True Orthodox Metropolis of Germany and Europe

{{More citations needed|date=November 2013}}

{{Infobox Christian denomination

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| name = True Orthodox Metropolis of Germany and Europe

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| type = Eastern Orthodox, {{small|previously Oriental Orthodox}}

| main_classification = Independent Eastern Orthodox

| orientation = True Orthodoxy (Old Calendarist)

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| theology = Eastern Orthodox theology {{small|previously Miaphysite}}

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| leader_title1 = Primate

| leader_name1 = Moses (Görgün)

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| language = Syriac, Malayalam, German

| liturgy = Byzantine Rite {{small|previously West Syrian Rite}}

| headquarters = Monastery of St. Gabriel, Altenbergen,[http://genuinorthodox.com/index-Dateien/kloster.html Monastery of St. Gabriel, Altenbergen] Germany

| territory = Europe

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| founder = Moses (Görgün)

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| independence = 2017 as True Eastern Orthodox Church
{{small|(2009 as Oriental Orthodox Autonomous Church)}}

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| recognition = True Orthodoxy (True Orthodox Metropolis of Ecuador and Latin America)

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| members = 15,000[https://www.welt.de/regionales/thueringen/article131755561/Syrisch-orthodoxes-Kloster-im-Thueringer-Wald-geweiht.html Die Welt: Syriac Orthodox Monastery Consecrated in Thuringian Forest]

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| other_names = Syrian Orthodox Church of Europe (2006–2007), Antiochian Syrian Orthodox Church (2007–2016)

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The True Orthodox Metropolis of Germany and Europe, formerly known as the Syrian Orthodox Church of Europe, is an autonomous Old Calendarist Eastern Orthodox church based in Altenbergen, Germany;[http://gotha.thueringer-allgemeine.de/web/gotha/startseite/detail/-/specific/Kloster-in-Altenbergen-ist-jetzt-Bischofssitz-der-Orthodoxen-Kirche-von-Griechen-719957791 Kloster in Altenbergen ist jetzt Bischofssitz der Orthodoxen Kirche von Griechenland] it is headed by metropolitan Moses Görgün.[http://genuinorthodox.com/index-Dateien/metropolit_1.html Metropolitan Moses Görgün] The church is part of the {{Interlanguage link|Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece of the Patristic Calendar|lt=Avlona Synod|fr|Église des vrais chrétiens orthodoxes de Grèce - Synode du calendrier Patristique}}.

Until 2016, the church belonged to the Oriental Orthodox tradition, and it was originally known as the Syrian Orthodox Church of Europe and later as the Antiochian Syrian Orthodox Church. The major part of the community, headed by metropolitan Moses Görgün, converted to the Old Calendarist (also called True Orthodox) tradition within Eastern Orthodoxy and in 2017, it was granted autonomy and jurisdiction over Germany and Europe by the {{Interlanguage link|Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece of the Patristic Calendar|lt=Avlona Synod|fr|Église des vrais chrétiens orthodoxes de Grèce - Synode du calendrier Patristique}}. It is in full communion with the True Orthodox Metropolis of Ecuador and Latin America, which is another diocese of the Avlona Synod.[http://genuinorthodox.com/index-Dateien/heilige_synode.html Administration der Heiligen Hierarchischen Synode der Genuin Orthodoxen Kirche]

History

File:Metropolit Mor Severius Moses.jpg hierarch (2009)]]On November 21 2006, Moses Görgün was consecrated metropolitan bishop of Europe in Thrissur by Bishop Yuhanon Mar Meletius of Thrissur and Bishop Thomas Mar Athanasius of Kandanad with the support of Bishop Thomas Mar Makarios of Europe, UK and Canada, upon which he assumed the name, Mor Severius Moses Görgün.[http://orientalorthodox.blogspot.co.uk/2007/12/rabban-mushe-grgn-consecrated.html Rabban Mushe Görgün Consecrated Metropolitan of The Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Europe] On December 5, the Syriac Orthodox Church excommunicated Mor Severius Moses Görgün and his supporters.Syriac Orthodox Resources: [http://sor.cua.edu/Personage/PZakka1/20071205MusheGurgunExcomm.html Excommunicating Mushe Gorgun] The consecration was recognised by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church on December 7 after an episcopal synod was convened by the Primate of the church, Baselios Thoma Didymos I, who heard and accepted Yuhanon Mar Meletius and Thomas Mar Athanasius' reasons for consecrating Mor Severius Moses Görgün without the consent of the synod.The Hindu: [http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article1962849.ece Synod approves consecration]

On March 16, 2009, the synod of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church elevated the archdiocese to the status of autocephaly and was granted the name of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Europe; Mor Severius Moses Görgün was appointed as Primate and Metropolitan of the church. In May, the jurisdiction of the church was confirmed to be restricted to Europe by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, and that the church had no jurisdiction over the church in India. Despite this, on March 21, 2010, Mor Severius Moses Görgün consecrated Mor Bartholomaos Joseph as metropolitan bishop of Angamaly, a diocese within the jurisdiction of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.Indian Orthodox Herald: [http://www.orthodoxherald.com/2010/03/24/mor-severius-moses-gurgan-consecrates-a-malayalee-metropolitan-for-ankamaly/ Mor Severius Moses Gurgan Consecrates a Malayalee Metropolitan for Ankamaly]

As a result of this infringement, Baselios Thoma Didymos I excommunicated Mor Severius Moses Görgün and withdrew his recognition of the church.Indian Orthodox Herald: [http://www.orthodoxherald.com/2010/03/27/malankara-withdraws-the-approval-and-acceptance-of-mor-severius-moses-gorgun/ Malankara Withdraws the Approval and Acceptance of Mor Severius Moses Gorgun] This led the church to change its name to reflect its presence outside of Europe and on April 28, 2010, the synod of the church changed the name of the church to the Antiochian Syrian Orthodox Church.[http://syrorthodoxchurch.com/index-Dateien/PDF_Texte_u_Medien/Churchname.pdf Decree of Mor Severius Moses, Metropolitan and Primate of the Antiochian Syrian Orthodox Church]

The following year, however, to soothe relations with the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the synod of the Antiochian Syriac Orthodox Church choose to dissolve the dioceses of Idukki and Angamaly in September and their bishops stood down. In Spring 2012, the church began construction of the Monastery of St. Gabriel, near Altenbergen, Germany, and in August 2014, the monastery was consecrated and became the headquarters of the church.

References

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