THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL
The Provincial Council is the highest legislative and administrative authority in the Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church in America and Canada.
Every two years, the Council brings together clergy and lay representatives from each parish, mission, monastery, and institution of the Archdiocese meet to discuss the administration, condition, and mission of the Archdiocese, bearing witness to her divine mission, identity, and unity.
Life as a disciple of Christ is filled with moments of personal encounter with Jesus, invitations to grow in faith, knowledge, and worship as members of the Church, and opportunities to be joyful witnesses to the Good News in our words and actions. These three facets are not intended merely to be steps in a “one and done” sequence. Each and every day we need to respond to the call of Jesus to “come and follow Me.” The Provincial Council provides the Church with an opportunity for us to enliven and deepen our discipleship and to work together in a spirit of conciliarity to witness more effectively the Orthodox Catholic Faith in the communities in which we live and work.
We received the call to be a witness to the Good News in our baptism when we received the grace of new life in Christ. Being a witness means reflecting Christ’s presence in our actions and in our words. The Provincial Council brings us together so that we can discern, discuss, decide, plan, and implement the ways by which we can effectively and fruitfully proclaim the Good News and draw people to Christ and His Church.
We are all called to witness the grace we have received from God and share our life and our faith story with those we meet each day. The Provincial Council equips us with the tools necessary to share Christ, Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, with all those we meet.
THE PROVINCIAL COUNCILS OF THE ITALO-GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF THE AMERICAS AND CANADA
From the year 1902, when the first community of Italo-Greeks was formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania until the First Provincial Council was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Italo-Greek Communities (none of which were formally organized) from across the United States and in Canada periodically and irregularly assembled to decide and plan for the future of the Italo-Greek Church in America and Canada. The following is a list of the formally organized and held Provincial Councils of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Holy Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada of the Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church.
First Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - August 25-26, 1951
Convened to receive the Apostolic Decree of Canonical Foundation and Erection from His Beatitude, Archbishop Sebastian, which canonically established the Italo-Greek Orthodox Archeparchy of North America.
Second Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - July 19-20, 1952
Convened to approve and adopt the Charter of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Archeparchy of North America and to approve the establishment of the Archeparchy under American and Canadian civil law. Also formulated a petition to be sent to the Archbishop in Syracuse, Sicily requesting that clergy be sent to guide, pastor, and serve the communities in existence at that time.
Third Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - July 25-26, 1953
Convened to organically organize the Archeparchy and unite all existing communities as constituent units of the Archdiocese. Presided over by His Beatitude, Archbishop SEBASTIAN. Traveling with the Archbishop and in attendance were the Rev. Hieromonk Antonio (Cappitani), Rev. Father Giuseppe Monti, and Hierodeacon Zosimos (Pergola).
Fourth Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - June 19-20,1954
Fifth Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - August 27-28, 1955
Sixth Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - July 25-26, 1960
Seventh Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - August 27-29, 1965
Eighth Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - July 18-19, 1970
Ninth Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - June 24-25, 1972
Tenth Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - June 25-26, 1977
Eleventh Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - April 12-13, 1980
Dealt with the alleged consecrations in 1979 of Emilio Rinaldi and Luciano Gaudio as bishops of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church in America. Issued a statement denouncing the two individuals as not being true bishops or bishops of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church. The Council was chaired by His Beatitude, Archbishop GENNADIOS, Primate of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church.
Twelfth Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - August 27-29, 1982
Convened to deal with the death of His Beatitude, Archbishop GENNADIOS, the last bishop and one of two remaining clergymen of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church, who died in Sicily on June 18, 1982, at the age of 87. Elects Subdeacon Stephen Enea as the administrator of the Archeparchy. Adopts resolution to change the name of the Archeparchy to “The Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America”. Dealt also with the continuing problem of the pseudo-bishops Emilio Rinaldi and Luciano Gaudio.
Thirteenth Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - May 14-15, 1983
Dealt with issues involving Emilio Rinaldi, Luciano Gaudio, and Rinaldi’s “consecration” as “bishop” of David Grabelny on October 10, 1982.
Fourteenth Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - August 27-28, 1988
Resolved to petition the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem to be received into the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate as an autonomous Church. (A petition was drafted and sent to the Patriarchate on March 14, 1989. A response dated November 4, 1989, from Archbishop TIMOTHY of Lydda, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Jerusalem Patriarchate was received which stated that due to Inter-Orthodox regulations, the petition could not be favorably acted upon).
Fifteenth Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - June 5-6, 1993
Convened to deal with the so-called “Bishop” Luciano Gaudio (aka Richard A. Luciano Gaudio) and his establishment and incorporation of “The Holy Eastern Orthodox Church of Jesus Christ Italo-Greek Byzantine” in the State of Missouri on June 11, 1992, and his claims of being the heir to the historic Italo-Greek Church and his continued claims that the Italo-Greek Church had a long-standing tradition of married bishops. In response to a letter received From His Eminence, Archbishop TIMOTHY of Lydda, Chef Secretary of the Jerusalem Patriarchate dated May 24, 1993, approving the Church’s petition to be received into the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem as well as the ordination of Subdeacon Stephen to deacon and priest. (The acceptance of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church into the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem Patriarchate and the ordinations of Subdeacon Stephen were subsequently canceled due to inter-Church conflict with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople)
Extraordinary Provincial Council - Utica, New York - August 26-28, 1994
Convened for the sole purpose of discussing the purchase of Calvary Episcopal Church, Utica, New York. Resolved to purchase the property, which will serve as the future Cathedral of the Archdiocese. (Property was leased from 1994 to 1999 when it was purchased.
Sixteenth Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - August 16-17, 1997
Convened to formulate a petition to be submitted to His Eminence, Metropolitan TIMOTHEOS of the Genuine Orthodox Church of Hellas and the Diaspora in Athens, Greece for ordination to the Holy Priesthood of Subdeacon Stephen Enea. Addressed issues pertaining to Bishop Luciano Gaudio of the so-called “Holy Eastern Orthodox Church of Jesus Christ Italo-Greek Byzantine”.
Seventeenth Provincial Council - Utica, New York - August 22-23, 1998
Convened to discuss the purchase of Calvary Episcopal Church as the Cathedral Church of the Archdiocese. Resolves to lease the Calvary property from Grace Episcopal Church. Dealt with the division within the community between those who wanted Philadelphia to remain the center of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church in America and those who wanted to make Utica the future Episcopal See.
Eighteenth Provincial Council - Utica, New York - July 17-18, 1999
Convened to finalize the purchase of Calvary Episcopal Church in Utica, New York, and resolved to move the Episcopal See from Philadelphia to Utica. Dealt with the continued division within the community about the location of the Episcopal See of the Church.
Nineteenth Provincial Council - Utica, New York - August 18-19, 2001
Twentieth Provincial Council - Utica, New York - August 24-25, 2002
Twenty-First Provincial Council - Utica, New York - August 23-24, 2003
Convened to elect the Rev. Archimandrite Stephen (Enea) as bishop of the Archdiocese and formulates a petition for episcopal consecration to be sent to His Beatitude, Archbishop TIMOTHEOS and the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Genuine Orthodox Church of Hellas and the Diaspora.
Twenty-Second Provincial Council - Utica, New York - August 27-29, 2004
Acted on the response from the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Genuine Orthodox Church of Hellas and the Diaspora accepting and approving the petition of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese to consecrate Archimandrite Stephen as bishop and canonically electing him as ruling bishop of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada, and to pay the expenses of Archimandrite Stephen’s travel to Athens, Greece for episcopal consecration in September. Adopted and resolved to again petition the Ecumenical Patriarch for canonical recognition of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church as an Autonomous Church within the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. (A petition was sent on December 26, 2004. No response was ever received)
Twenty-Third Provincial Council - Utica, New York - August 26-28, 2005
First Council convened under the Chairmanship of His Eminence, Metropolitan STEPHEN, Metropolitan of the Americas and Canada of the Italo-Greeks. This Council was not only the Nineteenth Provincial Council but also a Supreme Church Council of the entire Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church, the purpose of which was the election of Metropolitan Stephen as Archbishop and Primate of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church. A petition was formulated and resolved to be sent to His Beatitude, Archbishop TIMOTHEOS, and the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Genuine Orthodox Church of Hellas and the Diaspora to confirm the election. Discussed the continued refusal of the Ecumenical Patriarch to respond to requests and petitions of the Church for canonical recognition/affirmation as an Autonomous Church within its jurisdiction.
Twenty-Fourth Provincial Council - Utica, New York - August 23-24, 2008
Twenty-Fifth Provincial Council - Utica, New York - August 27-29, 2010
Extraordinary Provincial Council - Utica, New York - September 14-15, 2013
Convened specifically to deal with the arrest of Archbishop Stephen and Philip G. Barker, Chief Operating Officer of the Archdiocese on charges of Third-Degree Grand Larceny and Scheme to Defraud in relation to the restoration and repair of the Archdiocesan Cathedral, and to take a vote of confidence or no-confidence in both individuals. Having considered all the facts of the case. the Council resolved a vote of full confidence in and support of both His Eminence, Archbishop Stephen, and Mr. Philip Barker, Chief Operating Officer of the Archdiocese.
This Council was also an Extraordinary Supreme Council of the Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church, with representatives of the Sicilian and Southern Italian Archdiocese in attendance. This decision was also conveyed to and subsequently ratified by the Council of the Italo-Greek Holy Archiepiscopal Archdiocese of All Sicily, Southern Italy, and Magna Graecia.
Extraordinary Provincial Council - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - March 22-23, 2014
Convened to deal exclusively with the sentencing and imprisonment of His Eminence, Archbishop Stephen, and to take another vote of confidence or no-confidence in the Archbishop. Having considered all the facts of the case, the Council voted once again its full confidence in and support of the Archbishop. This decision was also conveyed to and subsequently ratified by the Council of the Italo-Greek Holy Archiepiscopal Archdiocese of All Sicily, Southern Italy, and Magna Graecia.
This Council was also an Extraordinary Supreme Council of the Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church, with representatives of the Sicilian and Southern Italian Archdiocese in attendance. This decision was also conveyed to and subsequently ratified by the Council of the Italo-Greek Holy Archiepiscopal Archdiocese of All Sicily, Southern Italy, and Magna Graecia.
Twenty-Sixth Provincial Council - Utica, New York - August 26-28, 2016
Convened to welcome back His Eminence, Archbishop Stephen to active ministry and governance of the Archdiocese. Discussed the future of the Archdiocese and plans for the reconstitution and restructuring and growth of the Archdiocese. Discussed the necessity of a new Five Year Strategic Plan for the renewal and growth of the Archdiocese, its parishes, missions, and congregations. Resolved to develop a new Five-Year Strategic Plan which would be submitted to the next Provincial Council for approval and implementation.
Twenty-Seventh Provincial Council - Utica, New York - August 24-28, 2018
Received, reviewed, and discussed the draft of "Rebuilding the City of God" - the Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese's Five-Year Strategic Pastoral and Administrative Plan for the Renewal, Revitalization, and Growth of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada of the Italo-Greek Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church. Suggested changes, revisions, additions, and deletions to the Plan. It was resolved that the second draft of the Five-Year Strategic Pastoral and Administrative Plan be submitted for review, discussion, and action to the next Provincial Council.
Twenty-Eighth Provincial Council - Utica, New York - August 26-28, 2022
Among other things, discussed and resolved to send all information about the Italo-Greek Church and Archdiocese to the Canonical Committee of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States for recognition. (information was sent in September 2022 and was subsequently rejected by Archbishop Elpidophoros in October 2022).
The Council received and reviewed the second draft of "Rebuilding the City of God", the Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese's Five-Year Strategic Pastoral and Administrative Plan. Recommended changes, additions, and deletions, to the Plan, with special emphasis to be placed on developing a Five Year operating budget, a plan for acquiring clergy, the acquisition or building of a new Archdiocesan cathedral, the development and formation of priest and deacon candidates (establishment of an Archdiocesan Vocations Office and Archdiocesan Seminary), the establishment of an Archdiocesan Cemetery, and at least one monastery of the Italo-Greek Tradition in the United States. Resolved that a third draft be submitted to the next Provincial Council, scheduled for 2024.