Jurisdictions Merge to form the single United Roman-Ruthenian Church

Bishop Rutherford I signs
the bulla Sedis Nostra
merging several
jurisdictions
into the United Roman-
Ruthenian Church 

By Jean DuBois

ROME-RUTHENIA 29 May 2023 (NRom)

By the bulla Sedis Nostra issued on the Feast of Pentecost this year, the jurisdictions of the Gallo-Russo-Byzantine Catholicate, Anglican Patriarchate of Rome (Anglican Rite Roman Catholic Church), Imperial Roman Church, and the Coadjutorship of Rome were merged into a single jurisdiction under the name of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church. This permits a unity in Christian brotherhood with an organizational simplification and commonality of purpose. The previous liturgical rites, Gallo-Russo-Byzantine, Anglican-Byzantine, Anglo-Roman (Anglican), and Gallo-Roman (Gallican), are all continued in their present form. All are welcome. 

The United Roman-Ruthenian Church is successor to St. Mark in Aquileia and temporal successor to St. Peter in Rome. It is a canonical, autocephalous, Apostolic church of ancient origin, founded in the first century following both Orthodox and Catholic tradition, belief, and practice. It seeks to preserve the Christian Church prior to the Great Schism. Its historic Holy Fathers, who are key figures in the history and succession of the church, are Pope Saint Leo X and Saint Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh.

The United Roman-Ruthenian Church is also the direct continuation of the former Anglican Diocese of the Southwest, founded in 1978, which subsequently entered into Orthodoxy and Catholicism through its Apostolic Founder, Saint Edwin Caudill. (His episcopal throne is considered the First Chair of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church, which may be seen on this page.) That diocese, after long since no longer being part of the "continuing Anglican movement," was later renamed the See of St. Stephen and established as Coadjutorship of Rome (now the Diocese of Rome-Ruthenia following the unification) from 2011. 

With this unification, the principle title of the head of the Church is Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia, and the main "prenomial" is simply "Bishop." The single patriarchal title is Papa-Catholicos of the Catholicate of Rome-Ruthenia. The other principle ecclesiastical titles are Metropolitan of Aquileia and Supreme Pontiff of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church. All traditions and uses of the Church generally all continue, and the pontifical court and government structure otherwise remain the same. 

The United Roman-Ruthenian Church is among those few churches in the world that are privileged to branch in Apostolic succession from the Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Old Catholic, Melkite Catholic, Syrian Antiochian Orthodox, Syrian Malankara, Armenian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Uniate, Melkite (Greek) Catholic, and Chaldean (Babylonian/Iraqi) Catholic Churches. The most recent Patriarchs of ancient geographical Churches from which the Church descends are both from the 20th century: Sergei, Patriarch of Moscow (Russian Orthodox) and Yousef VI, Patriarch of Babylon (Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq). Part of the Church's Roman succession is held in common with 95% the modern Vatican Church (Roman Communion) today, but the United Roman-Ruthenian Church also has much older lines as well, including the famous lines of Medici, Barberini, and Borghese. This is coupled with the Roman and Ruthenian temporal (secular) patrimony of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church, known as the Pontifical Imperial State.

Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia Makes Pilgrimage to Holy Sites in Gruzya (Georgia)

By Jean DuBois

TBILISI 18 May 2023 (NRom)

H.H. Bishop Rutherford I of Rome-Ruthenia recently made a pilgrimage to several important holy sites in Gruzya (Georgia). These sites included some of the most ancient in Christendom, dating to the times of the Early Church. Among these were the Jvari Monastery at Mtskheta, the original capital of Georgia. That site was the location where St. Nino, Equal-to-the-Apostles placed the first cross in Georgia. The church was built around it, and the central cross reliquary still contains a piece of the original cross. St. Nino was from Cappadocia and was a cousin of St. George the Martyr and Bringer of Victory, a major figure in the history of the Apostolic See of Saints Stephen and Mark. She is credited with bringing the Christian faith to Georgia. 

At the Jvari Monastery, where St. Nino
placed the first cross in Georgia.

Visiting the Bodbe Cathedral, where the grave
of St. Nino is located.

The Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia also visited the current Patriarchal church of Georgia, Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, as well as the original cathedral, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta. Contained within that church is the Life-Giving Pillar, which contains the seamless tunic of Christ. A Georgian Jew went to Jerusalem and was there at the Crucifixion. He bought the robe of Jesus from a Roman soldier and brought it back to his home. Sidonia, his sister, touched the robe and was so overcome with emotion that she died. The robe could not be pried out of her hands. So, it was decided that she would be buried with it. The Life-Giving Pillar was built on that site. 

At the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Tbilisi

The Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia at the Life-Giving Pillar,
containing the Robe of Christ. 

A picture of the complete Life-Giving Pillar.

Also within the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is a symbolic copy of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. It was built in the 13th and 14th centuries to commemorate the Robe of Christ held in the church. Thus the cathedral and Mtskheta are called the "Second Jerusalem." 

The miniature replica at the Svetitskhoveli
Cathedral in Mtskheta, Georgia, of the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Lastly the Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia visited the ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe in the shadow of the Caucasus mountains, which dates to the early iron age and was known to classical writers. He also climbed the hills there containing ancient cave dwellings to visit the 9th century basilica of St. George, his name-saint. The basilica survived many earthquakes without sustaining any damage. 

At the Basilica of St. George, Uplistsikhe, Georgia.  

Georgia contains some of the oldest and most significant Christian sites, and its heritage is linked with that of the Russian Empire, Byzantium, and the Roman world, and therefore with that of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church and the Pontifical Imperial State. In addition to Byzantine succession, the Georgian Orthodox Church also claims descent from Saints Bartholomew and Thaddeus. Those saints came from Armenia into Georgia and were the founders of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which in turn also is part of the Apostolic succession of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church. Georgia, from ancient times to being a major stop on the Silk Road to the present, not only maintains its own unique culture, but is a crossroads of many cultures. It is a place that all from Christendom should visit. 

Bishop Edwin Caudill Canonized

Original icon of Saint Edwin Caudill
by the Apostolic See
of Sts. Stephen and Mark

By A. DiNardo

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 30 April 2023 (NRom)

Today Howard Edwin Caudill, Bishop of the Southwest and Apostolic Founder of the Apostolic See of Saints Stephen and Mark, was canonized by H.H. Rutherford I, Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia. The first liturgy in which the name of Saint Edwin was invoked was celebrated today also by the Supreme Pontiff. The cause for canonization was opened in 2008.

Saint Edwin was Bishop of the Southwest. Sometime after his death, his diocese went into a schism. The remnants went into the Apostolic Communion of Anglican Churches, with H.H. Rutherford I (then-Bishop Johnson) becoming its Bishop Ordinary as the eventual successor to Bishop Caudill. It subsequently became a Metropolitan See and then was renamed the See of Saint Stephen in recognition of its evolution as an Orthodox Old Catholic diocese. After its merger with the Anglo-Roman Metropolitan See of Aquileia, it became the Apostolic See of Saints Stephen and Mark, the principle diocese of the Imperial Roman Church, Anglican Patriarchate, and Gallo-Russo-Byzantine Catholicate. Those jurisdictions merged in 2023 to form the United Roman-Ruthenian Church. 

H.H. Rutherford I visits the former Cathedral of St. Chad,
First Chair of the Roman-Ruthenian Church and Patriarchate, as the cathedral
of Saint Edwin Caudill as Bishop of the Southwest

Although Saint Edwin Caudill was not the first Bishop of the Southwest (in fact he was the second), he was consecrated not only in succession from the Episcopal Church of the USA, but also in diverse Orthodox and Roman Catholic Apostolic succession through the Philippine Independent Catholic Church. He was consecrated in succession from the two Holy Fathers of the Apostolic See, Pope Saint Leo X and Saint Aftimios Ofiesh. Through him, the diocese also branches in Apostolic succession from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem (through Patriarch Damian I) and the Coptic Patriarchate of Alexandria (through Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria). This is the legacy of unified Christianity that the modern Apostolic See perpetuates, and it began with Saint Edwin as Bishop of the Southwest. 

For more information about Saint Edwin Caudill, please visit this link. Additional information is also available on this page. For more about the Unite Roman-Ruthenian Church, please visit this page.

New Honours of the Pontifical Court

 By Jean DuBois

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 25 April 2023 (NRom)

The Pontifical Court announced today that H.H. the Papa-Knyaz and Catholicos of Rome-Ruthenia has made the following appointments and concessions of honours.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Daniel Flores was named an Honourary Professor of the Pontifical Georgian College.

His Highness Daniel of Modanella was given the title of Archduke of Maritima, formerly held by the late H.S.H. Archbishop Norman Dutton.

Marc Kealey - Knight Bachelor of the Imperial Patriarchate and also appointed to the office of Foriere Maggiore (Major Herald) of the Pontifical Court

Statement of the Papa-Knyaz Regarding Anglican Mass at the Lateran Archbasilica

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 25 April 2023 (NRom)

H.H. the Papa-Knyaz and Catholicos of Rome-Ruthenia made the following statement about the recent celebration of the Holy Mass by Anglicans in the Lateran Archbasilica (the cathedral of the Pope-Bishop of Rome) at the invitation of the cathedral leadership. This brotherly event was followed by numerous vicious attacks online and in the media. Read more here: https://practicalparson.blogspot.com/2023/04/anglicans-in-ambulatory.html

Although I am not an Anglican, I am appalled at the vitriol and lack of Christian charity expressed by so many who claim to be of the "one true church." They forget brotherhood and charity while priding themselves on the alleged righteousness of their own position. Some converts from anglicanism are especially incensed, feeling they have been betrayed. Yet, love thy neighbour as thyself or do not call yourself a Christian. The religion is Christianity, not catholicism or orthodoxy or any other name. The authentic church of Christ is Apostolic and has many parts of the same whole -- many of whom tear themselves apart fighting each other and tear their souls to pieces in the process. If your brother is not welcome in your house, how do you expect to be admitted to the Kingdom of Heaven? We in Our See have the Anglican Rite among several others, for it is part of our heritage, and we remain Orthodox and Catholic. All are welcome in Christ.

12th Anniversary in the Election of H.H. Rutherford I

By Jean DuBois

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 19 April 2023 (NRom)

Monday, 24 April 2023 is the 12th anniversary in the election of H.H. Rutherford I, Papa-Knyaz and Catholicos of Rome-Ruthenia. The anniversary falls between two important feast days for the Apostolic See of Sts. Stephen and Mark and the Pontifical Imperial State. On Sunday, it is the Feast of Saint George the Martyr and Bringer of Victory, Patron of Ruthenia and name saint of the Catholicos. On Tuesday, it is the Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist, Patron of the Metrpolitancy of Aquileia. This day also follows shortly after the 2776th Birthday of Rome on Saturday 21 April. 

Blessing Ex Urbe Easter 2023

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 9 April 2023 (NRom)

H.H. Papa-Knyaz Rutherford gave his annual Paschal allocution and blessing ex urbe, with plenary indulgence, on the Latin Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord. 

The video of the allocution (text is below): 

English Translation:

 Carissimi, Christus resurgens est! Христос воскрес! Воистину воскрес! Today is a day of great joy, peace, hope, and fulfillment. It is the day that we celebrate the triumph of Christ over the grave. Without this day, our faith would mean nothing, and without the suffering of Christ on the Cross, this day could not exist. 

Without Christ on the Cross, and without the Resurrection, the values would not exist. God is the source of all good, and therefore nothing without God can be called good. Although it is not easy, we who join Christ on the Cross received the benefits of the Resurrection must always and everywhere preserve and promote the values of our heritage, the values Christ. Today in the world, many have abandoned their values, heritage, culture, and faith. Instead they preferred to chase the ever-changing ways of the world. Almighty God created the world, and therefore the world is good. Yet, to follow the ways of the world instead of the ways of God, who created the world, is in fact to follow the ways of Satan. 

The world today says that absolute values under God no longer exist. Instead, there are these values and those values, which are said to be equal. The values of Almighty God that once were the core of Christendom are now pushed aside in favour of these false values of modernism. This is nothing more, however, then old heresies. We must, therefore, dear brethren, always and everywhere promote and preserve the values of Christ the heritage of Christ’s holy kingdom on earth. We must do so even when and even where it is not popular. We must serve as an example to others, that Christen-dom may be reestablished in its full glory, which is nothing more than the reflection of the glory of God. Indeed, we are nothing with-out Christ. 

Also, dear brethren, this day I wish to say again that Our See will have for the first time two celebrations of Pascha. This day is the Lat-in celebration of Pascha. Next week we will celebrate the Eastern Pascha. This is a great and historic moment for Our See as we collec-tively realise and employ the completeness of our great heritage, which is both Eastern and Western. Our faith and our heritage is Roman, Byzantine, Russian, Armenian, and Syrian. It is not right that we should forget this for any reason. Rather, we should and we must embrace it fully. 

Now, on this day of great and joyous celebration of the Resurrec-tion of Christ, We wish each of you a blessed and joyous Pascha.