True Orthodox Demographics

[haralampopoulosjc]

A lot of True Orthodox seem to overestimate their numbers.

In 1999, it was estimated that "[t]here are probably over one million Old Calendarists in Romania, somewhat fewer in Greece, and considerably fewer in Bulgaria, Cyprus, and the [Eastern Orthodox] diaspora." The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. p. 499

All told, there are probably only two to three million True Orthodox worldwide.

[Suaidan]

Those numbers are almost two generations old. Unless two generations of True Orthodox around the world all entered a suicide cult instead of marrying and having children, that number is exponentially higher.

[Barbara]

It would be useful to pin down a true approximate number so that people could cite this. I was looking at twitter and saw the many snide remarks made about True Orthodox.

Important to bolster the credibility with as accurate facts as possible, wouldn't people think ?

[haralampopoulosjc]

Those numbers are almost two generations old. Unless two generations of True Orthodox around the world all entered a suicide cult instead of marrying and having children, that number is exponentially higher.

Father, you've claimed that there are around three million Romanian True Orthodox, and almost the same amount in Greece. You've claimed that these numbers come from the Moscow Patriarchate's surveys when they reached out to the GOC-K after the schism with Constantinople. I've looked and looked and haven't been able to find these estimates. Can you post those references?

[Suaidan]

Father, you've claimed that there are around three million Romanian True Orthodox, and almost the same amount in Greece. You've claimed that these numbers come from the Moscow Patriarchate's surveys when they reached out to the GOC-K after the schism with Constantinople. I've looked and looked and haven't been able to find these estimates. Can you post those references?

The problem with the Moscow one is that it was scrubbed within days of reporting because of the GOC-K rejecting them. I'd have to dig deep into the archives, and I really am busy, but I will try soon.

[haralampopoulosjc]

Two more recent sources: https://cnewa.org/eastern-christian-chu ... -churches/

https://www.refworld.org/reference/annu ... 5/en/33332

According to these surveys, there are between 500,000 to 800,000 True Orthodox in Greece. They place the number of True Orthodox in Romania at 500,000, believe it or not.

[Suaidan]

Two more recent sources: https://cnewa.org/eastern-christian-chu ... -churches/

https://www.refworld.org/reference/annu ... 5/en/33332

According to these surveys, there are between 500,000 to 800,000 True Orthodox in Greece. They place the number of True Orthodox in Romania at 500,000, believe it or not.

It's still 20 years ago, but the second one I find particularly questionable: "The Government does not keep statistics on religious groups; censuses do not ask for religious affiliation." True Orthodox numbered a million in 1950. Again, just using reproduction, it seems strange that the group with the more zealous and traditional mindset on family would demographically collapse. However, it's in the interest of the US (or at least it was) for the New Calendarists to appear dominant.

The other one's a RC group, and we know they have an agenda.