The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
The largest Orthodox jurisdiction in North America, under the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is an eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, established in 1922 and seated in New York. It is the largest Orthodox body in the United States, and its sister jurisdiction, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto, serves Greek Orthodox Christians across Canada.
Structure
- Archdiocesan District of New York, headed by the Archbishop of America.
- Metropolises of Chicago, Boston, Denver, Detroit, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and New Jersey.
- The Metropolis of Toronto (Canada) is a separate eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, not part of the American Archdiocese.
- Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, trains its clergy.
Which calendar it follows
The Archdiocese follows the Revised Julian (New) Calendar for fixed feasts, so Christmas is December 25 and the Dormition is August 15 on the civil calendar. Pascha is always calculated by the traditional Julian paschalion, which is why Greek Orthodox Easter usually differs from Western Easter.
Parish life
Services are typically served in a mix of Greek and English, with Byzantine chant. Most parishes hold a Greek festival, run a Greek language school and a Philoptochos chapter, and keep their patronal feast — St Nicholas, St George, the Dormition, the Annunciation — as the highlight of the year.
Finding a parish
Greek Orthodox parishes in Canada belong to the Metropolis of Toronto, with large communities in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa. Our directory lists Orthodox parishes across Canada, the United States and Australia by province, state and city.
Frequently asked
- Is the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in communion with the other Orthodox Churches?
- Yes. It is fully in communion with all canonical Orthodox Churches, and takes part in the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States.
- Do I need to be Greek to attend?
- No. Parishes are open to everyone, and most serve substantially in English.
- Who oversees Greek Orthodox parishes in Canada?
- The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto, an eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, distinct from the Archdiocese of America.