About

About the Archdiocese

Administration

Archdiocesan Offices

Annual Statistics

Employment and

Volunteer Information

Mission & Vision Statement

Affiliated Organizations

History

Archdiocesan Coat-of-Arms

Administrative Councils

and Committees

Standing Commissions

The Italo-Greek Orthodox Church

The Italo-Greek Orthodox Church is an autonomous (self-governing) Church with jurisdiction over all Orthodox Christians claiming affiliation with the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church. It is, at present, comprised of two ecclesiastical entities: the Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Sicily and the Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada. Its doctrine, discipline and worship are those of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church (the Orthodox Church). The Italo-Greek Orthodox Church is self-governing in all matters of its life and government and its rights, prerogatives and obligations are equal with those of the other autonomous and autocephalous Orthodox Churches.

The Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada

The Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada is a religious entity encompassing the entire United States of America, South America, Canada and the United States Protectorates. It operates under the spiritual and canonical direction of the Metropolitan in his role as local shepherd, teacher and sanctifier of the People of God, who work together with him in his ministry of fostering the Church’s mission to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The Archdiocese was created and established to promote and maintain the rites, traditions, customs, liturgies and discipline of the Orthodox Church as observed in the Italo-Greek tradition and to govern, guide and minister to all Italo-Greek Orthodox faithful living within the territorial boundaries of the Archdiocese. The Archdiocese provides pastoral, spiritual and administrative guidance and support to its parishes, missions and organizations through various departments, offices, agencies and ministries, as well as the resources needed to ensure communication, coordination, cooperation and assistance in the public, educational, social and religious needs of the Church throughout the entire area it encompasses. The Italo-Greek Orthodox Eparchy of America was canonically created and established by Archiepiscopal Tomos on April 11, 1926. It was elevated to the dignity of Archeparchy (Archdiocese) on September 21, 1952 subsequent to resolutions adopted at a church council held at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 10^th and 11^th, nineteen hundred and fifty.

Legal Corporate Title

The legal corporate title of the Archdiocese is: “Italo-Greek Orthodox Holy Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Americas & Canada.” The designations “Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America”, “Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada,” and “Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese” may also be used, at any time and without restriction, in referring to the Archdiocese and its ecclesiastical, canonical and administrative jurisdiction over Italo-Greek Orthodox faithful and institutions residing or existing within the territorial boundaries of the Archdiocese.

Jurisdiction

With regard to persons, the members of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church in the Americas and Canada are individuals of Orthodox Christian Faith who are of Sicilian, Italian or Sardinian descent: 1) who immigrated to regions within the territorial boundaries of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada from Sicily, Italy and Sardinia; 2) who descend from such persons; 3) women who are members of other Orthodox Churches or the Roman Catholic Church married to men referable to 1 and 2, who changed their jurisdiction; 4) converts to the Orthodox Christian Faith who have been received into the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church; and 5) all other Italo-Greek Orthodox Christians living within the territorial boundaries of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada.

Governing Precepts

The Italo-Greek Orthodox Church in the Americas and Canada conducts and directs its life in accordance with the following:

1. The Holy Scriptures;

2. The Sacred Tradition of the Church including the Eighty-Five Rules of the Holy Apostles, the Canons of the Seven Ecumenical Councils and those of the local Provincial Councils; the Canonical Rules of the Holy Fathers, and the Church Order regarding worship, monastic life and apostolic service;

3. The Articles of the Constitution of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church;

4. The decisions of the All-Church Councils of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church;

5. The decisions of the Provincial Councils of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada;

6. The Administrative and Canonical Code of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church.

Temporal Authority

Pursuant to the legislation on ecclesiastical and religious organizations in the United States and the Constitution of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church, the Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada carries on the affairs of religion, religious education, worship, charity and the temporal economy of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church in the Americas and Canada, as well as all other affairs connected with the life of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church within the territorial boundaries of the Archdiocese.

Boundaries

The Archdiocese is comprised territorially of the United States, South America, Canada, Mexico and the United States Protectorates. The territorial boundaries of the Archdiocese may only be changed by decree of the Archbishop, who is the First Hierarch of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church and President of the Great and Holy Synod of Bishops.