Russian Orthodox Church in America

The Russian Orthodox Church in America (ROCIA) is an Autonomous Russian Orthodox Church with valid succession to Christ that has apostolic continuation directly from the Russian Orthodox Diocese.   

The Russian Orthodox Church in America's 

faithful and clergy have been received into other Orthodox Churches including the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), the Orthodox Church in America (OCA),  Antiochian Orthodox Church, and The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America. 

Our Hierarchy has been historically recognized as "canonical" Our Orthodox bishops being invited to SCOBA but declining to attend in the end. 

To become an Orthodox Christian is not easy --- in fact it is very difficult.   Even our Liturgy is prayed with full participation of the Laity - standing (no pews).   

You have to yearn to be Eastern Orthodox Christian and work at it intensly. 

If you think you have what it takes to undertake the most serious decision in your life - we are available for counseling and catechism and you are always invited to come to our services.

A Blessing forYou.

May   “The Lord bless you and keep you; May The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; May The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” 

Numbers 6:24-26

The Russian Orthodox Church in America is an Autonomous Apostolic Orthodox Catholic church with direct succession from the Apostle Saint Andrew.  We come from The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic Apostolic Church in North America as an Autonomous Orthodox Church through oikonomia

 Archbishop Evdokim Meschersky  of the Americas consecrated Saint Aftimios Ofiesh as Archbishop of Brooklyn.  Saint Aftimios was elevated by Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York to the rank of Archbishop  Our Mother Church was then approved and sanctioned by Metropolitan Bishop Platon (Russian Orthodox Diocese in USA) in the early part of the 20th Century and Archbiship Aftimios was established as the hierarch and was granted Autocephaly,  and in 1927, Aftimios was commissioned by the Russian diocese in America to form an English-speaking jurisdiction: 

 The purpose of the diocese was to establish a new tradition in North America that was separate from any other particular ethnic or cultural traditions and to restore order to Orthodoxy in America.  The original goal of our Church was to establish to proselytize the Americans in English with a liturgical style they were familiar with.  THEOCACNA was incorporated in Massachusetts by Saint Aftimios of Blessed Memory in 1928

Our church was formed in Autonomy in 1989 from this church

Several factors played into our formation.  The biggest factor was Ukase 362 by Saint Tikhon which stated that in the event of a breakdown of the church through Persecution by the Bolsheviks in the Russian Revolution and the disruption of the Russian Orthodox Church worldwide that the Bishops were to carry on as best they could and ultimately, if necessary,  needed to revert back to the Canonical Status of the Early Church returning to the basics of the definition of a Church under Original Canon Law (A church is A Bishop, his clergy, and his laity) - and thus our existence was created  in large part by the chaos of the disintegration of the Russian Church worldwide  - in America  - and in Russia.  This Ukase specifically stated that in such circumstances the LOCAL Bishop (including the diaspora)  should continue His Church as autocephalous until such time as the disruption stopped - in this case, the Bolsheviks and Communists of Soviet Russia, 

The breakdown of Church Order described in Ukase 362 continues to this day.

Evidence that the Disruptions beginning with the Bolsheviks have not subsided and are evidenced by continuing Chaos and lack of communication with Russia  even up to the War in Ukraine 2022 resulting in thr fracturing of Ukrainian Orthodox Church - in The cross anathematisation of Orthodox churches worldwide even  involving The Patriarch of Constantinople - all this reveals a very ugly polemic side to Orthodox Christianity and shows the chaos that persists in the Orthodox World as a direct result of the chaos in Russia and in the USA all starting in the early part of the 20th century. 

We content that we exist in true apostolic succession.

we want to live in brotherhood so we ask our brothers in Christ for unity with us - however we reserve the right to legal action due to libel and slander as we can no longer tolerate the abuse

  John 13:34–35,  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

Modern Day Americans have NO IDEA how severe the bolsheviks were to the Russian Orthodox Church.  To give you and idea - a the start of the Bolsheviks taking power up until till 1980's, there were approximately 54,000 Russian Orthodox churches across the Russian Empire ( large and small) at the fall of the soviet union there were estimates that only 224 remained - most converted to movie theaters offices and libraries the rest obliterated.

 Stalin went back and forth in persucuting the church depending upon his whims but was more effective and brutal than the Bolsheviks if that is possible.

May God bless the holy martyrs of Russia

May all give homage to the Martyrs of Russian

In Russia, Saint Tikhon, being severely persecuted by the Bolshevils and in turn  by communists, was imprisoned and died suddenly under suspicious circumstances. 

After his death The Canonical Chaos of the Ethnic Orthodox in America lead to the sinful fracturing all of Orthodoxy in America, resulting in the theft and persecution of  Saint Aftimios Ofiesh, and the temporary impediment of THEOCACNA. 

The state of affairs in the Orthodox Churches of America's in 1933 contributed to the impairment of THEOCACNA and culminated with the death of Bishop Sophronius of Los Angeles in 1940 (

Joseph Zuk was assassinated by the Russian Communists in Florida in the late 30's which left the AOCC unsupported and alone - but still VALID

Our clergy survived - and passed on apostolic succession to us.
 

 The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in America views the subject of canonicity CORRECTLY.  Although invited to join the Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops, the Synod maintains that since it was given sole oversight of the Orthodox Christians in the Western Hemisphere, it cannot yield that responsibility by joining what is merely a working group that has no power in ecclesiastical matters an is egregious in allowing foreign patriarchs have a direct say in the functions of the orthodox church in america. -  it is kind of like having Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church.- which should be viewed as an abomination by Orthodoxy

The continuing chaos of the various factions of Orthodox Churches contiues to this day.

Our Mother Church was installed as the Autocephalous Orthodox Church in America to unite all the Orthodox factions in the Americas - human nature being what it is - the various ethnic factions have decided not to follow Eastern Orthodox norms in having a single Bishop in a territory be the Primate. 

Thus we have Russians, Ukrainians, Greek, Arabic, Coptic, Serbian, Macedonian, Romanian, Bulgarian ... etc etc. each with their own enclave of power

Even among the Russians - we have divisions in the OCA ROCOR ROAC OLD CALANDARISTS ... sinful fracturing -sinful human men vying for power and property 

May God forgive them that persecute us due to their own insecurities and unchristian behavior.

We forgive them - and are ready to unify when they are ... ask yourself why won't they unify?

 Metropolitan Archbishop Aftimious Ofiesh was appointed by the Russian Orthodox Church to evangelize the America's with English Language liturgies.   He was granted Autocephaly Directly from The Russian Orthodox Church Diocese in America with approval from Moscow Through Archbishop Platon. 

The Most Reverend Aftimios Ofiesh suffered horrible persecution, rejection, and maltreatment by highly aggressive and jealous Ethnic Orthodox Clergy trying to establish their ethnicity as the basis for canonicity.    American Orthodoxy was and is a mess even up to today.  Multiple jurisdictions and unchristian behavior has destroyed the way Orthodoxy was designed to work.

Despite what has been published by jealous enemies - Our Church survived - ArchBishop Aftimios of Blessed Memory continued the Church - and we grew slowly in the 1960's direct descendants of the AOCC.   In 1966 Aftimios Ofiesh died.  Our Bishops kept the church alive and according to Ukase 362 because of the absolute chaos and mess of the American Orthodox Problem ( which ethnicity do you claim as your pure apostolic succession?)  we survived and we are an Autocephalous continuation of the work of ArchBishop Ofiesh - much to the chagrin of many Bishops and Priests in "canonical churches"

Our Church is small - we are still persecuted but we live by the Beatitude of " Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.   We actually thank the "canonical churches for persecuting us and helping us to develop our backbone and our True Practice of the True Faith of Jesus Christ AND as ALL ORTHODOX CHURCHES pray in Orthodox Liturgies " For the welfare of the Holy Churches of God and for the UNION OF ALL = let us pray to the Lord!  May the Lord have mercy on their souls and grant them the wisdom to rectify the wrongs they perpetrate on our poor small church.

Finally a quote which we hold dear.

 Metropolitan Symeon, Archbishop of Denver and the West was the chair of the Holy Synod of THEOCACNA, being the successor of Metropolitan Vladimir of the Carolinas, who was retired. Metropolitan Symeon was consecrated by Archbishop Paul of Philadelphia with the assistance of all the members of the Church's Holy Synod in Delaware in June 1988 and enthroned as Primate by the Holy Synod meeting in South Carolina in June 1989. 

He left a beautiful legacy of fruitful works and acceptance of all people.   There was no judgement in Symeon ... only the Love of Christ extended to all. 

His life work was to develop this Holy Church of God and to pass it on to future generations. 

His eulogy reads

" His Beatitude Symeon, by the Grace of God, Metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Church in America, has fallen asleep in the Lord. May his memory be eternal.
Metropolitan Bishop Symeon was born Steven Mark Holdridge to Clyde and Mary Holdridge in Roswell, Oct. 6, 1953, and graduated from Roswell High School prior to continuing his education at Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma. Starting his sophomore year, he was catechized in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Megolohari, Tinos, Greece (taking the Christian name, Stephanos), by the Atrchimandrite Paul, a hieromonk from the island of Tinos, Greece, and exchange professor at Phillips. He received orders, including the Sacred Presbytery, from Patriarch +MARKOS’s Auxiliary Bishop +DAVID in 1975 pm October 8th.
In 1983, having been recommended by Archimandrite Paul of Tinos, Greece, Priest Stephen Holdridge of Roswell, NM was consecrated Bishop by +MARKOS, Patriarch +DIODOROS, and+NATALINO. 

  In 1996, he was made a Great Schema monk by Metropolitan VLADIMIR, being given, as is traditional, another name, this time honoring St. Symeon, the God-receiver.
Metropolitan SYMEON became increasingly active in healthcare and was chaplain of an AIDS hospice and of HIV patients at Denver General Hospital and was on Mayor Welington Webb’s committee on HIV/AIDS services. He chaired the committee that wrote the three-year plan for HIV services for the City and County of Denver.
Metropolitan Symeon cofounded various counseling organizations in Denver.
In October 2006, Metropolitan SYMEON moved his primary residence from Denver, Colorado to Roswell where he stabled the Monastic Skete of Saint John the Wonderworker and the parish of Holy Protection Church

Our wonderful metropolitan Metropolitan Bishop  Gregory Athanasius.

He was elevated to be the Metropolitan Archbishop of Mexico City in 1998 and led a vibrant community of clergy and laity and Orthodoxy that has spread throughout Mexico despite Mexico being almost completely Roman Catholic. 

Prior to the death of Metropolitan Symeon - Bishop Gregory Athanasius was asked to take over as the head of all the Russian Orthodox Church in America while discussing the future of our Church with Metropolitan Symeon who was very ill.   

After the death of Metropolitan Symeon the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in America elevated Metropolitan Gregory Athanasius to be the Primate of ROCIA per the wishes of Symeon.

Metropolitan Gregory Athanasius lead us into the 21st Century with love and a vison of evangelizing the America's per our original charter.   

Archbishop Gregory Athanasius dedicated his life to helping the poor the imprisoned and

at great sacrifice in his own life

He would often take what little he had and give it to those less fortunate

his love of liturgy was prevalent throughout his life.

He personally held many thousands of liturgies for those alive and dead and did so time and again

In his final days he had trouble standing and would pray standing for hours on end in great pain totally focused on those who requested prayers

He healed the souls of many incarcerated men some even awaiting the death sentence

He showed us that it was never too late to help a sinner come back to Christ

An amazing teacher he taught us how to love others through his own selfless sacrifice

Prior to his death Archbishop Gregory Athanasius along with the Holy Synod of Russian Orthodox Church in America saw fit to place Vladyka Ioann in charged of ROCIA.  

Archbishop Gregory Athanasius of Blessed Memory gave us His untiring years of service and vision for the future thus restoring our rightful place among Orthodoxy

Born of a Serbian Orthodox heritage Vladyka Ioann delved into the intricacies of Orthodox Theology and is an expert on early canon law.  In addition to that he has studied extensively Russian and Serbian Orthodox and even anglican liturgical chant - assembling a wonderful Anthology of Liturgical Music for the Liturgies of ROCIA     His untiring years of service to Vladyka Symeon and ArchBishop Gregory Athanasius carries forward our rightful place among Orthodox Christianity - One of the Leading Bishops in America once told Vladyka Ioann that he was sorry for how mainstream orthodoxy have mistreated him and his church.  

ArchBishop Ioann is humbled beyond measure to continue this Beautiful Church into the future

It is a massive task - most would give up - his belief in the cause of ROCIA drives his quest toward unity with All Orthodox Christians 

We pray for Unity

Axioms Axios Axios!  May God be his guide and may he have many fruitful years