaw a series of steps toward the “union of the Churches,” of which the first was the change of the calendar for the simultaneous celebration of feast days by all the “Churches.” The content of the encyclical was kept secret from the faithful and only after a few years became known. Read more...
Missions
Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Mission, Tucson, Arizona
Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church is a beautiful mission parish near downtown Tucson, a city in southern Arizona. It was started in 1997 by Father John Bockman, who was a missionary Priest formerly serving missions in Tennessee and Massachusetts since 1990. Father John served the faithful in Tucson and the surrounding area in his home Chapel until his repose in November of 2000. His wife, Presbytera Valerie, continued to make her home Chapel available for the mission, with clergy from Saint Nectarios Orthodox Church in Seattle and His Eminence, Metropolitan Moses of Toronto (then of Portland), visiting to provide the Divine Services.
Read more...Youth
2023 Youth Conference
Please join us for the 2023 youth conference in Chicago, IL! To learn more, visit the home page or visit the conference website.
Ask A Priest
Why do we Call Angels “Saint”?
Q. I noticed that we call the angels Michael and Gabriel "Saint." I thought the title "Saint" was only given to humans who have proven themselves Godly. Do you mind clarifying this for me? Is there a deeper meaning to "Saint" that I am not aware of?
-S.L. Read more...
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