Orthodox Church of Greece - Holy Synod in Resistance

The Orthodox Church of Greece, Holy Synod in Resistance (SiR) was a traditionalist Greek Orthodox jurisdiction following the (Julian or Old) church calendar.

History

SiR's was established in 1979. As with the other Old Calendarists in Greece, SiR separated from the State Church of Greece, considering it to be in error since its adoption of the secular (New or Revised Julian Calendar) calendar in 1924. It was opposed to the ecumenical movement on the grounds that ecumenism is a violation of Church teaching regarding the primacy of the Orthodox Church, though it expresses strong support for religious toleration. It did not deny that New Calendarist bodies or Orthodox involved in the ecumenical movement are without Grace, as do the other Old Calendarists in Greece, but considered them to be ailing and in error. It did not maintain communion with the New Calendarists and ecumenists. SiR was in communion with the Old Calendar Orthodox Churches of Bulgaria and Romania and that part of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia under Agafangel (Pashkovsky) of Odessa which did not unite with the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow, in May 2007, forming a coalition of nearly one million traditionalist Orthodox Christians.

The New Calendarist Orthodox Churches often refer to the Old Calendarists as being in schism. SiR described itself as "walled off" from the New Calendarists and the "right-believing flock" within the ailing Churches.

Its hierarchy was distinguished by their theological education and publishing activities. Its last president was Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos and Fili (2013–14), who succeeded the previous Synod President also known as Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos and Fili.

SiR ceased to exist on March 18, 2014, when it united completely with the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece (the Greek Old Calendarists) under the Presidency of Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens, the largest Old Calendarist Church in Greece.