The Spiritual Watch
Below, please find the latest issue of The Spiritual Watch, the official publication of the Metropolis of America, published with the blessings of His Eminence, Metropolitan Demetrius of America. In The Spiritual Watch, you will find news and information regarding our Holy Metropolis, as well as spiritual writings.
The Spiritual Watch, Vol VII (New: February 24/March 8, 2024)
Quote From the Fathers
[Abba Moses said:] 'Fasts and vigils, the study of Scripture, renouncing possessions and everything wordly are not in themselves perfection, as we have said; they are its tools. For perfection is not to be found in them; it is acquired through them. It is useless, therefore, to boast of our fasting, vigils, poverty, and reading of Scripture when we have not achieved the love of God and our fellow man. Whoever has achieved love has God within himself and his intellect is always with God.'
—St. John Cassian, On the Holy Fathers of Sketis.
About the Season
The Pentecostarion is the period of the ecclesiastical year from Pascha to Pentecost.
Having just been prepared through the Triodion, the Great Fast and Holy Week we celebrate the Feast of feasts and Festival of festivals, the Resurrection of Christ. It is through the church services that we noetically relive the events in the Gospel and the life of Christ becomes our own life, for it is not we who live but Christ who lives in us.
Continuing the spirit of Holy Week, where the ecclesiastical commemoration of the events surrounding the Passion of Christ followed in chronological order, the Church celebrates the Apostle Thomas's touching the Resurrected Body of Christ on the eighth day of Pascha, on the fortieth day of Pascha we celebrate His Ascension into the Heavens and on the fiftieth day we celebrate Pentecost.
From Pascha till Pentecost we read from the Gospel according to St. John the Theologian. This telling of the Gospel differs from the other three synoptic Gospels in that it focuses on Christs Divinity. The synoptic Gospels were used during catechism and the Gospel according to St. John was reserved for the enlightened after baptism. Great and Holy Saturday was the day on which the catechumens were baptized so it is on Pascha that we begin to read from the Gospel according to St. John.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth weeks of Pascha emphasize Christ's divinity though His unprecedented preaching to the Jews and the healings performed in the Temple of Solomon during the Jewish feasts, and His revelation to St. Photeine, the Samaritan woman that He is the Messiah.
The Sunday in-between the Ascension and Pentecost is dedicated to the Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council in Nicaea. When speaking of His Ascension, Christ promised not to leave us orphans but that He would be with us, even until the end of time. It is through His Church (against which the gates of Hades shall not prevail) through the mystery of Apostolic Succession that He is with us. At a bishop's ordination the hymns of Pentecost are chanted because the bishops are successors of the Apostles and the same Holy Spirit Who descended upon the Apostles also descends upon the ordinand. After the Leave-taking of Pentecost is the 1st Sunday of Matthew and having completed the Acts of the Apostles we continue with St. Pauls epistle to the Romans. Although the Pentecostarion comes to an end and the ecclesiastical year continues, a connection is made between Pentecost and the continuing life of the Church. This connection is expressed in the commemoration All Saints from all ages and in all places, Prophets, Apostles, Hierarchs, Martyrs & Righteous. All of whom worship the Triadic God in Orthodox manner.
Truly their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world for Christ is with us always even unto the end of time.
Clergy Directory
Hierarchs:
Metropolitan Demetrius of America
Phone: 518-254-7286
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Metropolitan Moses of Toronto
Phone: 647-428-9244
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Bishop Auxentios of Etna and Portland
Bishop Christodoulos of Theoupolis
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bishop Maximus of Pelagonia
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Metropolitan Pavlos of America, Emeritus
Bishop Sergios of Portland, Emeritus
Phone: 707-279-0488
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Clergy
Priests:
Andrew Kencis, Archpriest
Parish: St. Vladimir's Russian Orthodox Church
Phone: 780-476-2381
Benedict, Hieromonk
Monastery: St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Monastery, Cobleskill NY
Phone: 518-254-7283
Christos Patitsas, Presbyter
Parish: Sts. Peter and Paul, Mount Union, PA
Phone: 814‑643‑5026
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Christos Pittos, Protopresbyter
Parish: St. John the Forerunner, Willow Springs IL
Phone: 708-925-7334
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Damian Hansen, Hieromonk
Monastery: Dormition of the Theotokos, Preston Hollow NY
Phone: 518-239-4650
Demetrios Adamopoulos, Presbyter
Parish: Dormition of the Theotokos, Clearwater, FL
Phone: 727-443-3999
Elias Warnke, Archpriest
Parish: St Nicholas Mission
Phone: 702-588-9862
Cell: 702-927-7730
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Epiphanios Antoniou, Archimandrite
Parish: St. Markella's Cathedral, Astoria NY
Phone: 718-726-2461
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Félix Piñeros, Presbyter
Parish: San Nectarios de Egina, Bogotá Colombia
Phone: 313 3426758
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George Giannios, Protopresbyter
Parish: St Spyridon, Saint Claire Shores, MI
Phone: 519-969-7762
Cell: 586-252-7888
George Liadis, Presbyter
Parish: Dormition of the Theotokos, Clearwater, FL
Phone: 508-866-7254
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George Poullas, Presbyter
Parish: Holy Trinity Church, Spring Hill, Florida
George Psaromatis, Presbyter
Parish: St. Nicholas of Myra
Phone: 503-647-2805
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Haralampos Skordakis, Hieromonk
Monastery: St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Monastery, Cobleskill NY
Phone: 518-254-7283
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Ignatius Fulton, Hieromonk
Monastery: St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Monastery, Cobleskill NY
Phone: 518-254-7283
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Joachim, Hieromonk
Monastery: St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Monastery, Cobleskill NY
Phone: 518-254-7283
John Abraham, Presbyter*
Parish: St. John the Baptist, Cedar Rapids, IA
John Hinton, Presbyter
Parish: The Orthodox Church of St. Philaret, Greenville, SC
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Kleanthis Korkotas, Protopresbyter
Parish: St. Isidore of Chios, Bethpage NY
Phone: 516-965-4133
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Leonidas Pittos, Presbyter
Parish: St. Irene of Chrysovalantou, Troy MI
Temporarily serving St. John the Forerunner, Willow Springs, IL
Longinos Kakavros, Hieromonk
Parish: St. Nectarios, Ecorse MI
Phone: 330-367-7018
Michael Nedelsky, Presbyter*
Parish: St. Seraphim of Sarov Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Nectarios Pittos, Presbyter
Parish: Kimisis tis Theotokou, Clearwater, FL
Phone: 813-336-4660
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Nicholas Chernjavsky, Presbyter*
Parish: Holy Ascension Church, Rochester, New York
Nicodemos Gayle, Presbyter
Parish: St Seraphim of Sarov, Glen Allen VA
Phone: 804-647-4517
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Nicodemos Kalantis, Archimandrite
Parish: St. Mark Evgenikos, Montreal Quebec
Phone: 514-276-8408
Nicholas Seregos, Presbyter
Parish: St. Isidore of Chios, Bethpage NY
Phone: 631-332-6552
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pablo Iwaszewicz, Presbyter
St. Xenia of Petersburg Orthodox Mission
Phone: 628-400-1205
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Raphael Abraham, Protopresbyter*
Parish: St. John the Baptist, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Sergius Boulter, Presbyter
Parish: All Saints Church, Independence OH
Phone: 216-502-1143
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Steven Allen, Presbyter
Parish: St. Irene of Chrysovalantou, Troy MI
Phone: 586-707-2918
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Theodore Giannakopoulos, Protopresbyter
Parish: St. Markella's Cathedral, Astoria NY
Phone: 718-415-6777
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Theologos Stavroullakis, Hieromonk
Monastery: St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Monastery, Cobleskill NY
Phone: 518-254-7283
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Thomas Marretta, Protopresbyter
Parish: St. Maximus the Confessor, Owego NY
Phone: 607-835-6194
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Victor Dobroff, Protopresbyter
Parish: Theotokos Unexpected Joy Orthodox Church, Astoria, NY
Phone: 646-508-7458
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Deacons:
Andrew Wales, Deacon
Parish: St. Seraphim of Sarov, Glen Allen VA
Phone: 804-798-1064
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Barsanuphius Graham, Hierodeacon
Monastery: Hermitage of St. Clement, Dawson, GA
Phone: 229-995-3551
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Cyril Mendoza, Deacon
Parish: St. Xenia of Petersburg Mission, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Phone: 011-502-42989693
Demetrius, Hierodeacon
Monastery: St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Monastery, Cobleskill NY
Phone: 518-254-7283
Joseph Clatterbuck, Deacon
Parish: St. Seraphim of Sarov, Glen Allen VA
Phone: 804-798-1064
Peter Bushunow, Deacon*
Parish: Holy Ascension Church, Rochester, New York
Sergius Gordon, Hierodeacon
Monastery: St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Monastery, Cobleskill NY
Phone: 518-254-7283
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Priests:
Andrew Snogren, Presbyter
Parish: Dormition of the Theotokos, Concord NH
Phone: 603-254-4442
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Dimitry Amelchenko, Presbyter
George Kochergin, Archpriest
Parish: St. Sergius of Radonezh Mission, MA
Phone: 508‑875‑8591
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
George Kamberidis, Protopresbyter
Parish: St. Mark’s Cathedral, Westwood, MA
Phone: 617-610-7323
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
John Knox, Presbyter
Parish: St. John the Confessor, Ipswich MA
Tel: 978‑223‑7615
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Michael Knox, Presbyter
Parish: St. John the Confessor, Ipswich MA
Tel: 978-380-8629
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Michael Marcinowski, Presbyter
Parish: St. Philaret Mission, Chicopee MA
Phone: 978‑355‑4996
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Vassily Mihailoff, Presbyter
Parish: St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco Mission, S. Portland, ME
Phone: 207-468-1052
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Deacons:
Alexander Buterbaugh, Deacon
Parish: Dormition of the Theotokos, Concord NH
Phone: 603‑724‑1157
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Demetrios Houlares, Protodeacon
Parish: St. Mark’s Cathedral, Roslindale MA
Phone: 781‑237‑3949
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Jacob Wojcik, Deacon
Parish: St. Philaret, Chicopee MA
Phone: 413-848-0431
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
James Graves, Deacon
Parish: St. John the Confessor, Ipswich MA
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Yakov Tseitlin, Deacon
Parish: Dormition of the Theotokos, Concord NH
Phone: 978-394-0994
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Priests:
Akakios (Agiogregorites), Archimandrite
Monastery: St. Gregory Palamas, Etna, California
Constantine Parr, Protopresbyter
Parish: Holy Nativity of the Theotokos Cathedral, Portland OR
Phone: 503-262-6643
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
David Cownie, Protopresbyter
Parish: Sts. Cyprian and Justina, Etna, California
Dionysios, Hieromonk
Monastery: St. Gregory Palamas, Etna, California
George Mavromatis, Presbyter
Monastery: Convent of St. Elizabeth, Etna, California
Gregory (Agiogregorites), Archimandrite
Monastery: St. Gregory Palamas, Etna, California
James Thornton, Protopresbyter
Parish: Sts. Seraphim and John of Kronstadt Church, La Mesa, California
Jerome Zubricky, Presbyter
Parish: Sts. Cyprian and Justina, Etna, California
Parthenius Hansen, Hieromonk
Monastery: St. Gregory of Sinai Monastery, Kelseyville CA
Phone: 707-583-6878
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Patapios (Agiogregorites), Archimandrite
Monastery: St. Gregory Palamas, Etna, California
Patrick (Hagiosinaïtes), Archimandrite
Monastery: St. Gregory of Sinai Monastery, Kelseyville CA
Phone: 707-583-6878
Photios Cooper, Presbyter
Parish: Holy Nativity of the Theotokos Cathedral, Portland OR
Phone: 971-267-4643
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Deacons:
James Kalbasky, Deacon
Parish: Holy Nativity of the Theotokos Cathedral, Portland OR
Phone: 971-267-4643
Moses Fredricks, Hierodeacon
Monastery: St. Gregory of Sinai Monastery, Kelseyville CA
Phone: 707-279-0488
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Nectarios (Agiogregorites), Hierodeacon
Monastery: St. Gregory Palamas, Etna, California
Photios (Agiogregorites), Hierodeacon
Monastery: St. Gregory Palamas, Etna, California
Priests:
Chariton Mrazek, Presbyter*
Parish: Sts. Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene Church, Toronto ON
Phone: 416-425-2232
David Belden, Presbyter
Parish: St. Dunstan, Toronto ON
Phone: 416-767-3579
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Demetrios Sarlakes, Presbyter*
Parish: Holy Ascension Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba
George Turpa, Presbyter
Parish: Mother of God of Prussa, Toronto ON
Phone: 416-449-8517
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Panagiotes Carras, Protopresbyter
Parish: St. Nektarios Cathedral, Toronto ON
Phone: 416-491-7889
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Savvas Anastasiou, Hieromonk
Parish: St. Nektarios Cathedral, Toronto ON
Phone: 416-491-7889
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sergius Pellegrini, Presbyter
Parish: St. Joseph of Arimathea, Toronto ON
Phone: 905-626-6616
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sophronios Nikic, Hieromonk*
Parishes: Holy Archangel Michael Church and Sts. Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene Church, Toronto, Ontario
Deacons:
George Kouros, Deacon
Parish: St. Joseph of Arimathea, Toronto ON
Phone: 416-840-6553
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jeremy Burrows, Deacon
Parish: St. Joseph of Arimathea, Toronto ON
Phone: 416-762-0258
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Luke Klisouris, Hierodeacon
Parish: St. Nektarios Cathedral, Toronto ON
Phone: 617-840-2142
Paraskevas Proskos, Protodeacon
Parish: St. Nektarios Cathedral, Toronto ON
*These priests administered by His Grace, Bishop Auxentios of Etna and Portland
________________
Retired or Inactive Clergy:
Christos Constantinou, Protopresbyter
Attached to St. Mark’s Cathedral, Westwood, MA
Phone: 617 469-2380
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gabriel Lee, Protopresbyter
George Skvor, Protodeacon
Attached to St. Seraphim of Sarov, Glen Allen, VA
Gregory Telepneff, Presbyter
John Fleser, Archpriest
Attached to St. Mark’s Cathedral, Roslindale MA
Phone: 617.413.8612
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Michael Azkoul, Presbyter
Michael Hallford, Presbyter
Attached to St. Markella's Cathedral, Astoria NY
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Komnenos Hatzileris, Protopresbyter
Attached to Holy Unmercenaries, Alsip IL
Nectarios Socrates, Archimandrite
Attached to St. Markella's Cathedral, Astoria NY
Phone: 718-606-2878
Yakov Ferens, Presbyter
________________
Priests:
George Ssempa, Presbyter
Parish: St. Basil's Church, Kiboga
Phone: 0775 841181
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Spiridon Kisomose, Presbyter
Parish: St. Basil's Church, Kiboga
Phone: 0782 440975
Kasule Noah, Presbyter
Parish: St. Cyril Church, Busebatya
Phone: 0779 536791
Deacons:
Paul, Deacon
Parish: St. Basil's Church, Kiboga
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Latest Content
About the Church
The Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians (GOC) of America is The Traditionalist Orthodox Church serving the faithful of North and South America following the old (Julian) calendar. Having its roots in the Diocese of Astoria, founded by Metropolitan Petros (Astyfides) in 1954, it presently consists of two Metropolises (America and Toronto) and two dioceses (Etna and Portland, and Boston), shepherded by five hierarchs, under the Presidency of His Eminence, Metropolitan Demetrius of America.
The Church of the GOC of America is an autonomous Eparchy whose Mother Church is The Holy Synod of the Church of the GOC of Greece, under the Presidency of His Beatitude Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens and All Greece. The bishops belonging to the Eparchial Synod are also members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece. We resist the heresy of Ecumenism.
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
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
Forty Day Memorial Service
Q. Can you please explain the significance of the forty day memorial service? An Evangelical family asked one of our relatives that question. We said that it’s best to ask a clergy member. Thank you in advance for your response. (We will forward it to them as soon as possible).
-P. & M. G.
Read more...
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