Jurisdiction Question

[0-2Continuum]

What does this mean: "Western Rite Orthodox - American Jurisdiction"? More specifically, I am referring to this cathedral: St. Basils Cathedral

Just curious! Thanks

 

[Anhelyna]

quoted from their Website

[quote
Holy Orthodox Church – American Jurisdiction A Brief History


The Holy Orthodox Church, American Jurisdiction, though restructured in 1974,was originally established as the American Orthodox Church by the Russian Orthodox Archdiocese of Brooklyn in 1932, under the episcopacy of Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh for the communicants of Western Rite Orthodoxy. [/quote]


Hmmmmm - this name rings many bells with me - IIRC he was married after becoming a bishop .


Not canonical is my thought

 

[0-2Continuum]

Not canonical is my thought

interesting.... thank you. you'll have to pardon this western christian who gets easily entangled in the web of Orthodox jurisdictions.

 

[Anhelyna]

Don't worry - wait for one of my Orthodox Brethren to appear and they will give more info.

I'm not 'Orthodox' but I just live here - the resident Catholic

 

[Mikeb85]

What does this mean: "Western Rite Orthodox - American Jurisdiction"? More specifically, I am referring to this cathedral: St. Basils Cathedral

Just curious! Thanks

Looks like a non-canonical pseudo-Orthodox Church.

For Canonical Churches in North America: Home | Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas

 

[HandmaidenOfGod]

This is NOT a church that is in communion with Worldwide Orthodoxy. I have never heard of +Bishop Aftimios, or this jurisdiction. The closest thing that they are trying to pretend to be is the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), which is under the direction of His Eminance, +Metropolitan Jonah. The Orthodox Church in America

A good source of information on canonical Orthodox jurisdictions within the United States is to go to the website of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in America, also known as SCOBA. Jurisdictions | Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas

 

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Ah, Mike beat me to it!

 

[Michael G]

The American (Western Rite) Jurisdiction is responsible for its own ecclesiastical affairs and is not subject to any other Orthodox body, foreign or domestic. It has no connection with any other group(s) claiming to be American Orthodox and/or deriving authority from either Archbishops +Aftimios, +Ignatius, +Alexander, or +Francis

This quote is very disturbing and thus would lead me to say they are non-canonical. The only Orthodox Church in North America who is Autocephalous with any declaration of autocephaly from ANY canonical patriarch is the Orthodox Church of America.

 

[0-2Continuum]

Looks like a non-canonical pseudo-Orthodox Church.

For Canonical Churches in North America: Home | Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas

AH! Thank you so much.

 

[Michael G]

Both of you beat me to it!

 

[Anhelyna]

There's a stack of information about Aftimios Ofiesh here
Aftimios Ofiesh - Google Search

I had heard the name recently and there were warning bells - he was associated with the "American Orthodox Catholic Church " which is of course neither.

 

[buzuxi02]

Oftimios Ofiesh was a bishop in brooklyn, and later was deposed for getting married. He continued to pretend to be a bishop and created many vagante groups with the help of his freemason connections. From what i understand there are literally dozens and dozens of groups some with no flocks or simply existing in cyberspace that owe their origins to Ofiesh.

 

[0-2Continuum]

Sorry to keep on with the questions, but I looked at the link - am I correct then that according to SCOBA, ROCOR is not a canonical jurisdiction in the US?

 

[Knee V]

My perception may be warped, but last I heard ROCOR was back in communion with Moscow, thus making them back in communion with the churches in the US. But maybe I've missed something.

 

[fuerein]

ROCOR is a canonical jurisdiction. Due to historical circumstances however ROCOR has never been part of SCOBA.

 

[Michael G]

ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate reunited last year and is thus 100% canonical.

 

[0-2Continuum]

Thanks for the input. I can't say that I fully understand, but thanks.

 

[buzuxi02]

Usually the official position by SCOBA is that "almost" all canonical groups are part of SCOBA. This was their explanation even before ROCOR reunited with the MP.

 

[E.C.]

Oftimios Ofiesh was a bishop in brooklyn, and later was deposed for getting married. He continued to pretend to be a bishop and created many vagante groups with the help of his freemason connections. From what i understand there are literally dozens and dozens of groups some with no flocks or simply existing in cyberspace that owe their origins to Ofiesh.

I believe on Orthodoxwiki there is a list of fake-odox groups started by him.

Aftimios Ofiesh - OrthodoxWiki

Bottom of page.

Basically anything with that man's name affiliated with it should be taken with a grain of salt.

Should we add this one to the library of non-real Orthodox?