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    (Continue from   here ) Archbishop Leonty with Elder Nikodim of Karoulia (Holy Land, 1960). Extensive Correspondence with the Greek Strugglers Throughout the summer of 1962, many letters were exchanged between the Greek strugglers, both clergy and laity, and Archbishop Leonty, whom the Synod of the Genuine Orthodox (in a letter of June 1962) declared " our Leader, Shepherd, and President. " On June 20 and June 21 (old calendar), Archbishop Leonty sends letters to the Synod of Bishops and to Bishop Auxentios of Gardikion, respectively. In the first letter, he refers to the deviation of the official Churches from the middle path of Orthodoxy, with some leaning towards the left (Communists - i.e. Moscow Patriarchate etc.) and others towards the right (Freemasons - i.e. Patriarchates of Constantinople, Antioch etc.). He also highlights the danger of losing the traditional character of ROCOR, as some of its bishops wish to maintain good relations with all Churches, except ...

    (Continue from   here ) Photo of Archbishop Leonty that he himself sent in 1962 to the Old Calendarists of Greece. New Consecrations and Organization of the Synod Before he departed, Archbishop Leonty had given the following instructions: a) Fr. Chrysostomos Kiousis should be consecrated as soon as possible, b) Fr. Akakios the Younger should be quietly consecrated (so as to provide support to his elderly and ailing uncle, Bishop Akakios of Talantion), and c) Fr. George of Provata should be consecrated upon his arrival from Mount Athos, whom he had even proposed as Archbishop of the Church of Genuine Orthodox Christians! [1] With these consecrations, the symbolic number of 7 would be completed. The order of Archbishop Leonty for the immediate consecration of Fr. Chrysostomos Kiousis was not followed, as although Bishop Chrysostomos of Magnesia came down from Volos, the consecration was canceled by Bishop Akakios of Talation, who cited health reasons. However, on May 23...

  (Continue from   here ) Archbishop Leonty at the river Zygactes (in which St. Lydia of Philippi was baptized by Apostle Paul), May 14/26, 1962. Tour of Northern Greece and the Restoration of the Hierarchy of the Old Calendarists Archbishop  Leonty expressed his desire to visit Thessaloniki, Philippi, and Mount Athos. However, before his departure, he requested a clerical assembly, saying, " Gather the leaders of the clergy and laity, choose someone unanimously, anyone, and I promise to consecrate him. " [1] The clerical and lay leadership assembled and convened at the offices of the Old Calendarists (32 Kaniggos Street, Athens), and unanimously elected the Athonite Hieromonk Fr. George of Provata. [2] A  relevant protocol was drafted, which was signed by Bishop Akakios of Talantion and the clergy and lay representatives of the P.T.E.O.K., and it was entrusted to Komnios (who had been appointed as Archbishop Leonty’s companion on the trip to Northern Greece) for i...

 (Continue from here  - special thanks to Protodeacon Andrei Psarev for the two photos in this part) Archbishop Leonty (with Fr. Akakios Pappas the Younger and Demetrios Mouratides) in Acropolis of Athens, May 8/21, 1962. Arrival in Athens   Archbishop    Leonty arrived at Athens Airport on May 7/20, 1962, Sunday of the Paralytic, where he was received and picked up by the aforementioned driver Nikolaos Menegatos with the translator Demetrios Mouratides. They then headed towards the Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas in Paiania (a suburb of Athens to the east), the seat of Bishop Akakios Pappas of Talantion. At a predetermined point on the route, Archimandrite Akakios the Younger, Constantine Komnios, and Constantine Sideris, Vice President and Secretary of the P.T.E.O.K. respectively, boarded the taxi. During  the journey, Archbishop Leonty said the following significant words to the brothers: " I am not coming here for the sole purpose of ordaining thre...

 (Continue from  here ) Archbishop Seraphim of Chicago and Archbishop Leonty of Chile at a synodal meeting of ROCOR (early 1960s). Correspondence with the Old Calendarists and Preparation for a Visit to Greece In  early March 1962, Archbishop Seraphim of Chicago sent letters to Bishop Akakios of Talantion, who was ordained by him, regarding the issue of new consecrations. In his letter number 208 dated March 2nd/15th, 1962, he mentioned that he couldn't assist and wrote the following: " I highly recommend that you make an appeal to him to come to you by air to aid in further strengthening the position of your Church: Archbishop Leonty, a zealous advocate of Orthodoxy and the old calendar. He resides in Santiago, Chile, in our small diocese there. He has nothing to fear, as he governs our smaller diocese, and there is no way anyone can transfer him to a worse diocese. Therefore, the only risk he runs is the possibility of being called to account by the Synod, which is not...