Minor Announcements For Some American Jurisdictions
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Orthodox Church in America have announced some changes within their jurisdictions.
In the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, it appears that the new charter plan is back on the menu to some degree, as a new Mixed Commission has been formed surrounding it by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. This comes 4 months after the Ecumenical Patriarchate lifted the suspension on the charter for the exarchate made in 2003, a suspension that occurred in October 2020. When the suspension was announced, it seemed as though some solid restructuring was on the horizon for the archdiocese - we’ll see if that’s the case as time passes on.
Additionally, the Holy Eparchial Synod has announced that the special prayers added in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (for those affected by it, healthcare workers, and first responders) are discontinued as the pandemic has “largely passed.”
The Holy Synod for the Orthodox Church in America has also announced today that the recently enthroned Bishop Daniel (Brum) of Chicago and the Midwest has been unanimously elevated to the dignity of Archbishop. This generally aligns with the OCA’s practice of having Archbishops head dioceses. Nonetheless, axios!