Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto

History of the Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto

1988 - Three years after the righteous repose of Saint Philaret, Metropolitan of New York and New Confessor, the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Brookline, Massachusetts, along with many parishes, clergy, and faithful, were received under the omophorion of His Beatitude Archbishop Auxentios of Athens, due to the Ecumenical statements made by the then Metropolitan of the Russian Church Abroad, Vitaly, who succeeded Philaret. The synod in Greece gave authority to the newly consecrated Bishop Ephraim of Boston for legal purposes, to establish the jurisdiction of the Holy Orthodox Church in North America.

Konstantine Katre is tonsured in the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in August of 1988, as Father Makarios.

1989 - On the feast day of St. Mark of Ephesus in January, 1989, Father Makarios is ordained deacon in the Cathedral bearing the same name, and on the feast of the presentation of Christ in the temple he is ordained Priest.

1991 - Hieromonk Makarios of Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Brookline, Massachusetts, was elected and consecrated Bishop of Toronto, in the convent of St. John the Theologian in Petroupoli, Attica by Metropolitan Maximos of Kefalonia and Bishop Ephraim of Boston, since the Archbishop was in recovery from an illness. He was enthroned in St. Nektarios Cathedral in Toronto by Metropolitan Ephraim, on behalf of Archbishop Auxentios, as the Shepherd of his flock.

1994 - At a synod meeting in Athens presided by His Eminence Archbishop Auxentios, Bishop Makarios of Toronto was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan.

1995 - Archbishop Auxentios of Athens reposes. His funeral is served by Metropolitans Maximos, Ephraim, Makarios, and Photius, and clergy.

1997 - Metropolitan Maximos conducts uncanonical consecrations, causing the Bishops from abroad to disascosiate with him. The Holy Orthodox Church in North America, including the Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto, remained without a head in Greece, Metropolitan Makarios being placed Locum Tenens Archbishop of Athens. Around the same time, six Bishops from the synod of Chrysostomos Kiousis leave his synod, correctly proclaiming his title as Archbishop of Athens to be illegal.

2006 - On Sunday, April 17/30, 2006, the service of the blessing of the waters was served to celebrate the opening of St. Nicholas house, the new Metropolis. The Metropolis serves as the residence of Metropolitan Makarios and a spiritual center for the faithful close to the churches. 

2011 - 4 priests of the Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto, along with many churches including St. Nectarios Cathedral, leave Metropolitan Makarios in order to join the group of Chrysostomos Kiousis, they receive Bishop Moses as their Metropolitan. They site the teaching of “Awake Sleeper” as their reason to leave.

After the loss of St. Nectarios Cathedral from the Metropolis, a new Cathedral was purchased, and was dedicated to St. Nicholas. 

2013 - The Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto entered into communion with the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece under Archbishop Makarios and received under its omophorion the Church of St. Kosmas of Aitolia, founded by Priest Athanasios Kambanis in 1986.

2019 - Due to the increase of communication and influence of the heretical teaching of Name Worshipping, and “Awake Sleeper” among the American clergy and faithful, the synod in Greece decided to write a confession of faith to make sure that all of the faithful believe in the truth. The Hierarchs of the Holy Orthodox Church in North America refused to sign the orthodox confession of faith of the GOC, and the American synod left the Greek one. This moved Metropolitan Makarios to resign from HOCNA and petition to be received into the GOC. 

2021 - The Holy Theotokos Convent celebrated its 20th anniversary since its foundation on the day of the Dormition of the Theotokos with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy served by Archbishop Makarios of Athens and Metropolitan Makarios of Toronto with the Toronto clergy.