The Italo-Greek Orthodox Holy Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada

of the Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church

The Italo-Greek Orthodox Holy Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada (the “Holy Metropolitan Archdiocese” or simply the “Archdiocese”) is the canonical, spiritual, administrative, and governing entity and authority of the Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church in the Americas and Canada.

The terms “Italo-Greek Orthodox Holy Metropolitan Archdiocese of North America”, “Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America”, “Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada”, and “Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese”, refer to the North American Archdiocese of the Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church and are, and may be used, interchangeably, one or the other, to describe, designate and identify the ecclesiastical, canonical and administrative jurisdiction of the Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church over its subjects and dependencies residing or existing within the territorial boundaries of the Archdiocese.

The Archdiocese is comprised of all churches, cathedrals, chapels, congregations, communities, societies, parishes, missions, committees, seminaries, monasteries, convents, and other religious organizations of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church, as defined in the Constitution of the Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church, that claim and profess affiliation with the Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church.

The canonical foundation document of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada is the Archiepiscopal Tomos issued on July 22, 1950, by His Beatitude, the Most Blessed Archbishop SEBASTIAN, Primate of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Catholic Church, delivered to and received by the First Provincial Council of the Archdiocese held in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, on August 25, 1951.

The supreme ecclesiastical, canonical, executive, administrative, and judicial authority in the Archdiocese is the Metropolitan. The Metropolitan is assisted in his rule, governance, administration, pastoral care, and divine and temporal mission and responsibilities by one or more vicar and auxiliary bishops; ruling diocesan bishops; priests, deacons, subdeacons, and the laity, all of whom together comprise the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, God's Kingdom on earth, and who, together, share in both the mission of Jesus Christ and His Holy Church.

The Archdiocese, if its growth and the number of faithful so require, may have one or more suffragan diocese/eparchies. In such case, each diocese shall be headed by its own bishop who, together with the Metropolitan Bishop, shall comprise the Holy Archeparchial Synod of Bishops and shall, in the unity of faith and eucharistic communion, rule, govern, and shepherd the people of God entrusted to their spiritual, pastoral, and temporal care.

In the Archdiocese, only one bishop has the title of Metropolitan. Further, no bishop in the Archdiocese bears the title of Archbishop, as that title is reserved exclusively to the Primate of the Itallo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church.

At the present time, His Eminence, Archbishop Stephen (Enea), the current Primate of the Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church, serves as the Metropolitan of the Archdiocese and as such, also bears the title of "Metropolitan of the Americas and Canada of the Italo-Greeks".

The Archdiocese is a sovereign entity, comprising a jurisdiction or geographic portion of God's Kingdom on earth. As a Local Particular Church, the Archdiocese is nonetheless the fulness of the Church in America and Canada, and together with the sixteen Patriarchal and Autocephalous Churches and their dependencies and jurisdictions (autonomous churches, archdioceses, and dioceses), comprise the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, which subsists wholly and solely in the Holy Orthodox Catholic Church.

The sole mission of the Holy Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada of the Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church is the salvation of souls. Its primary function is the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the worship of the Holy Trinity; the sanctification of people, places, and things; and the reuniting of creation, most especially the people of God, with their Creator. Further, as a part of the Kingdom of God on earth, it is the Archdiocese's most grave and serious responsibility and mandate, commanded and entrusted to it by its Head, Jesus Christ, to be the guardian and defender of human dignity and life in all its stages; to be the defender and protector of the poor and all those in need; to be the promotor and defender of justice, peace, and equality among the peoples of the earth; to ensure that the governments of the earth deal with the children of God fairly and as beings created in the image and likeness of God, and to admonish, chastise, and call to repentance those governments and secular authorities that oppress and persecute God's people and seek to deprive them of their God-given rights and autonomy; and, finally, to call all people to repentance, conversion, holiness, and communion with God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

It is important to note that the Archdiocese is not a creation of the federal, state, or any other civil government or authority.  It is not a mere non-profit corporation or NGO or a mere man-made institution. The existence of the Archdiocese, as the fulness of the Church, is established by God and Headed by Jesus Christ, and its activities and purpose have been mandated by Him. The authority of the Church derives solely from God, in the Person of Jesus Christ. The Archdiocese (Church), as the Kingdom of God on earth, is a divine institution which, like its Head and Founder, has both a human and divine nature. Therefore, the Church, as the pure Bride of Christ, is sovereign in her government and activities. She exists, not in submission to the State, but as a partner with it, exercising equal care and oversight of God's people, to the glory of God and the attaining of peace and harmony among all the peoples of the earth.