Blessing Ex Urbe for Easter 2022

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 17 April 2022 (NRom)

Video of the Blessing Ex Urbe for Easter 2022. 

Papa-Catholicos Receives Prestigious Teaching Award

Source: C-Comm; NC Publications Office

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 07 April 2022 (NRom)

H.H. Papa Rutherford I, Gallo-Russo-Byzantine Catholicos recently received the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Teaching Excellence Award for baccalaureate and graduate degree-granting business institutions, Region 4. Built on the significance of the classroom teacher to the mission of degree-granting institutions, the award is an annual award that recognizes individuals each year who exemplify teaching excellence in the classroom. One recipient is chosen from among associate degree institution applicants, and one from among all baccalaureate/graduate degree institution applicants within each of the eleven ACBSP regions around the world. The selection process evaluates nominees based on a series of criteria, teaching philosophy, and recommendation from university administration. In the summer, one recipient will be selected for the international award. ACBSP is the only specialized accrediting body for business schools that presents an award recognizing excellence in teaching that is open to the entire membership. The award recognized the Archfather's innovations in remote/virtual teaching experiences to benefit on-campus students; innovations in learning experience for online students; real-world, guided discovery experiential learning approaches; creative approaches to availability to students; success in ensuring accessibility to students with disabilities; contributions in diversity, both in and out of the classroom; effective incorporation of cultural and international components in the classroom; outside service to the community, nation, and world; and scholarly contributions to the field of pedagogy.

The Archfather teaches economics, finance, and international business at the University of Minnesota's Crookston campus, with a focus on empowering students to take control of their own future and succeed in an ever-challenging world. He is a graduate of the Harvard University Extension School, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.

Pontifical Statement on Humanitarian Crisis

By Jean DuBois

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 27 March 2022 (NRom)

The Florentine-Roman Papa is deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. According to the United Nations, ongoing fighting in Ukraine has displaced a large number of people, cut off food, water, sanitation, and medical supplies to millions of people, prompting more than three million others to flee their homes and villages, abandoning their crops and livelihoods. Most of the displaced persons are women and children. If this reaches this UN estimates of up to seven million internally displaced persons and as many as seven million refugees, it would be the largest war-related mass migration since the Balkan Wars of the 1990s, potentially involving up to 20 million people. Meanwhile, the disruption of agriculture in the breadbasket of Europe is also disturbing, with the potential to impact millions of people around the world. 

In response to this ongoing global situation, Papa Rutherford I, Prince of the Romans and Supreme Pontiff of the Anglican Rite of the Catholic Church released the following Apostolic Letter.

Text of the Apostolic Letter "The Humanitarian Situation in Ukraine."

A deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine has displaced millions of people, leaving them completely reliant on humanitarian assistance offered by other nations and the selfless service of various benevolent organisations. Clearly these circumstances involve complex geopolitical issues. It is made worse by responses fueled by emotions such as fear and hate. Faith in Christ has widely been abandoned and replaced with national pride and special interests. Yet, the issues of human rights and human dignity, regardless of national origin or political affiliation remain of paramount importance. We applaud all who have taken steps to ensure proper humanitarian assistance can be delivered.

Insecurity of the Ukrainian civilian population has been magnified by fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has made this crisis more complex than others preceding it. World leaders and individuals must both speak soberly and act intelligently, rather than aggravating the situation. Indeed, leaders and representatives of all the world's civil states are pastorally admonished against inflammatory rhetoric that can only serve to inflame passions, prolong conflict, and worsen the situation overall – especially for the civilian population.

Reasonable and legitimate cooperation is essential. We must focus on a brighter, more peaceful future. Indeed, nation-building takes years to achieve. Sadness, hatred, and vitriol around the world must also be conquered if there is to be enduring peace.

We again express our gratitude to all people, regardless of national origin, that are now demonstrating Christian ideals by helping their fellow human beings and by upholding human rights for all people.

The Book of Ecclesiastes tell us: "Tempus belli, et tempus pacis." There is a time for war and a time for peace. Indeed, there is a time for everything. Let us pray for a just end to the present conflict, that all may seek to do the will of God. Pious prayer is critical for a return to a more peaceful, tolerant world built upon Christian brotherhood. 

Apostolic Letter on Current Acts against Ethnic Groups in Europe, Canada, and the United States

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 19 March 2022 (NRom)

His Holiness the Florentine-Roman Papa released the following Apostolic Letter regarding a growing form of global racism.

Despite all of the laws regarding hate crimes and all the regulations and policies against ethnic discrimination in Europe, Canada, and the United States, the Slavic people in general still find themselves without the same protection and consideration afforded to many others. This in itself shows a deep hypocrisy within the social justice framework of today.

Arbitrary targeting of others based on their heritage and ethnicity once again is widely seen in Europe, Canada, and the United States. In recent decades, it was directed against Muslims, using the attacks of 11 September 2001 as an excuse. In the past two years, it was directed against Asians, using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse. Government, the media, and even society at large condemned those sentiments and actions. 

Now it is Russophobia that is seen, using the military conflict in Ukraine as an excuse. Yet in this case, it is fueled by statements and actions of media, government, and society. Echoing the actions against Muslims and Asians, but arguably to a much higher level, Russians and people of Russian heritage in Europe and the United States have been widely targeted for discrimination, harassment, theft, vandalism, threats, and other teenager-like, emotionally driven, acts fueled by hate and ignorance. Jobs have been lost, property vandalized, rent raised, businesses boycotted, and more, simply based on ethnicity.

Ironically, many of the people targeted by this Russophobia are in fact Ukrainian – the very people in whose favour these bigots claim to be acting. This underscores the fallacy and small-minded nature of taking action against others based on their real or perceived ethnicity or based on their real or perceived associations and beliefs. Those who preach freedom betray their own hypocrisy through their hate-filled actions. Those who claim love of humanity, but single out part of God’s diversity of humanity again betray their own hypocrisy.

Those who engage in or silently tolerate this current round of bigotry should consider the following: Before it was the Muslims. Then it was the Asians. Now it is the Russians and those perceived to be Russian. In a society that tolerates bigotry, next time it may be you and your culture that society decides to target. Then who will stand for you?

Anglican Patriarchate, Successor to Rome, also Apostolic Descendant of Russian Orthodox

His Holiness Patriarch
Nikon of Moscow

By Jean DuBois

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 28 February 2022 (NRom)

The Anglican Patriarchate of Rome unites the West and East through its heritage. As a major part of that, the patriarchate is actually an Apostolic descendant of the Russian Orthodox Church. This important element of the Apostolic Succession of the Anglican Patriarchate of Rome not only provides a concrete ecclesiastical link between Western Rome and that great successor to the Eastern Roman Empire, the Russian Empire, but also demonstrates the universality of the Apostolic, Catholic, and Orthodox Christian Faith.

The Anglican Patriarchate of Rome, as the Apostolic See and temporal successor to the Pontifical States (State Pontificio), is the modern ecclesiastical successor to the Roman Empire. Yet its Apostolic Succession (direct lineage from the Apostles) is not only Roman, but from the Eastern church, including Greek/Byzantine, Syrian/Chealdean (in modern day Syria and Iraq), and Antioch. One of the most important lines of Eastern Apostolic succession is from Nikon, Patriarchate of Moscow and All Rus, head of the Russian Orthodox Church who served from 1652 to 1666. This has particular importance since the Russian Empire was considered a “New Rome” and successor to the Eastern Roman Empire. In fact, the church came to Kievan Rus (the precursor to the Russian Empire, centred in modern-day Ukraine) via the Greek territories in the mission work of Saint Andrew the Apostle. Later, as the Russian Empire developed from a collection of principalities and states, the centre of the church transferred from Kiev to Moscow.

Metropolitan Makariy
of Moscow, in the
Apostolic Succession of
the Patriarchate. Last
Metropolitan of 
Moscow in the Russian
Empire before the
Bolshevik Revolution. 

Patriarch Nikon was of particular importance in the history of the Eastern Church and the Russian Empire. He was very close to the Tsar, Aleksey Mikhaylovich. With the support of the Tsar and in consultation with the Greek Orthodox leadership and scholars, he undertook reforms of the Russian liturgy, leaving his mark on the faith through the present day. Despite the conflict with the Western Church, he took a much more canonical and conciliatory stance. In opposition to some in church leadership, this included making it clear that Latin Rite Christians who converted to Russian orthodoxy did not need to be baptized again. Also, while the Tsar was away from Moscow military campaign, Patriarch Nikon was left in charge of the state at home.

Indeed, this important and concrete ecclesiastical link between Western Rome and the Russian Empire as a successor to the Eastern Roman Empire, the Russian Empire, should serve as a reminder that Christ unites us all. Ut unum sint - may we all be one.

Mass for the Russo-Ukrainian War

 By Jean Du Bois

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 27 Feb 2022 (NRom)

Today His Holiness the Papa-Prince celebrated a mass for peace and reconciliation in the Ukraine, for the repose of the souls of all war dead,  and the protection of the marginalised and the vulnerable.

How the New Roman Communion Unites West and East

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 18 Feb. 2022 (NRom)

Inside the Basilica of Santa
Maria Antiqua, Rome

While the world continues segregating itself and causing division, Christ’s Holy Church works in the opposite direction, continually building unity. This is the mission of the New Roman Communion.

The New Roman Communion comprises the Anglican Patriarchate of Rome and the churches of all bishops in communion with the Florentine-Roman Apostolic See, regardless of liturgical rite. It takes its name from the historical position of Florence as the second New Rome in the Renaissance after Constantinople and before Moscow and the Russian Empire. It is headed by the Papa-Prince of Rome. Although it has much shared heritage and authority, the New Roman Communion is administratively distinct from the Roman Communion, which is headed by the Pope-Bishop of Rome at the Vatican.

The New Roman Communion is both Western and Eastern, following the heritage of the Roman Empire to which it is ecclesiastical successor. Both the Anglican Rite and its precursor, the Franco-Spanish-origin Gallican Rite of the Catholic Church are contained within it. Traditional Roman rites, as well as Melkite, Byzantine, Ruthenian, Russian and other Eastern Rites are permitted by its laws. In fact, the Apostolic Succession of the Anglican Patriarchate is not only Roman and Anglican, but also Melkite, Chaldean, and Russian. The universal Christian unity of this rich, mixed heritage of West and East is displayed especially during certain solemn masses of the Papa-Prince through the inclusion of a Byzantine Deacon and an Eastern Deacon who sing the Gospel in Greek and Russian or another Slavic language respectively following its customary singing in Latin. And, scholars often discuss the Eastern Rite influences seen within the Gallican and Anglican Rites.

Yet the similarities and connections do not end there. The historic Roman seat of the Papa-Prince, the Most Holy Patriarchal Basilica of Santa Maria Antiqua, located within the Roman Forum, was considered the Sistine Chapel of the Early Church and was for a time the seat of the Bishop of Rome. The basilica was constructed during the so-called Byzantine era of Rome and boasts an excellent collection of Byzantine frescoes. A massive restoration project just ended a few years ago.

Christ came to unite the world, and this is the ongoing mission of the New Roman Communion. This mission is a modern continuation of the ancient mission of the church. Just as the Apostles went to both the East and the West to spread the Gospel, and just as the Roman Empire extended both to the East and the West, the New Roman Communion today serves as a welcome place for Christians of all traditional liturgical rites.