His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens and All Greece (whose secular name is Constantine Sarantopoulos, and whose parents are Eustathios and Eleni) was born on June 24/July 7, 1946 in Piraeus. He studied Economics in Athens and Medicine at the Aristotelian University in Thessaloniki.
From a young age he placed himself under the spiritual direction of the ever-memorable Archimandrite Kalliopios (Giannakoulopoulos), who later became the G.O.C. Metropolitan of Pentapolis. In 1971 he became a monk under the ever-memorable Elder; Metropolitan Kallistos of Corinth, by whom that same year he was ordained deacon and priest.
In 1979 he was ordained Metropolitan of Achaia and all the Peloponnese. He is the Church of the G.O.C.’s Exarch of Europe, while since 1985 he has been the Locum Tenens of the Ionian Islands and western Greece.
From 1998-2001 he was the President of the General Fund of the Church of the G.O.C. of Greece and under his presidency the cleansing of the economic fund of our Church, which had previously suffered from many hindrances, became achievable. In April of 2010 he was re-elected to the position of President of the General Fund.
As a Metropolitan, His Beatitude Archbishop Kallinikos was the Chief-Secretary of the Holy Synod and a member of the Synodal Committee for Dogmatic and Canonical Issues.
His Beatitude Archbishop Kallinikos’s nameday is on July 29/August 11, Martyr Kallinikos.
A Synodal Gathering of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece at the Port Authority of Piræus
Keynote Presentation on the Sunday of Orthodoxy: February 16/March 1, 2015 by His Grace, Bishop Klemes of Gardikion, Secretary of the Holy Synod
Ecumenism in the Homestretch and the Orthodox Witness of a Contemporary Saint and Confessor
Ἡ Τελικὴ Εὐθεῖα τοῦ Οἰκουμενισμοῦ καὶ ἡ Ὀρθόδοξη Μαρτυρία Συγχρόνου Ὁμολογητοῦ Ἁγίου
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...
2021 St. Xenia Camp
Greetings St. Xenia Camp family,
As previously announced, through the intercessions of St. Xenia, the prayers of so many of you, and with the blessing of Metropolitan Demetrius, St. Xenia Camp 2021 will return to Forest Acres in Fryeburg, Maine August 15-21! Given the continued impact of COVID-19, camp this year may yet be somewhat different from the past Forest Acres experiences. We are sharing this information ahead of registration so that all families can make an informed decision on whether they feel comfortable sending their camper(s) this year. [Read more...]
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...