| Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | GOArch |
| Type | Eastern Orthodox |
| Structure | Eparchy |
| Ecumenical Patriarch and Archbishop of Constantinople–New Rome | Bartholomew I of Constantinople |
| Primate | Archbishop of America Elpidophoros[1] |
| Chancellor | Archimandrite Nektarios Papazafiropoulos |
| Vicar General | Fr. Alex Karloutsos |
| Parishes | 560[2] |
| Associations | Christian Churches Together |
| Language | Greek,English |
| Headquarters | New York City |
| Territory | United States |
| Recognition | Orthodox |
| Members | 1,500,000 (baptized members), 476,900 total Adherents, 107,400 regular (weekly) attendees[1][3] |
| Official website | www |
Archbishop of America | |
|---|---|
| Archbishopric | |
| Eastern Orthodox | |
| Incumbent: Elpidophoros since 22 June 2019[1] | |
| Style | His Eminence |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Residence | New York City |
| This article forms part of the series | ||||||
| Eastern Orthodox Christianity in North America | ||||||
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| History | ||||||
| People | ||||||
| Jurisdictions (list) | ||||||
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| Monasteries | ||||||
| List of monasteries in the United States | ||||||
| Seminaries (list) | ||||||
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TheGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOArch;Greek:Ελληνική Ορθόδοξη Αρχιεπισκοπή Αμερικής), headquartered in New York City, is aneparchy of theEcumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Its currentprimate isArchbishop Elpidophoros of America.[1][4] The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese comprises some 525 parishes and 20 monasteries across the United States of America, as of 2021.[3][5] In 2015, the church claimed 1.5 million baptized members.[6][7][8]
Before the establishment of a Greek Archdiocese in theWestern Hemisphere there were numerous communities of Greek Orthodox Christians.[9] On June 26, 1768, the first Greek colonists landed atSt. Augustine, Florida, the oldest city in America.[10] The first Greek Orthodox community in the Americas was founded in 1864, inNew Orleans,Louisiana, by a small colony of Greek merchants.[11][12] The first permanent community was founded in New York City in 1892,[9] today's Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and the See of the Archbishop of America. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America was incorporated in 1921,[13] and officially recognized by the State of New York in 1922.
In 1908, theChurch of Greece received authority over the Greek Orthodox congregation of America,[9] but in 1922Patriarch Meletius IV of Constantinople transferred the archdiocese back to the jurisdiction of theChurch of Constantinople.[13] In 1996, the archdiocese was split by the Ecumenical Patriarchate into four separate archdioceses: those of America (the US),Canada, Central America, and South America.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is composed of an archdiocesan district (New York City) and eightmetropolises (formerlydioceses): New Jersey,Chicago, Atlanta,Detroit,San Francisco,Pittsburgh,Boston and Denver.[14] It is governed by the archbishop and the Eparchial Synod of Metropolitans. The synod is headed by the archbishop (as the first among equals) and comprises the metropolitans who oversee the ministry and operations of their respective metropolises. It has all the authority and responsibility which the Church canons provide for a provincial synod.[15]
There are more than 500parishes, 800priests and approximately 440,000 to 2 millionfaithful in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, depending on the source of reports and the counting method being used.[16] The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese itself claims to have 1.5 million baptized members.[6][8][7] The number of parishes in the Greek Archdiocese rose by about 9% in the decade from 1990 to 2000, and membership growth has largely been in terms of existing members having children.[17] Membership is concentrated in theNortheastern United States. The states with the highest rates of adherence areMassachusetts,New Hampshire,Rhode Island, and New York.[18]
The archdiocese receives within its ranks and under its spiritual aegis and pastoral care Eastern Orthodox Christians, who either as individuals or as organized groups in the Metropolises and Parishes have voluntarily come to it and which acknowledge the ecclesiastical and canonical jurisdiction of theEcumenical Patriarchate.[19]
Additionally, oneseminary is operated by the Greek Archdiocese,Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology inBrookline, Massachusetts, which educates not only Greek Archdiocese seminarians but also those from otherjurisdictions, as well.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America was a member ofSCOBA and is a member of its successor organization, theAssembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America.
On May 11, 2019, the church's synod unanimously elected Metropolitan Elpidophoros of Bursa as the new archbishop of America following the voluntary resignation ofArchbishop Demetrios.[4] In addition to serving as Metropolitan of Bursa, Elpidophoros has also served as Abbot of the Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Halki and Professor of the Theological School of the Aristoteleian University of Thessaloniki.[4] Metropolitan Methodios of Boston served as thelocum tenens until Elpidophoros was enthroned on June 22, 2019.[20][1] These leaders succeed the following archbishops:
The archbishop of the archdiocese is variously titled as, "Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, President of the Holy Eparchial Synod, and Chairman of theAssembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America."
The Holy Eparchial Synod of the archdiocese is composed of:
(This is the actual hierarchical seniority order and formal listing of the bishops.)[citation needed]
Information about different institutions throughout the United States which are part of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
TheArchdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity provides regular divine worship, counseling, Christian education, human services and cultural programs for people in the New York City area.
Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology together constitute a Greek Orthodox Christian institution of higher learning providing undergraduate and graduate education. Located on a 52-acre (21 ha) campus inBrookline, Massachusetts, Hellenic College and Holy Cross seek to educate leaders, priests, lay persons, men and women.
Media related toArchdiocese of America (Ecumenical Patriarchate) at Wikimedia Commons
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