Basilica of Santa Maria Antiqua, Rome -- Roman-Byzantine Treasure and Principal Seat of the Archfather

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 3 December 2020 (ORCNS)

The Most Holy Patriarchal Basilica of Santa Maria Antiqua dates to the 5th century A.D. and is the principle church and seat of His Holy Eminence the Archfather.  (The Archfather's other titular seat is at the Church of San Stefano al Ponte in Florence.) The Deaconry of Santa Maria Antiqua functions as the principle charitable office of the Patriarchal Household. The physical church itself is located in the Roman Forum at the foot of the Palatine Hill. It is the oldest Christian monument in the Forum and contains the earliest known Roman depiction of the Blessed Virgin as Queen. The Basilica was likely established around A.D. 600 by Pope St. Gregory I the Great (590-604), last imperial Roman Pope and second-great-grandson of Pope St. Felix III. 

In the early 8th century, the basilica was used by Pope John VII as the seat of the Bishop of Rome. In 847, however, the church building was partially destroyed by an earthquake. A new church, Santa Maria Nova, was built on part of the ruins of the temple of Venus and Roma. During the Norman Sack of Rome in 1084, Santa Maria Antiqua suffered further destruction. In 1617, the church of Santa Maria Liberatrice was built on its ruins. It was not until that church was demolished in 1900 that the ruins of Santa Maria Antiqua were again brought to light.

H.H.E. the Archfather earlier
as Cardinal Deacon during
an official visit to the 
Basilica of Santa Maria
Antiqua in Rome.

The church is a fine representation of Byzantine Roman architecture. Its walls are covered with one of the most important collections of pre-iconoclastic Roman and Byzantine frescoes in the world.

John VII was one of the Byzantine Popes and was ethnically Greek, being a native of Calabria in what was the Byzantine Empire at the time. His father served as Curator of the Palatine Hill for the Byzantine Emperor. Despite his Byzantine heritage and social position, his pontificate did not have good relations with Emperor Justinian II. He did, however, have good relations with the Lombards, who ruled Italy at the time.  

In addition to his relationship with the Basilica of Santa Maria Antiqua as the seat of the Bishop of Rome, he constructed an oratory dedicated to Mary the Theotokos in the Old St. Peter’s Basilica. It is also believed that an icon known as the Madonna della Clemenza, housed in the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere, was commissioned by John VII. As a Patriarchal Basilica, it has the special right to use "Sacrosancta," or "Most Holy" before its title. 

List of Popes from John VII until
the destruction of the basilica in 847:

John VII

Sisinnius

Constantine

St Gregory II

St Gregory III

St Zachary

Stephen

Stephen II

St Paul I

Stephen III

Adrian I

St Leo III (crowned Charlemagne Emperor)

Stephen IV

St Paschal I

Eugene II

Valentine

Gregory IV

Sergius II

Franciscan Minister General Appointed Archabbot

By Jean DuBois

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 27 November 2020 (ORCNS) 

Archabbot Anthony Giunta, TOR Mar. 

Mgr. Abbot Anthony Giunta, TOR Mar., Minister-General of the Franciscan Third Order Regular of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Franciscan order within the Anglican Patriarchate, was appointed by His Holiness and Eminence the Archfather to the personal rank and dignity of Archabbot in recognition of his countless years of service to the Church and as Minister-General of the Franciscans. His Excellency Archabbot Anthony serves as a hospital chaplain, police chaplain, fire chaplain, and Coast Guard Auxiliary chaplain. An active participant in emergency response efforts, the Archabbot has also been highly involved in serving during the COVID-19 pandemic, both pastorally and in virus test processing. 

The Archabbot was also given the special honour of being named a Canon Priest of the Patriarchal Chapter. The Chapter is the senior section of the Anticamera Nobile of the Patriarchal Household. Its members are prelates (ecclesiastical dignitaries) and serve as the senior-most clerical advisers of the Archfather. 

Coat of Arms of Archabbot Anthony
His personal arms are marshaled with the arms of
the Franciscan order. The ten tassels indicate the rank
of archabbot, and they are in purple instead of black 
as a privilege as a member of the Patriarchal Chapter.

 

Anglican Patriarchate Health Note: While Global Focus is on COVID, a Seemingly Deadlier Virus Emerges in Bolivia

By Keith, Duke of Westphalia, MD

Firenze-Nuova Roma 18 November 2020 (ORCNS)

A man in Bolivia.
Source: Pub. Dom.

While it seems that much of the world has developed a concerning, almost phobic tunnel vision regarding the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), with ever expanding and sweeping series of health guidelines and activity restrictions; a new and potentially far more dangerous virus has emerged from the rain forests of South America. Recently, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene announced the identification of a novel arenavirus capable of passing from vector host to human and then from human to human, causing a hemorrhagic fever syndrome, in La Paz, Bolivia. Chapare virus, the causative agent, had a cluster in 2019 infecting three healthcare workers and resulting in two fatalities.(1,2) 

The arenaviruses are a large group of viruses that typically affect rodents. Human zoonotic infection occurs when rodent contact is increased due either from environmental change, agricultural practice, or human presence. (1,2,3) The most familiar of the human disease causing arenaviruses include lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and the several hemorrhagic fever syndromes caused by Lassa virus (West Africa), Machupo, Junin, and Chapare viruses (South America). Common routes of infection include mucosal exposure to aerosols and direct contact with infectious material, with those at highest risk environmentally exposed to rodent excreta within their homes, at industrial or agricultural sites, or other places infested by rodents. Factors that tend to increase relative risk of adverse outcome include age, sex, degree of contact with rodent excreta, and comorbid conditions.(1,2,3,4)

Of note, a high degree of clinical suspicion is important to early identification and treatment; patients with early onset of symptoms typically present with a picture common to other viral disease processes such as Dengue, endemic to South America. The potential risk to the public health in such a misdiagnosis cannot be understated, as unlike Dengue, the capacity for human to human transfer with Chapere is concerning. Supportive therapy and early antiviral treatment with Ribavirin reduces morbidity and mortality in arenavirus infection, particularly Lassa and Junin -- though Ribavirin therapy is not without its risks and adverse effects, and if started late in disease progression, enjoys only mixed success.(4,5,6)

________________________
1. Gompf, SG; Smith, KM; Choe, U; Arenaviruses (May 2019). https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/212356-overview, accessed 17 November, 2020.
2. Radoshitzky, SR; Buchmeier, MJ; Charrel, RN; Clegg, JCS; Gonzalez, JJ; Günther, S; Hepojoki, J; Kuhn, JH; Lukashevich, IS; Romanowski, V; Salvato, MS; Sironi, M; Stenglein, MD; de la Torre, JC; ICTV Report, Consortium (August 2019). "ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Arenaviridae". The Journal of General Virology. 100 (8): 1200–1201.
3. Botten, J; Whitton, JL; Barrowman, P; Sidney, J; Whitmire, JK; Alexander, J; Kotturi, MF; Sette, A; Buchmeier, MJ (2010). "A Multivalent Vaccination Strategy for the Prevention of Old World Arenavirus Infection in Humans". Journal of Virology. 84 (19): 9947–56.
4. Emonet, SE; Urata, S; De La Torre, JC (2011). "Arenavirus reverse genetics: New approaches for the investigation of arenavirus biology and development of antiviral strategies". Virology. 411 (2): 416–425.
5. Lee, AM; Pasquato, A; Kunz, S (2011). "Novel approaches in anti-arenaviral drug development". Virology. 411 (2): 163–169.
6. Mendenhall, M; Russell, A; Juelich, T; Messina, EL; Smee, DF; Freiberg, AN; Holbrook, MR; Furuta, Y; et al. (2010). "T-705 (Favipiravir) Inhibition of Arenavirus Replication in Cell Culture". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 55 (2): 782–787.

Efforts of Bishops Help Ease Anti-Church Crackdowns by States

By Jean DuBois

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 18 November 2020 (ORCNS)

As global civic leaders engage in a new round of questionable COVID-related restrictions, many have eased restrictions on churches and even granted some religious exemptions. This is in marked contrast to the extraordinarily stifling restrictions placed on religious groups around the world earlier in the pandemic. 

Many churches continue to stand empty due to
overstepping of authority by world leaders
during the COVID pandemic
Source: PubDom.

Although civic leaders wildly overstep their authority with any such restrictions over the Church, the newfound awareness on the part of civic leaders of the importance of religion during the pandemic and of church sovereignty is believed by many to be the direct result of staunch activism on the part of a number of religious leaders around the world. For example, Australia has indicated religious exemptions and eased restrictions on churches, as have many states in America, such as Nevada, Iowa, and Washington. Catholic Bishops of Minnesota, USA, among others, strongly opposed new crackdowns on religious activity. The Florentine Archfather issued a general opposition to world leaders' restrictions on the freedom of the church, and also specifically addressed several, including the Washington State governor, where restrictions have subsequently been eased. 

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops of the United Kingdom, led by Cardinal Nichols, have issued demands to the Government to produce evidence of justification as the Prime Minister issued an edict to close church public worship yet again. in the USA, the Bishop of Brooklyn has called New York's restriction on churches "outrageous." Restrictions on churches in New York have been successfully challenged in court.

Although much progress has been made in restoring the sovereign rights and freedom of the church during this pandemic, which can be attributed to the staunch, vocal, and ongoing efforts of bish bishops around the, there is still continued crackdowns against the church on the part of many civil states. The bishops will no doubt continue their efforts through pastoral persuasion, legal avenues, and legislative approaches.

The Petrine Office, Leonine Office, and the Anglican Patriarchate

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 13 November 2020 (ORCNS)

In Christian Scripture, it was clearly expressed as Christ's will that Peter the Apostle was to be First Among Equals (also known as Prince of the Apostles) and exercise a prominent leadership role in the universal church (Catholic Church). Indeed, it was after Christ's death and Resurrection that Peter was to build the Church, along with the other Apostles. Our Lord bestowed the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven upon Peter, saying "Tu es Petrus et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam. Tibi dabo claves regni caelorum." ("Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church; unto thee I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 16.18). This is known as Papal Primacy, or the Petrine Office. 

St. Peter receives the key from Christ

The Florentine Archfather, Grand Pontiff of the Anglican Rite of the Universal Church and head of the New Roman Communion, as successor to Pope Leo X, holds what is known as the Leonine Office. That office is an extension of the Petrine Office, the primacy of the Pope, and shares in its authority within and regarding the jurisdiction of the Anglican Patriarchate and New Roman Communion. This is reflected in the Key of St. Peter and the Papal tiara included in the Archpatral Insignia, also known as the Leonine Insignia. Also, as temporal successor of the Popes from St. Peter the Apostle through Benedict XVI in Italy and Britain, the Florentine Archfather is Custodian of the Apostolic See of St. Mark in Aquileia, reflected in the Sword of St. Mark in the Archpatral Insignia.

The primacy of the Petrine Office and, by extension, the Leonine Office nevertheless carries with it a responsibility of continuity of doctrine and tradition. Valid and authentic rule must be indeed grounded in the Doctrine and Tradition of the Faith, of which the Pope, the Archfather, and all bishops are custodians. Proclamations, commandments, and so forth cannot rightly be imposed simply as a matter of desire or expediency. Yet it is all too common in the modern age to think that the leadership of the Church can indeed change the doctrine. Such is the sin of modernism, distorting the true theological meaning of primacy.

Apostolic Succession from St. Peter to Leo X
and the Florentine Archfathers

Temporal Succession from Pasquale II to the Florentine Archfathers

Pope Leo X

A Florentine Archfather (the ancient title of "Archipater" refers to a chief priest) is defined as one with secular patrimony in Florence and ecclesiastical patriarchal authority. The first four were Patriarchs of the West, i.e., Roman Archfathers/Roman Popes. (For the complete list of Florentine Archfathers, please follow this link. Pope Leo X was the first Florentine Archfather. The significance of Florence to papal primacy derives from the origins of papal claims to overlordship in Italy. The rule of Tuscany came to have the sovereign Vice-Kingship of Italy in the Holy Roman Empire. That was given by Matilda, Margravine of Tuscany, Vice-Queen of Italy to the Pope Pasquale II, at which point the papacy solidified its claim to overlordship over Italy. After the renunciation of the title of Patriarch of the West by Benedict XVI, the Bishop of St. Stephen, Anglo-Italian Imperial Patriarch was recognised as the closest ecclesiastical claimant to Italian patrimony by right of Rome in succession from Matilda of Tuscany, Pope Pasquale II, and Pope Leo X due to the Patriarchate's secular patrimony in Florence. Thus the Bishop of St. Stephen is known primarily as the Florentine Archfather, successor of Pope Leo X, and temporal successor of St. Peter the Apostle in Italy and Britain. Through that the Patriarchate is also the Custodian of the Apostolic See of Saint Mark at Aquileia and Grand Pontiff of the Anglican Rite of the Universal Church.

The New Roman Communion is defined as the Anglican Patriarchate and the churches of all Bishops recognised by the Patriarchate. It takes its name from the Florentine heritage of the Anglican Patriarchate, with Florence recognised as the second New Rome after Constantinople. Bishops of the New Roman Communion need not be of the Anglican Rite, but may be of any traditional Catholic Rite.

By authority of Rome, the Archfather speaks with the full voice and authority of the Pope within and regarding the jurisdiction of the Anglican Patriarchate and New Roman Communion. The Archfather holds Roman imperial dignity and co-imperial rank.

Primacy, in its leadership and teaching role and defence of the faith, must connect the Christian faithful in any particular age and location to the Christian faithful in all times and places. The entirety of the faith must be brought to mind, not just the issues of a particular time period or geographical location, for the Christian faith knows neither time nor space. That places the focus of Christian education indeed on reason and conscience, for indeed God is the Divine Logos, the source of all reason, logic, and order. Logic, analysed by reason and from which order flows, cannot be subjective, relativistic, or defined by about-changing social conformity. Therefore, Christian theology is not defined by mankind, relativism, or subjectivity. Rather, it is defined by God, brought to the world by Christ as the Incarnate Word, and defended by His Holy Church. That is the essence of the primacy of the Petrine Office and its extension by right of Rome, the Leonine Office.

Archfather Gives All Saints' Day Blessing Ex Florentia-Nova Roma

By Jean DuBois

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 1 November 2020 (ORCNS) 

His Holy Eminence d. Rutherford I, Florentine Archfather gave a blessing ex Florentia-Nova Roma today with the customary plenary indulgence. The address that often precedes such a blessing had greetings for the feast in the official languages of the Anglican Patriarchate, Italian, English, Spanish, German, French, Greek, and Russian, and focused on taking inspiration from the lives of the saints. The faithful were reminded that the saints were once human, but now are in heaven interceding for us here on earth. 

His Holy Eminence stated that the saints are a constant source of help during "...the humanitarian crisis sparked by government response to the present pandemic, and with government and other institutions joining together in an ever unrelenting attack on the rights and indeed the very sovereignty of holy mother the church." The Archfather stated that the faithful must seek the intervention of the Blessed Virgin for an increase of faith and the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel for a preservation of sovereignty of the Patriarchate. His Holy Eminence called on the faithful to resist the civil states who seek to restrict or destroy the Church. 

The address was followed by an announcement of the indulgences, which was then followed by the blessing. The blessing began with the usual invocation of Saint Stephen the Deacon and Saint Mark the Apostle. Those who receive the blessing, even by media, and who further fulfill the norms of indulgences receive a plenary indulgence. 

Video of the address and blessing: 

In Memoriam Fr. Valentine Young, OFM

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 20 October 2020 (ORCNS)

By HHE Archfather Rutherford I

RIP Rev. Fr. Valentine Young, OFM

Today I reflect on the life of the Rev. Fr. Valentine Young, OFM, who died earlier this year. His death is a benefit to the Church Triumphant in Heaven, but a loss to us here on earth.

As people migrate around, they often lose touch with those important to them. My favourite priest when I was a layman was Fr. Valentine Young, OFM, a staunch traditionalist and the chaplain of the local diocesan Latin mass community. I knew him when I was in graduate school, and he was my priest and friend. Yet, even after moving away, as anyone who knew him can attest, one of our most enjoyable treats during the Advent/Christmas season was to receive his annual Christmas letter. He left such a legacy everywhere that he was stationed, that the annual letter proved to be the best way for all of us to stay up-to-date on the activities of this extraordinary priest.

Fr. Valentine was just short of age 89 when he died. His body may have aged, but his mind and his drive to continue serving did not. Even at age 88, he was still serving as a chaplain to a Tridentine mass community. He always sought out ways to help others and to do things he found interesting. 

His earlier career involved working with Amerindian missions in Arizona and New Mexico. He served at different times for Latin mass communities in Kansas, South Dakota, and Kentucky. Not content with simply celebrating the sacraments, which alone would have been enough, he wanted the members of his communities to be able to connect with the beauty of the liturgy and the true and rightful Catholic heritage. So, he taught Latin and Greek classes – and he also played the organ to lead Vespers after the afternoon Tridentine mass, inviting the congregation to participate in learning the chant. 

One of my greatest privileges was being able to serve as a guard of honour during the mass for the 50th jubilee of his ordination.  Fr. Valentine was a priest I was proud to call a friend, and I credit him with my final decision to accept a vocation to the priesthood. He was always supportive of me and defended truth and tradition.

One of my favourite memories of Fr. Valentine happened after he had a heart operation. He did take a brief recovery period and was on oxygen. However, he did not want to sit around the house when there was the Lord's work to do, and so there he was back celebrating mass quite quickly, oxygen tank and all. As he moved about the sanctuary during mass, an altar boy was tasked with wheeling the oxygen tank. 

Fr. Valentine was a true priest, a defender of the authentic traditions of the Catholic faith, an inspiration to so many people, and my friend. Not only will I miss him, I will miss reading his annual Christmas letter that will not be coming this year. 

Additional information about Fr. Valentine and his lifetime of service to the Church may be found here: https://www.franciscan.org/2020/02/19/fr-valentine-young-ofm-1931-2020/