HOLY UKRAINIAN AUTOCEPHALIC ORTHODOX CHURCH

On Saturday, 24 November 2001, Archbishop Haralambos consecrated Bishop Bruce Knox (Mar Odishu). The consecration, which was done in complete Orthodox Church propriety and canonicity, took place at St. Michael Orthodox Church in West Palm Beach, Florida. It was important for the ceremony to be conducted at an orthodox-consecrated altar.

Bishop Knox (Mar Odishu) serves the Syro-Chaldean Eastern Catholic Church in the Miami, Florida, area. "Our Synod," Archbishop Haralambos said, "serves as the ecclesiastical authority under which Bishop Bruce will work."

With the consecration of Bishop Knox, the Holy Synod of Greek Pan Orthodox Archdiocese now has eight bishops. That includes Bishop George of Miami, Florida; Metropolitan Archbishop Haralambos Bouchlas, Bishop Petros Maeyens and Bishop Paul Lambert of West Palm Beach, Florida; whose Holy See is St. Michael Orthodox Church and St. Michael Academy; Archbishop David Francis of Sydney, Australia; and Bishop Nicholas and Bishop John of Australia.

"This is an indication that our jurisdiction is growing rapidly," said Archbishop Haralambos. We are an autocephalus entity, which means we recognize all Orthodox patriarchates. One of our lineage consecrators Joachim Souris of Greece had his representative here in Metropolitan Archbishop Nicholas. We recognize the Ecumenical Patriarch - he knows what we are doing for the unity of the Orthodox faith - but we choose to remain autocephalus. Ecumenical Patriarch Melitos in 1921 issued a Tomas, which is a mandate that declares us autocephalus."

Archbishop Haralambos added, "This is a miraculous on-going regeneration witnessed by the consecration of our eighth bishop. Our bishops are Greek, Australian, Ukranian, Syro-Chaldean. It is as though we are a cross-section of the Orthodox Church."

Friends and family members filled to overflowing the chapel of the St. Michael Orthodox Church. Others who attended the consecration of Bishop Knox were traditional members of the clergy - two Catholic bishops - who were present to serve as official witnesses to the consecration.

Fr. Bruce (kneeling) taking the vows of a Bishop

"Rejoice O Isaiah"

"Vesting the new Bishop"

"The Procession of the Gifts"

"May the Lord God remember us all..."

"Peace be with you all"

The faithful proclaiming the new bishop "AXIOS"

Here are the officials present for the Orthodox Church consecration of Bishop Bruce Knox (center) of the Syro-Chaldean Eastern Catholic Church. The consecration took place at St. Michael Orthodox Church in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, 24 November 2001. Performing the ordination was Archbishop Haralambos, Primate, Holy Ukrainian Autocephalic Orthodox Church in Exile (in white miter). Others attending (from left) Fr. Dominic J. Piro, Fr. Ken Rosado, Fr. Frank (partially hidden), Bishop John J. Gouthro, Bishop Paul Lambert, Archimandrite Michael Worman (also partially hidden), newly ordained Bishop Bruce Knox (Mar Odishu), Rev. John Spicer, Archbishop Haralambos, Metropolitan Nicholas, Bishop Petros Maeyens and Fr. John Joseph Reid.

Mar Odishu (Bishop Knox) EIS POLLA ETI DESPOTA!

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