Changes

The GOAC was formed out of a group originally under the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]], which later joined two three Greek Old Calendarist jurisdictions rapidly in succession (namely, that of Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Athens , the short-lived Synod of Kallinikos of the Duodecanese and Archbishop Makarios of Athens), followed by the [[Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church]] (ROAC) (2000), and is now independent following the ROAC's [[deposition ]] and [[excommunication ]] of Abp. Gregory (2004).<ref name="ROAC1"> [http://www.roacusa.org/Protocol48.htm ROAC: Protocol № 48 July 2/15, 2004], accessed 28 July 2007</ref><ref name="ROAC2">[http://www.roacusa.org/Ukaz130.htm ROAC: Ukaz № 130]</ref> With its history of being a part of various jurisdictions, the Genuine Orthodox Church of America tends to be in a constant state of hostility toward its former affiliations.

The jurisdiction's bishop[[primate]], [[Gregory (George) of Denver]] (born an [[AOCA|Antiochian]]), who was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated to the episcopacy]] in the ROAC, claims to be "the only hierarch in the United States who has remained free of any communion or union with this heresy of [[Ecumenism]] who has valid [[apostolic succession]]," and thus claims "to be truly canonical."<ref name="GOCA History">[http://www.gocamerica.org/history_canonicity.shtml Genuine Orthodox Church of America: History & Canonicity], accessed 28 July 2007</ref>

In 2007, being isolated from every Orthodox bishop in the world, Archbishop Gregory received Archbishop Ambrose (Moran-Dolgorouky) of New York City, an one of many [[episcopi vagantes]] who claim to have been consecrated by independent bishopUkrainian bishops, into communionthe GOCA. After his reception, he participated in the consecration of Archimandrite John (Egan) as Bishop of Dormition SketeColorado Springs, along with Archbishop Gregory, on January 76, 2008. Since the reception of a bishop can only be canonically accomplished by a Synod[[synod]], Archbishop Gregory initially claimed that Archbishop Makarios of Athens gave him verbal consent for the reception over the telephone. Later, this This was proved to be untruevehemently denied by both Archbishop Makarios and his Synod of Bishops. Six months later, Archbishop Ambrose seceded from communion with Archbishop Gregory left the GOCA and returned to his former status as an independent bishop. Since the consecration of Bishop John was administered by only two bishops, one of whom was uncanonically received into the Church and possessed questionable [[apostolic succession]], the status GOCA has become completely isolated from other [[Old Calendarist]] communities. A number of members of those communities issued condemnations immediately after his unjustified separation from the ROAC. The GOCA currently has become even more isolatedtwo bishops, 2 monastic communities, and 4 mission parishes in the United States, plus oversees 29 parishes in the Congo, Uganda, Brazil, Italy, and Bulgaria.