Difference between revisions of "Holy Orthodox Church in North America"

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[[Image:Holy Transfiguration Brookline.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Brookline, Massachusetts]]
  
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The '''Holy Orthodox Church in North America''' or '''HOCNA''', also known as the ''Panteleimonites'' or as ''HTM - Boston'', is a jurisdiction whose [[monastery|monasteries]] and [[parish]]es originally formed under the auspices of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]].  After breaking from the Greek Archdiocese and being received into the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]], it broke from the latter in 1986, after allegations of sexual misconduct at [[Holy Transfiguration Monastery (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Transfiguration Monastery]] in Brookline, Massachusetts, citing ROCOR following the ecumenical movement.  Today, HOCNA consists of a number [how many?] monastic communities, missions and parishes throughout the United States, Canada, Greece, Russia, Georgia, Africa and South America. HOCNA regards itself as being the last true remnant of the Orthodox Church.
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The '''Holy Orthodox Church in North America''' (or "HOCNA"; also known as "the Panteleimonites") is an [[Old Calendarists|Old Calendarist]] jurisdiction, headquartered at [[Holy Transfiguration Monastery (Brookline, Massachusetts)]], initially formed by former members of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]] who joined the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] in the 1960's in protest of the excessive ecumenical activities of Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] and Archbishop [[Iakovos (Coucouzis) of America]]. Following the suspension of the abbot and founder of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Archimandrite Panteleimon (Metropoulos) (+2016), by the ROCOR in December, 1986, for multiple accusations of sexual immorality, the monastery and its supporting communities left the ROCOR and following a brief period under two independent Old Calendarist bishops in Greece, were received by the Old Calendarist Synod of Archbishop Auxentios of Athens. HOCNA is not in communion with any mainstream Orthodox church.
  
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==History==
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==HOCNA today==
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===Within the Greek Archdiocese===
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The ''Holy Orthodox Church in North America'' is an Eparchial Synod with parishes and monastic communities in the United States, as well as Europe and Central America. Today HOCNA consists of five monastic communities and 13 parishes.  Their monastic communities are well known world wide for their incense, hand painted icons and mounted icon photographs, pure beeswax candles, vestments and clerical clothing.  Also, since the founding of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, the brotherhood has dedicated themselves to producing translations of texts necessary for Orthodox Church life. Many books of the lives of the Saints and concerning matters of the Faith have been published. Especially, out of desire to benefit the Church, liturgical books of primary importance have been translated into English and published by Holy Transfiguration Monastery: ''A Prayerbook for Orthodox Christians'',  ''The [[Pentecostarion]]'', ''The Great [[Horologion]]'', the complete 12-volume set of The [[Menaion]] and ''The [[Psalter]] According to the Seventy''. Some patristic works have also been translated and published, most notably ''The [[Ladder of Divine Ascent]]'', ''The Ascetical Homilies of Saint [[Isaac the Syrian]]'', and ''The [[Synodicon of Orthodoxy]]''.  HOCNA has published ''The Struggle Against Ecumenism'', the most extensive history of the "True Orthodox Church" available in English[http://www.homb.org/Sword.htm] and also has published a series of [http://homb.org/PUBs07-23-05.pdf tracts] on the spiritual life, contemporary Church issues, and moral issues.
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[[Archimandrite]] [[Panteleimon (Metropoulos)]], the leader of HOCNA, had grown up in the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]]. During his time in the Greek Archdiocese, he attracted many [approximately how many?] to the monastic life, founding [[Holy Transfiguration Monastery (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Transfiguration Monastery]] and with a Holy Trinity Convent. A number [how many?] of [[parish]]es also formed under his influence. He had been [[tonsure]]d as a monastic on [[Mount Athos]] where he was advised [by whom?], because of the allegedly increasing [[modernism]] and [[ecumenism]] of Archbishop [[Iakovos (Coucouzis) of America]], the [[primate]] of the Greek Archdiocese, to break from that jurisdiction and join himself and his followers to the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]].  And so in the mid-1960s, Panteleimon [and those who followed him] joined ROCOR.
 
  
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===Hierarchs, Metropolises and Parishes===
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Today, HOCNA consists of Holy Transfiguration Monastery and an estimated 22 parishes throughout the United States and Canada, the most famous of which is St Nektarios American Orthodox Cathedral in Seattle, Washington[http://www.stnectariospress.com/]. Administratively, HOCNA is divided into 3 metropolises - Boston, Seattle, and Toronto. HOCNA currently has four hierarchs. With the exception of Gregory, all were monks at Holy Transfiguration Monastery for ten years or more.
  
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In December 1986, despite the decisions of the Synod, the Holy Transfiguration Monastery elected Isaac as its superior. Then, on [[December 12]], 1986, the monastery notified Metropolitan [[Vitaly (Ustinov) of New York]] that it was leaving ROCOR because of modernism and ecumenism.
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* Gregory, Metropolitan of Boston, President of the Holy Synod
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* Ignatius, Metropolitan of Seattle
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* Andrew, Metropolitan of Toronto
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* Chrysostomos, auxiliary Bishop of Lanham
  
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Fr Alexey Young in his history of the ROCOR writes that a few weeks before the schism, Fr Panteleimon had this to say about the ROCOR:
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In 2011, after several years of controversy over the autonomous canonical status of HOCNA and the relatively recent controversy regarding the posthumous salvation of non-Orthodox taught by Metropolitan Ephraim of Boston (+2019) and Archimandrite Panteleimon, the entire Metropolis of Portland (along with its bishops, Metropolitan Moses and his suffragan Bishop Sergius) and all the parishes of the Metropolis of Toronto were received by the [[Genuine Greek Orthodox Church of America]]. Other clergy, including the dean of clergy of the Metropolis of Boston and rector of Holy Nativity Convent, also joined the Genuine Greek Orthodox Church of America along with the above clergy and bishops.<ref>Fr. Panagiotes Carras. ''[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrthodoxInfo/message/862 An Announcement].'' YAHOO! Groups - OrthodoxInfo. Fri Jun 3, 2011 2:35am.</ref>
  
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"The Synod Church [the ROCOR] is a real standard of Orthodoxy.... Therefore, discerning where the Truth is found, we remain in unity under our bishops in the midst of many trials...because grace abides in the Synod... We uphold our Synod primarily and foremostly as a standard of Orthodoxy. All others have betrayed the Truth. This was demonstrated of late by the election of our new Metropolitan (Vitaly)..."
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In 2012, after continuing disputes involving accusations of heresy against Metropolitan Ephraim and Archimandrite Panteleimon, and further revelations regarding the sexual abuse allegations against Archimandrite Panteleimon, a majority of parishes, Bishop Demetrios of Carlisle, and 17 monks of Holy Transfiguration Monastery leave HOCNA for the Genuine Greek Orthodox Church of America under Metropolitan Pavlos. ''[http://nftu.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Chronology-Of-Name-worshipping-In-HOCNA.pdf]]"
  
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===Overtures with the Old Calendar Greeks===
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On March 21, 2013, it was [https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzJKrDVZPwcvMWgxQ0MweHN2dTg/edit?pli=1 announced] that what remained of the Holy Orthodox Church in North America had entered into communion with the True Orthodox Church of Greece (Synod of Archbishop Makarios of Athens) as a "Sister Church".
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On [[August 19]] / September 1, 1986, the Synod of Bishops of the ROCOR formally deposed Panteleimon, Isaac, and all the clergy who followed them into the schism [http://www.hocna.info/ROCOR_Statement_December_1986.shtml]. The Synod stated that "...all the clergymen who have withdrawn with Archimandrite Panteleimon who dare to celebrate the divine services, ignoring their suspension, and thus violate the canons and pronounce upon themselves a sentence of condemnation."
 
  
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Panteleimon and HTM then joined a synod of the Greek [[Old Calendarists|Old Calendarist]] movement headed by Akakios of Diavlia and Gabriel of the Cyclades. After ROCOR forwarded documents about Panteleimon to Akakios and Gabriel, the latter quit the synod. Finding itself with only one bishop, HTM started negotiations with another synod, that of Archbishop [[Auxentios of Athens]] (the so-called "Auxentiites"). Despite warnings from Akakios, as well as Panteleimon's previous opinion of Auxentios (once calling him the "garbage pit of Orthodoxy" because Auxentios was deposed for consecrating a homosexual to the episcopate for an undisclosed sum of money), HTM quit Akakios and joined the Auxentiite synod.
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In 2019, after the Synod of Archbishop Makarios of Athens issued a Confession of Faith condemning the name-worshiping heresy among others, it was announced on April 20, 2019 that HOCNA was breaking communion with the Synod of Archbishop Makarios. Following this decision, Metropolitan Makarios of Toronto announced that on the basis of this decision, as well as the continued promotion of the name-worshiping heresy by Metropolitan Gregory of Boston, the Toronto Metropolis was withdrawing from HOCNA and was petitioning to be received into the True Orthodox Church of Greece, Synod of Archbishop Makarios of Athens.
  
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In 1995, Maximos of Kephalonia replaced Auxentios. He then asked ROCOR for the same documentation that was provided to Akakios and Gabriel. Upon receiving the documentation, Maximos quit the synod, leaving HTM and the bishops ordained by Auxentios. The latter incorporated a new organization called the '''Holy Orthodox Church in North America''' or '''HOCNA'''.
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===Monastic communities===
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====United States of America====
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*[[Holy Ascension Skete (York, Maine)|Holy Ascension Skete]], York, Maine
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*[[Holy Transfiguration Monastery (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Transfiguration Monastery]], Brookline, Massachusetts
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*[[Convent of the Meeting of the Lord (Stanwood, Washington)|Convent of the Meeting of the Lord]], Stanwood, Washington
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*[[Holy Nativity Convent (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Nativity Convent]], Brookline, Massachusetts
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* [[Hermitage of St. Mary Magdalene (Warrenton, Virginia)|Hermitage of St. Mary Magdalene]], Warrenton, Virginia
  
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== HOCNA today ==
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====Republic of Georgia====
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Today, HOCNA consists of Holy Transfiguration Monastery and an estimated 30 parishes throughout the United States and Canada, the most famous of which is St Nektarios American Orthodox Cathedral in Seattle, Washington[http://www.stnectariospress.com/]. Administratively, HOCNA is divided into 3 metropolises - Boston, Seatle, and Toronto. HOCNA has three hierarchs:
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*Hermitage of Saint Maximus the Confessor, Abastumani.
  
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* Ephraim, Metropolitan of Boston
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====Greece====
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* Makarios, Metropolitan of Toronto
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*Convent of the Annunciation, Oinoussae, Chios
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* Moses, Bishop of Roslindale, Massachusetts
 
  
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All three were monks at HTM under Panteleimon.
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====Russia====
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*Holy Dormition Convent, Chubayevo, Chuvashia
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==References==
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<div><references/></div>
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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* [http://www.hocna.net/ HOCNA Metropolis of Boston]
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===Official HOCNA Sites===
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* [http://www.hocna.org/ HOCNA & The Orthodox: a publication of The Byzantine & Antiquities Studies Institute] - formerly the official website of HOCNA, now an independant publication.
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* [http://www.homb.org/ HOCNA Metropolis of Boston]
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* [http://quietlightcandles.net/ Convent of the Meeting of the Lord] Candle Shop Website
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* [http://thehtml.org Holy Transfiguration Monastery]
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* [http://www.holynativityconvent.com/ Holy Nativity Convent]
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* [http://www.saintannas.org/ St. Anna's Orthodox Church], Roslindale, MA.
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===Anti-HOCNA websites and documents:===
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* [http://www.hocna.info/ A website created by former members of Holy Transfiguration Monastery]
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* [http://www.pokrov.org/controversial/htmon.html Allegations against HOCNA on Pokrov website]
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* [http://www.saintjonah.org/articles/hocna_facts.htm Fr John Whiteford's articles about HOCNA]
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* [http://nftu.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Chronology-Of-Name-worshipping-In-HOCNA.pdf Collection of documents pertaining to the accusations of heresy and the scandals concerning Fr. Pateleimon by former clergy of HOCNA.]
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* [http://nftu.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/FrJohntoMetrEphraim.pdf Open Letter of Fr. John Fleser of St. Anna's Orthodox Church (HOCNA) to Metropolitan Ephraim concerning the name-worshipping heresy and Fr. Panteleimon's admission of guilt regarding sexual abuse allegations.]
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* [http://www.hocna.info/LetterFrSergiusRecentEventsHTM.shtml Letter of Fr. Sergios, former monk of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, on the heresy and immorality of Fr. Panteleimon.]
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* [http://onimyaslavie.blogspot.com/ Facts about name-worshipping]
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* [http://www.pokrov.org/display.asp?ds=Article&id=1941 Article in The National Herald], from the November 29, 2012 edition, on the sexual abuse charges against Fr. Panteleimon.
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* [http://forthosewhohaveearstohear.blogspot.com/ Who Has Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear], "the truth about why so many Orthodox Christians have left HOCNA for the GOC"; compiled by former monks, clergy and faithful of HOCNA
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===See also===
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* [[w:Holy Orthodox Church in North America|HOCNA on Wikipedia]]
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[[Category:Old Calendarist Jurisdictions]]

Latest revision as of 12:24, June 3, 2019

Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Brookline, Massachusetts

The Holy Orthodox Church in North America (or "HOCNA"; also known as "the Panteleimonites") is an Old Calendarist jurisdiction, headquartered at Holy Transfiguration Monastery (Brookline, Massachusetts), initially formed by former members of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America who joined the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in the 1960's in protest of the excessive ecumenical activities of Patriarch Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople and Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis) of America. Following the suspension of the abbot and founder of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Archimandrite Panteleimon (Metropoulos) (+2016), by the ROCOR in December, 1986, for multiple accusations of sexual immorality, the monastery and its supporting communities left the ROCOR and following a brief period under two independent Old Calendarist bishops in Greece, were received by the Old Calendarist Synod of Archbishop Auxentios of Athens. HOCNA is not in communion with any mainstream Orthodox church.

HOCNA today

The Holy Orthodox Church in North America is an Eparchial Synod with parishes and monastic communities in the United States, as well as Europe and Central America. Today HOCNA consists of five monastic communities and 13 parishes. Their monastic communities are well known world wide for their incense, hand painted icons and mounted icon photographs, pure beeswax candles, vestments and clerical clothing. Also, since the founding of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, the brotherhood has dedicated themselves to producing translations of texts necessary for Orthodox Church life. Many books of the lives of the Saints and concerning matters of the Faith have been published. Especially, out of desire to benefit the Church, liturgical books of primary importance have been translated into English and published by Holy Transfiguration Monastery: A Prayerbook for Orthodox Christians, The Pentecostarion, The Great Horologion, the complete 12-volume set of The Menaion and The Psalter According to the Seventy. Some patristic works have also been translated and published, most notably The Ladder of Divine Ascent, The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian, and The Synodicon of Orthodoxy. HOCNA has published The Struggle Against Ecumenism, the most extensive history of the "True Orthodox Church" available in English[1] and also has published a series of tracts on the spiritual life, contemporary Church issues, and moral issues.

Hierarchs, Metropolises and Parishes

Today, HOCNA consists of Holy Transfiguration Monastery and an estimated 22 parishes throughout the United States and Canada, the most famous of which is St Nektarios American Orthodox Cathedral in Seattle, Washington[2]. Administratively, HOCNA is divided into 3 metropolises - Boston, Seattle, and Toronto. HOCNA currently has four hierarchs. With the exception of Gregory, all were monks at Holy Transfiguration Monastery for ten years or more.

  • Gregory, Metropolitan of Boston, President of the Holy Synod
  • Ignatius, Metropolitan of Seattle
  • Andrew, Metropolitan of Toronto
  • Chrysostomos, auxiliary Bishop of Lanham

In 2011, after several years of controversy over the autonomous canonical status of HOCNA and the relatively recent controversy regarding the posthumous salvation of non-Orthodox taught by Metropolitan Ephraim of Boston (+2019) and Archimandrite Panteleimon, the entire Metropolis of Portland (along with its bishops, Metropolitan Moses and his suffragan Bishop Sergius) and all the parishes of the Metropolis of Toronto were received by the Genuine Greek Orthodox Church of America. Other clergy, including the dean of clergy of the Metropolis of Boston and rector of Holy Nativity Convent, also joined the Genuine Greek Orthodox Church of America along with the above clergy and bishops.[1]

In 2012, after continuing disputes involving accusations of heresy against Metropolitan Ephraim and Archimandrite Panteleimon, and further revelations regarding the sexual abuse allegations against Archimandrite Panteleimon, a majority of parishes, Bishop Demetrios of Carlisle, and 17 monks of Holy Transfiguration Monastery leave HOCNA for the Genuine Greek Orthodox Church of America under Metropolitan Pavlos. [3]]"

On March 21, 2013, it was announced that what remained of the Holy Orthodox Church in North America had entered into communion with the True Orthodox Church of Greece (Synod of Archbishop Makarios of Athens) as a "Sister Church".

In 2019, after the Synod of Archbishop Makarios of Athens issued a Confession of Faith condemning the name-worshiping heresy among others, it was announced on April 20, 2019 that HOCNA was breaking communion with the Synod of Archbishop Makarios. Following this decision, Metropolitan Makarios of Toronto announced that on the basis of this decision, as well as the continued promotion of the name-worshiping heresy by Metropolitan Gregory of Boston, the Toronto Metropolis was withdrawing from HOCNA and was petitioning to be received into the True Orthodox Church of Greece, Synod of Archbishop Makarios of Athens.

Monastic communities

United States of America

Republic of Georgia

  • Hermitage of Saint Maximus the Confessor, Abastumani.

Greece

  • Convent of the Annunciation, Oinoussae, Chios

Russia

  • Holy Dormition Convent, Chubayevo, Chuvashia

References

  1. ↑ Fr. Panagiotes Carras. An Announcement. YAHOO! Groups - OrthodoxInfo. Fri Jun 3, 2011 2:35am.

External links

Official HOCNA Sites

Anti-HOCNA websites and documents:

See also

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