A USEFUL CHRONOLOGY RELATING TO The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholc and
Apostolic Church in North America
By the North American Holy Synod
1721 - Suppression of the Moscow Patriarchate by Tsar Peter the
Great of Russia and the founding of the Holy Governing Synod. 1794 - First
Orthodox mission to North America led by Saint Herman of Alaska. 1815 - First
Orthodox church built in Sitka, Alaska. 1848 - 15 December - Saint Innocent
of Alaska is consecrated first Orthodox bishop for North America. 1870 -
Roman Catholic doctrine of papal infallibility defined by its first Vatican
Council. 1872 - Holy Governing Synod approves a separate North American
church, calling for an "American" form of Orthodoxy. 1890 - First Eastern
Rite Roman Catholic parish returned to Orthodoxy in Minneapolis,
Minnesota. 1897 - Polish National Catholic Church founded in Pennsylvania by
disaffected Roman Catholics not being served by Irish and German heritage
bishops. 1904 - First English translation of the Russian Liturgy authorized
by Patriarch (then archbishop) Tikhon. 1917 - 13 May - Aftimios Ofiesh
consecrated for the Syrian mission of the Russian Church. 1917 - 25 October -
Bolshevist Revolution in Russia 1917 - 31 October - Archbishop Tikhon (of the
North American mission) elected first Patriarch of Moscow since the death in
1700 of Patriarch Hadrian 1919 - North American Russian Church holds first
Sobor (synod) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1923?- The Karlovsky Synod in
Poland brings about a controversy within the Russian Church. It is
opposition to this synod that prompts the Russian bishops in America to act
definitely and in unison to form the American Orthodox Catholic Church.
They seek to preserve the "truths of Orthdoxy" in accordance with what they knew
to be Tikhons true heart (non Soviet coerced). 1924 - North American
Russian Church declares its autonomy at second Sobor (synod) in Detroit,
Michigan 1927 - 2 February - Archbishop Ofiesh appointed by Metropolitan
Platon of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in North America
(Moscow Patriarchate) to head The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic
Church in North America (American Orthodox Catholic Church) to serve all English
speaking orthodox in North America. 1927 - Orthodox jurisdictions in the new
world refused to accept this new Church and began turning their back on the
Church (contrary to the canons and christian charity). 1928 - 1 February -
The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America
incorporated in Boston, MA. by Abp. Aftimios Ofiesh and 7 others. 1929 -
Greek Archbishop Alexander of the new American Greek Diocese told Abp. Ofiesh
that he, Alexander, was over ALL orthodox in the new world. 1929 - Schism
in American Orthodoxy! 1931 - Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America
founded 1932 - 7 February - Joseph A. Zuk consecrated bishop for the
Ukrainian Church. 1932 - Ignatius W.A. Nichols consecrated but not seated on
the North American Holy Synod. 1933 - Acting in accordance with an opinion of
the Ecumenical Patriarch, and in an attempt to shape American Orthodoxy for the
future, Aftimios marries in a bold and courageous statement regarding the
applicability of Canon___ which states that bishops must be taken from the ranks
of the monastic clergy or divorce their wives before consecration. In
America there were not enough monasteries and therefore the impetus was on
+Aftimios to consecrate married bishops. Since one cannot tell others to
take a controversial stand without yourself taking it, +Aftimios married Miriam,
a devout Orthodox woman of equal courage. 1933 - Synod stated the canon on
marriage related to the Church in Europe & Asia and had no bearing on the
American Church. The Synod supported the Arrchbshops marriage. 1933 - Bp.
Nichols left orthodoxy and became pastor of a protestant church. 1934 - 23
February - Bishop Zuk dies 1934 - Bishop Sophronios Beshara
dies. 1946 - The Cleveland Synod is not attended by Aftimios
and condemmed by him because of the schismatic and communist political
factions. I know that to record a negative (he didn't attend) is usually
not appropriate but it shows why Aftimios claims to autocephalously are
valid. The question of allegiance to the Moscow Patriarch had already been
resolved as far as Aftimios was concerned and did not need to be discussed any
further. The 1946 Cleveland Synod was made up of a) Karlovsky supporters
and b) Patriarch supporters. Aftimios was neither so why attend?
1947 - 6 February - Ignatius (Wm. Albert) Nichols dies. 1966 - 24 July -
Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh dies. 1966 - 1995 - Church held in Locum Tenens
due to lack of clergy. 1970 - Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church received
a Charter from the Moscow Patriarchate and became known as the Orthodox Church
in America. 1995 - New synod establshed and widow of Abp. Aftimios sits on
corporate board of trustees. 1997 - Archbishop Victor Prentice elected
Archbishop President of The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church
in North America and successor to Abp. Aftimios. 1997 - Synod declares Church
a Metropolitanate and grants the presiding bishop the title of Metropolitan.
1999 - Four former bishops "resigned" and walked away and setup a seperate
altar and continued to claim our Church name while attacking the Metropolitan.
Following the Canons the full synod deposed and anathematized them. 1999 -
Mariam Ofiesh retires from the Church Board of Trustees. 2000 - Mariam Ofiesh
died. 2003 - North American Holy Synod of THEOCACNA declares the Church the
American Orthodox Patiarchate. 2007 - Synod issued Decree regarding
jurisdictions and individuals who defame long dead clergy of this
Church. 2007 - Metropolitan Victor Resigns as Metropolitan. 2007 - Abp.
Leland elected new Metropolitan 2007 - Abp. John, Vicar of the British Isles
named Metropolitan of the Britsh Isles & Western Europe. 2007 - Patriarch
Nikon issues Decree & Declaration of Schism in American Orthodoxy dating
back to 1929 by other orthodox jurisdictions. 2007 - Synod declares Arhbishop
Aftimios a Martyr for the Faith based on the Great suffering he endured since he
was appointed head of this Church which continues over 41 years after his
repose.
NOTE:
*Part of the Karlovsky Synod later became known as the Russian Orthodox
Church Outside Russia (ROCOR).
