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 of America, an autonomous eparchy of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece, under His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos, is made up of two Metropolises (America and Toronto) and two Dioceses (Portland and Boston) subject to the Metropolis of America.
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. In the Church of the G.O.C. in America there are now 19 parishes and 18 missions, served by 41 priests and 9 deacons throughout 20 states in America, 2 provinces in Canada, and Guatemala.
The ruling hierarch of the Metropolis of America is His Eminence, Metropolitan Pavlos of America, who 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 Portland, whose ruling hierarch is His Grace, Bishop Sergios of Portland, extends throughout the western United States which are in the Pacific and Mountain Time Zones. The Diocese of Boston, whose ruling hierarch is His Grace, Bishop Demetrius of Boston, extends throughout the states of New England.
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
The Message of Patriarch Theodore of Alexandra Upon the Feast of Ramadan
The “Father of Fathers, the Thirteenth Apostle and the Judge of the World (as his pheme states), Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, Theodore sent a message to the Muslims of Egypt upon the feast of Ramadan. It is as follows:
“The most sacred month of the Islamic calendar, the chief month of personal worship and great awareness of the Divine for every faithful Muslim ends today with the festive, joyous season of Eid al-Fitr. Read more...
Missions
Saint Matthew the Evangelist, Jonesboro, Arkansas
Jonesboro is a town located near the Eastern border of Arkansas, with a population of approximately 60,000. From a human standpoint, it’s not the most likely candidate for a traditional Orthodox mission, but for an Orthodox Christian who orders his priorities around Christ and His Church, it makes perfect sense. Read more...
Youth
Youth & Family Conference 2013
Ask A Priest
Is the GOC Insular?
Q. In considering becoming part of the GOC in America, I am getting warnings from various circles that the attitude of GOC people is that of being “walled off,” “arrogant,” “judgmental,” and “in your face” toward those not in the Genuine Orthodox Church, with accusations such as “World Orthodox” priests are “not even Christians” and the like. Could you give me your personal, realistic assessment of this dynamic and possibly refer me to an official statement on how GOC members should and do relate to and communicate with those in “World Orthodoxy”? Read more...