Holy Synod of Milan
The Holy Synod of Milan originated as a diocese for Western Europe of an Old Calendarist Greek Orthodox Church (see also Florinites). The full name of this jurisdiction is the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Milan, Western Europe and the Americas.
History
The diocese was granted a tomos of autonomy in 1984 from Archbishop Auxentios in order to pursue missionary work among the non-Orthodox people of the West. The title of the Synod at this time was the Metropolia of Western Europe. After the transference of its first Chief Hierarch, Metropolitan Gabriel of Portugal, to the autocephalous Church of Poland, Bishop Evloghios of Milan was chosen as second Chief Hierarch and elevated to the rank of metropolitan.
Today Metropolitan Evloghios remains at the helm of the Holy Synod of bishops of the Church of Milan, which comprises eight dioceses, four in Europe and four in America, as well as missionary deaneries in England, Spain and South Africa. The Milan Synod uses the Julian calendar exclusively, and "firmly resists the heresies of false ecumenism and trans-religious syncretism."[1]
Since 1997 the Milan Synod includes a number of Western Rite communities. At least one of these (St. Hilarion Monastery in Austin, Texas) was absorbed from the Liberal Catholic Church, a Theosophist organization, reportedly without reordination. (St. Hilarion's has since become a Byzantine Rite monastery on orders of its bishop.) The principal rite of the Synod of Milan is the Byzantine Rite of the Orthodox Church, celebrated most commonly in the Slavic style but in some parishes in the Greek style.
Ecclesiastical status
The Milan Synod is not currently in communion with any autocephalous Orthodox church.
Sources
- The Holy Synod of Milan (from Odox.net)
