Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles |
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Official logo of the Metropolia
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| Type | Eastern Orthodox |
| Orientation | True Orthodox (self-declared) |
| Polity | Episcopal |
The Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles is a Christian church group. It is part of the Orthodox Christian tradition. This group considers itself "True Orthodox," meaning they follow the original teachings and traditions of the early Christian Church very strictly.
Contents
What They Believe
The Metropolia believes it follows the true, original path of Orthodox Christianity. They focus on keeping ancient traditions and teachings.
Their History
How They Started
This church group traces its history back to the early 1900s. At first, they were connected to the Moscow Patriarchate, which is a large part of the Orthodox Church.
Over time, this group decided to become more independent. They first joined with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Later, they connected with a group in Greece led by Archbishop Auxentios of Athens. After that, they became part of an Archdiocese under Metropolitan Evlogios of the Holy Synod of Milan.
Becoming Independent
In 2011, the Holy Synod of Milan officially gave the Metropolia its own self-governance. This meant the Metropolia could make its own decisions. This is called "autonomy" in the Orthodox Church. This is how the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles was formed.
Later in 2011, the Holy Synod of Milan tried to join with the Patriarchate of Moscow. Because of this, the Holy Synod of Milan stopped being in communion (or close connection) with other church groups it had been working with.
The Metropolia decided to separate from the Holy Synod of Milan. They felt that the Milan Synod had made a mistake by trying to unite with the Moscow Patriarchate, which other "True Orthodox" churches did not agree with. So, the Metropolia no longer works closely with the Milan Synod.
In 2011, the Metropolia announced that it remained in communion with other "Old Calendarist" groups. These include the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece, the Old Calendar Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and a Russian True Orthodox Church led by Metropolitan Raphael. "Old Calendarist" groups use the old Julian calendar for church holidays, unlike many other Orthodox churches that use the revised Julian calendar.
Connections with Other Churches
The Metropolia is part of a group called the IUGOC, which stands for the International Union of Genuine Orthodox Churches. This means they work together with other churches that share similar beliefs.
They also have a special group that talks with other "True Orthodox" churches. Their goal is to discuss important church topics and build stronger relationships between these groups.
How They Are Organized
The main leader of the Metropolia is called the First-Hierarch. Currently, this leader is Metropolitan John. He is in charge of the church in North and South America.
See Also
In Spanish: Metrópolis autónoma ortodoxa de América y las Islas Británicas para niños
