Are the Old Calendarists heretics, and are they deprived of Divine Grace?

A response to an online post entitled “The G.O.C. are heretics,” in which the words of Elder Porphyrios concerning the calendar are quoted.

Dimitrios I. Katsouras, theologian | July 28, 2026

 

 

Quite obviously, the G.O.C. are not heretics. They are staunch Orthodox Christians. Indeed, over the past one hundred years, a multitude of saints have arisen from their ecclesiastical circle (a new book of ours is forthcoming, presenting a dozen such saintly figures—hierarchs, priests, monastics, and laypeople).

I offer you my personal testimony from a conversation I had with Elder Porphyrios, who identified the Old Calendarist Elder Moses [of Athikia]—a monk who had also lived the ascetic life on the Holy Mountain and who reposed in Corinthia—as a great saint who had attained theosis! Indeed, he asked me for a photograph of him. I brought it to him, and, in the presence of his sister, the nun Porphyria, he placed it among the icons in his cell at Milesi.

 

 

Therefore, the view attributed to Elder Porphyrios concerning the calendar was his personal assessment; he himself, however, by no means regarded the G.O.C. as heretics, but recognized grace and sanctity within the ecclesiastical sphere of the G.O.C., as stated above. We all have human weaknesses and shortcomings. Let us not, however, be fanatical, and let us not use virtuous and holy people in order to impose our own views.

It should not be forgotten that Elder Porphyrios’s Elders on the Holy Mountain were Zealots, that is, Old Calendarists! Likewise, Saint John the Romanian, an ascetic in the desert of Hozeva, whose relic was uncovered incorrupt, whole, and fragrant, was a faithful observer of the Patristic festal calendar and would not concelebrate with clergy who followed the New Calendar. He also broke communion with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem for this reason, as well as because of joint prayers with Roman Catholics. The Patriarchate, of course, recognized him as a Saint “out of necessity,” on account of his incorrupt sacred body and his many posthumous miracles.

Our final humble conclusion: It is not pleasing to God for New Calendarists and Old Calendarists to accuse one another with rancor and fanaticism. Prudence and discernment are needed. Instead of opposing one another, let the New Calendarists struggle for the healing of the division and schism caused by the calendar innovation and its uncanonical imposition, while the Old Calendarists should continue their struggle with Patristic discernment, speaking the truth to all in love and courteously enlightening our fellow countrymen who follow the New Calendar that the enemies of Orthodoxy are antichristian Papism and the Church-fighting, pan-heretical Ecumenism, which we can confront effectively only when united in the Truth and joined together in love according to God.

 

Greek source: https://epistrofi-sotiria.blogspot.com/2026/07/1991-1946.html

 

Comments (translated from the original Greek) from Facebook concerning the above article:

Comment of Nikolaos Mannis: Persons who knew Saint Porphyrios confirmed to me that he likewise regarded Elder Ieronymos of Aegina and Papa-Chrysanthos Vrettaros as Saints.

 

 

Comment of Panagiotis Kokkalidis: I also offer my personal testimony that Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra likewise kept a photograph of Elder Ieronymos on his desk in the abbot’s quarters, in a prominent place. I also believe that, in one of the two books about Elder Ieronymos, there is a reference to Elder Aimilianos as a deacon, although his name is not specifically mentioned.