Timeline of Events Pertaining to Archbishop Ambrose

In October 2007 Archbishop Ambrose of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, of New York and the Eastern United States, repented of all his ecumenical connections with World Orthodoxy and petitioned to be received into the Genuine Orthodox Church of America. He signed a Declaration stating that he renounced the heresy of Ecumenism, and requested to be received back into the one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

On Monday, November 5, 2007, Archbishop Gregory spoke with Archbishop Makarios and completed previous contacts, which confirmed the mutual agreement for Archbishop Ambrose's reception.

On Sunday, November 18, 2007, Archbishop Ambrose was received into the Church by joint agreement of Archbishop Gregory of the GOC of America and Archbishop Makarios of the GOC of Greece. The reception of Archbishop Ambrose took place in the Cathedral of the Dormition before all the faithful, where he made his renunciation in public and was chrismated back into the Church.

On Sunday, January 6, 2008, the Eve of the Nativity of Christ, Archbishop Gregory and Archbishop Ambrose consecrated to the holy episcopacy Archimandrite George, who was renamed Bishop John. This was conducted in the Cathedral of the Dormition, before all the faithful.

In June 2008, a letter was discovered on the Internet, written, upon information and belief, by Archbishop Makarios, dated January 20, 2008, in which he denied his participation in the reception of Archbishop Ambrose!!! Even though this was an obvious lie, the impious motives of which elude us, it was a shock to the clergy here in America. Its only effect, however, was the shaking of Archbishop Ambrose's newly converted soul. He expressed his distress over a series of days, but eventually separated himself spiritually from his fellow clergy. Both Archbishop Gregory and Bishop John tried to present Archbishop Makarios' letter as of no effect on his status, because of the evidence of both the translator and the telephone recordings that confirm that Archbishop Makarios was deceitful, but Archbishop Ambrose would not accept it.

On July 27, 2008, a letter written and signed by Archbishop Ambrose was received by the holy Synod, portraying the Synod of the GOC of America as non-existent. Archbishop Ambrose signed it as the Metropolitan of Kiev and the Exarch of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, thus reverting back to his former status as part of World Orthodoxy.

On July 29, 2008, a Synod meeting of the Genuine Orthodox Church of America was held, taking note of the unfortunate actions of Archbishop Ambrose, in which the Synod declared that he is no longer part of the GOC of America, having broken canons that forbid him from separating from his lawful Synod.