“NON NOVA SED NOVE” ~ “NOT NEW THINGS, BUT THE OLD THINGS IN A NEW WAY” ~ St.Vincent of Lerins

REGARDING THE SO-CALLED RESTORATION OF THE WESTERN RITE

WE ARE THE CHURCH OF THE 7 ECUMENICAL COUNCILS & THE ORIGINAL NICENE CREED ~ DO NOT ACCEPT THE SELF SERVING & FALSE CONTENTION THAT SOME EASTERN RITE CHURCH’S PURPORT ~ THE WESTERN RITE OF HOLY ORTHODOXY DID NOT NEED RESTORATION OR REFORM ~ IT HAS ALWAYS EXISTED IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM AS A FIERY EMBER THAT WAS NEVER COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED ~ IT REKINDLED ITSELF BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT & BURNS AS GOLDEN AS THE SUN ~ WARMING THE HEARTS & SOULS OF ALL WHO GATHER AROUND HER WARMTH & BRIGHTNESS ~ OUR METROPOLIA IS LIVING PROOF THAT IN CHRIST THERE IS NEITHER EAST NOR WEST ~ “IF IT IS NOT BROKE; DO NOT FIX IT“

“The Church of Almighty God is still the Anvil that many Hammers have worn out and left intact without a scratch”. ++Cyril Garbett ~ Archbishop of York ~ 1945

Questions We Have Been Asked and Supplemental Explanations for Laity & Clergy Regarding the identity & Ideology of our Anglican Rite Metropolitan Archdiocese

… INDEPENDENT VERSUS AUTOCEPHALOUS? WHAT? … A Word of Clarification & Explanation. A Question That is Often Asked by Well Intended but Misinformed Inquirers is, “Are You an Independent Orthodox Church”? The Answer is a Resounding NO! There is No Such Thing as “INDEPENDENT ORTHODOXY.” Our Question Would Be, “INDEPENDENT OF WHAT OR WHOM”? An “Independent Orthodox Church” Properly Speaking Cannot Exist. For to be Independent Would Render a Church Communion Separate Existing in and of Itself. Such a Church Body Would Place Themselves Outside of Holy Orthodoxy and in a State of Schism. GOD FORBID! The Orthodox Church Has Always Taught That All National Church’s are Fully One Great Holy Orthodox Church Who Acknowledge the Patriarch of Constantinople as the First Among Equals. We are AUTOCEPHALOUS Which Has an Entirely Different Rendering in Terms of Polity & Unity With Other National Orthodox Church Bodies. Autocephalous Means We Govern & Maintain Our Own Church Affairs Internally and Not From Without, But From Within. We Do Not Impose Our Will on Other Hierarch’s or Their Members. Accordingly We Expect the Same Respect & Courtesy From Our Sister Jurisdictions. Simply & To Make the Point; INDEPENDENT? ABSOLUTELY NOT! AUTOCEPHALOUS OR SELF GOVERNING? MOST ASSUREDLY YES WE ARE! This Has Been the Correct Or Orthodox Teaching Since the Time of the Book of Acts Church.

Who Was the Founder of Your Church? Really?

This is Sadly one of the Most Inane Questions We Have Had To Deal With. The Worst Part About it is That Many Clergymen are Ill-informed on the Church’s Catechism. The Question Goes Hand in Hand With the One Above. THERE IS ONLY ONE FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH. THE (ONE) LORD WHO SHED HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD TO REDEEM MANKIND. JESUS CHRIST IS THE KING OF KING’S AND LORD OF LORD’S! An Excellent Example of How This Has Been Eloquentlly Explained is Provided by the Polish National Catholic Church. According to all of Their Publications, the Lord Jesus Christ Was the Founder of the Church and Prime Bishop Francis Hodor was the ORGANIZER. This is the Exact Wording Concerning the Matter in Their Catechism. The Bristish Isles Were Evangelized, Organized and Established as the First Great Patriachate in the West. Glastonbury “the Land of Apples” was the Primatial See Which Became the Center of Holy Orthodoxy in Brittany. St. Joseph of Arimathea Brought the Church Founded by his Nephew Christ-God to Glastonbury; Making The Lord’s Uncle its First Bishop-Patriarch and Organizer. HOW COULD ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP BE THE FOUNDER OF THE CHURCH WHICH HAD ALREADY EXISTED PRIOR TO THEIR BECOMING HER MEMBERS? Those Who Claim Their Particular Communion, Diocese or National Church “was Founded” by one of the Original Apostles, a Patriarch or Synod Of Bishops Although Not Intentional, is Bordering on the Sin of Blasphemy Against the the Holy Spirit. Anyone Using Such Verbiage Is Strongly Admonished to Correct This Language Forthwith. We Direct All Who Disagree With Us to Any Approved Catechism Issued by a Historic Orthodox Communion as Proof of Our Veracity Here.

How are you different from the Episcopal Church? and The Old Catholic Church?

THE SHORT AND DIRECT ANSWER IS WE ARE THE HOLY ORTHODOX CATHOLIC CHURCH PRIOR TO THE SCHISM OF 1054. However, to further Declare our Position as Staunch Defenders of BIBLICAL BOOK OF ACTS ORTHODOX TEACHING, the first three glaring differences are; we do not Perform same Sex Unions. We do not Ordain Homosexuals to the Sacred Ministry. Whether they be currently celibate or living openly in this lifestyle. Neither do not Ordain Females as Bishop’s, Priest’s, Deacons nor to the Sub-Diaconate, Minor Orders or bestow upon them the Tonsure. Neither are Females admitted as Altar Servers. We Encourage Woman who feel called to Service in the Church to explore the possibility of being Set Aside as a Lay Deaconess. (Other major differences have been detailed on the Tutorial for Clergy Page and continue below.)

Concerning the Sacred Ministry

The Anglican Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of America will never turn a blind eye while the forces of evil attempt to infiltrate the Church’s Sacred Ministry. Once again our position is this matter is “if it is not broke, why attempt to fix it?” Innovations and what some are now term “re-imagining” the Sacrament of Holy Orders has set those who have done so on a slippery slope from which they appear powerless to climb up from. The unsavory changes, abrogations and additions to the Sacrament have given rise to practices such as eucharistic ministers, lay lectors, altar girls, female clergy at all levels and Holy Orders given freely to all comers simply for the asking. Such atrocities have no place among us. In Accordance with established Western Rite Custom we have retained the Rite of Tonsure. The Minor Orders of Doorkeeper, Lector, Blesser/Exorcist and Acolyte. The Major Order of the Subdiaconte which has proved Invaluable during the Discernment period in ascertaining a True Calling to the Sacred Ministry as required by Canon Law. This Order has a long History dating back to Hippolytus of Rome in the 2nd century. It is thought by some to be the Greatest of the Minor Orders. Other Scholars consider it to be the First of the Major Orders. Many Theologians have Concluded that it stands on its own as a period of Scrutiny to Prove and Test the Fitness and Calling to the Priesthood. It has been fittingly termed the “Probationary Order” throughout the Centuries. The Order of Deacon and the Holy Priesthood which bestows full Sacerdotal Power on the Ordinand have in one form or another been a part of the Historic Ministry from the Church’s earliest beginnings. The Salisbury Pontifical as used by the Bishop’s of the Sarum Corinthian-Rite which grew up alongside of the Pontificale Romanum in the Gregorian Tradition is used for all Ordinations and Consecrations by our Bishop’s.

Concerning the Distinctives of the Eastern Rite

The Eastern Rite and Western Rite of Holy Orthodoxy are in complete concord concerning the esse’ of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. That there existed from the Apostolic Age the three fold Ministry of Deacon’s Priest’s and Bishops is incontrovertible. However, we are fully cognizant that what grew up in and around these Offices over the centuries had much to do with geography, need and local custom. We acknowledge the Tonsure, Minor Orders and the Order of Subdeacon having a commonality among us, yet differing between us in daily parochial undertakings. We fully embrace this and understand such differences in the same vein as those which have always existed between the East and West in the manner of the Celebration of the Holy Communion ~ Divine Liturgy.

But, I am not Eastern European and only Speak English

I thought you had to be Greek, Russian or Ukrainian and follow the Eastern Rite to be Orthodox and be fluent in those languages; is this not True? The Answer to this misconception is a resounding NO! Read on to find out Why?

As was stated in the Introduction earlier this is a misconception that has been proven to be untrue. The Eastern Rite is Blessed with rich and time honored customs particular to the locales and circumstance wherein they took root and flourished. We respect, embrace and admire their fidelity to their various Rites and acknowledge their Glorious Patrimony. We in the Anglican Patrimony-Western Rite have our own Patrimony which grew up in concert with the Eastern Rite over the Centuries in other Countries. Ours is a Indigenous American Church organized by citizens of the USA. We are English speaking and use the Vernacular language in all Services of Public Worship. As was made abundantly clear above, you do not need to be born a particular ethnicity to become a member of the CHRIST FOUNDED “HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH”. Yes, there is really such a thing as American Orthodoxy. And you have found it here.

The Communion Service ~ The Divine Liturgy ~ The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Never will you find any of those in the Byzantine Tradition attempt to co-mingle Liturgical Customs and Vestments or use terminology that appertains to the Western Tradition. We have never come upon an Eastern Rite Parish using the term Holy Communion or Holy Mass for their Sunday Divine Liturgy. Although often times the Western Rite has used the Greek word “Liturgy” in referring to the Communion Service or Holy Eucharist. This is a common practice and began in England in the late 1880’s when the term in the Greek became so common that it fell into a generic usage as one more designation of the Holy Sacrament of the Altar. The Church of England at the time showed a profound interest in becoming more familiar with the customs of the Byzantine Church and as a result the High Church Party routinely adopted the term Liturgy.

LIKE A PRECISE FINELY TOOLED SHIP’S NAUTICAL COMPASS LEADING TO THE CORRECT DESTINATION EAST AND WEST POINT THE WAY TO HOLY ORTHODOXY

FULLY ORTHODOX IN CREED & CONFESSIONAL BELIEF COMPLETELY WESTERN-SARUM IN PATRIMONY

For the sake of clarity and fidelity to our MATER ORTHODOXA ECCLESIA ANGLICANA ~ Sarum-Corinthian- Glastonbury-Patrimony, the Anglican Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of America ~ Anglican Rite Metropolia; we submit what follows. Other than usage of the word “Liturgy” as explained above we avoid mingling together the customs and traditions appertaining to our Eastern Rite Brethren. Our Bishops do not carry the title of Mar or employ the term Vladyka as a form of address or reference. The wives of our Clergy are honored as Mother or Sister, not as Episcopa, Presbytera or Matushka. We refer to the Epiclesis in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass~Divine Liturgy~Holy Communion Service as it translates in English that being “The Invocation”. We do not use the Byzantine designation of Chrismation, but rather Confirmation; although it is the same Sacrament. We Love, Honor and Venerate the Theotokos-God Bearer and call her the Blessed Mother Mary or the Holy Virgin Mary according to Western Custom. We use the Western Designation of (Bodily ) “Assumption into Heaven” (Commemorated on August 15th) instead of her “Dormition” or “Falling Asleep” as is the Custom of the Eastern Rite. We Commemorate the Feast of her Conception in the Womb of St. Ann on December 8th. And her Holy Nativity on September 8th. In Their Devotional Life our Clergy and Lay Members are free to use Statues or Icons in their Houses of Worship and for private acts of Piety. Many of us make use of a combination of both. We use unleavened bread as has been our Custom for untold Centuries at the Holy Table. Daily Celebrations of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass ~ The Divine Liturgy are commonplace among Western Rite Orthodox Worshiping Communities. Sitting, Standing, Kneeling, Elevations and Genuflections during the Celebration of the Divine Service are all accepted forms of Adoration and Posture for Clergy and Laity alike. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament (using a Veiled Ciborium or a Monstrance) and Stations of the Cross in Lent are Devotions that are Particular in the Western Rite. The strict use of Liturgical Colors throughout the Church Year is also a different Custom than of our Sister Communions of the Eastern Rite.

RESTORATION OF THE CORRECTED TERM “IMMACULATE CONCEPTION” IN FULL CONCORD WITH THE ANCIENT USE OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH ~ “Blessed Be Her (BVM) Holy and Immaculate Conception of Christ-God.” ~ The Restored Rendering in the Devotional “The Divine Praises”

We use the terminology Immaculate Conception in the Archdiocese. However, it does not refer in any manner to the Holy Mother Mary being Conceived Without Sin in the Womb of Her Mother St. Ann. And Further, We Castigate the Papal Dogma of “the immaculate conception” Issued by the Bishop of Rome in 1854 to be Grossly Errant and Contrary to the Esse’ of Christ’s True Religion.  We Employ the Verbiage to Teach that the Holy Mother Mary Conceived the Lord Jesus Christ Inviolate-Sin Free-Spotless in Her Womb by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Her Holy & Immaculate Conception of the Lord Jesus Christ Resulted in the Dogma Holy Mother Church Rightly Names “The Virgin Birth.” These Two Distinct Events Coming Together to Effect the Salvation of Mankind; as Almighty God has Designed for the Ultimate Plan of His Creation.  This Teaching is in Full Conformity to Holy Orthodoxy as it has Existed From the Time of the Book of Acts Church of Which We Model Ourselves Upon.

The Church Calendar and Usage 

Our Western Rite Patrimony demands we adhere to the Ordo-Calendar Based on the Usage and Spirit of the Pro-Cathedral of the Diocese of Sherborne-Old Sarum in Orthodox England Circa 1000 to 1050 A.D. Accordingly, the Feasts of Christmas, Easter & Pentecost are Celebrated in Common with the Orthodox Church of Finland. They also Coincide with the Calendar’s of the other Historic Communions of the Western Rite. We Recognize the Ordo-Calendar will Vary Slightly Among us Allowing for Local Parochial Use & Religious Communities. We Expect Full Compliance of our Published Metropolia Ordo-Calendar in the Celebration of all Sunday’s & Major Feast Days Throughout the Year.

Regarding the Differing Pastoral Practice and Custom of Baptism & Confirmation in the Eastern & Western Rite and The Manner of Making the Sign of the Cross

In the WESTERN RITE of which the THE SARUM-CORINTHIAN RITE OF ANGLICANA IS THE COUNTERPART OF THE ROMAN GREGORIAN RITE we do not distribute Holy Communion to Infants. Young Children are led to the Communion Rail and infants are carried by their Parents or Godparents to receive a Special Blessing. Nor is it our Custom to Confer the Sacrament of Confirmation (Chrismation in the Eastern Rite) on those who have not reached the Age of Discernment. Engaging in the polemics of Theological diatribe regarding the differing practice of the Eastern Rite would be an inane undertaking. Simply put, to deviate from our Tradition, Ethos and Ideology in this matter would violate our established Parochial Custom in the Western Rite. Any unilateral or arbitrary change of our Centuries of common Usage in this matter would have earth shattering consequences within our Sarum Tradition. It would completely upend and undermine the foundational manner in which our entire system of Catechesis is structured and has been preserved. The Chaos and Confusion resulting would be nearly impossible to recover from. If it is not broke? Do not fix it! Can any of us imagine what might be the reaction of our Eastern Rite Brethren concerning Baptism and Chrismation if we asked them to abandon their Established Practice in deference to ours in the Western Rite? This is purely a Pastoral matter which has stood the test of time for Centuries in the West prior to the Schism of 1054. History bears Witness to the Reality that the differing practice of the the Eastern Rite and Western Rite Orthodox Communions was always acknowledged by both. This was never a barrier or impediment to full Ecclesiastical Union and Concord. And that the East and West respected the well Established Tradition and Custom of the other in Print and Deed is well Documented and Chronicled. The differing Traditions regarding Baptism and Confirmation had no bearing on the Great Schism of 1054. Confirmation is reserved to our Bishops who under normal circumstances confer the Sacrament during annual Parish Visitations. It is Customary for the Bishop to Examine the Candidates Prior to the Laying on of Hands & Anointing with Holy Chrism. It is a very moving Experience to witness young Christians stand before the Bishop and Answer his Questions with Faith, Confidence and Seriousness of Purpose. And then Forthwith Renew the Promises made by their Godparents at Baptism to Take Up the Cross of Christ and Live Wholly for Him.

In the Western Rite we make the Sign of the Cross in a manner that is backwards according to the way our Eastern Rite Brethren perform this Sacramental Act. That is the way we view Eastern Rite Faithful in performing this act of pious Devotion. St. Paul wrote of the Sign of the Cross in his Epistles. He did not provide the accompanying mechanical instructions of how it is to be performed. Making this an issue of contention among Orthodox Brethren would not speak well for either side.

Mutual Respect Among the Rites As We Are Orthodox First

The Anglican Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of America will always respect, honor and uphold our Sister Rites of the Byzantine Patrimony. We Expect the Same Dignity Coming From the Byzantines. They are Neither Above Us or Below Us. WE DO NOT Seek Approval or Validation from any Eastern Rite Prelate or Jurisdiction. (This goes for any Western Rite Jurisdiction a as well.) We are Self Validating and have been Since 37 .a.d. when St. Joseph of Arimathea Brought the Orthodox Faith to the British Isles. We State With Vigor we are Equal but Different from the Byzantines. We maintain that their is no such thing as Eastern Rite or Western Rite Theology. We are simply ORTHODOX as in the BOOK OF ACTS long before there was an Eastern or Western Rite. Holy Orthodoxy has never been found in a particular Rite. It is found in the individual who believes in the fullness of Apostolic Faith, Order, Witness, Mission and Ministry as left to us by the Apostles of Our Lord Jesus Christ under the Protection of the Holy Spirit. MARANATHA.

Concerning the Genocide of the Unborn Child ~ The Bible Human Sexuality ~ The Ancient Liturgies ~ Modernism ~ Eternity

We Believe to (abort) Terminate a Pregnancy is Murder and a Grave Sin culpable by all involved in this barbarism. We have a Document called the Didache of Christian Antiquity to rely on when it comes to Abortion. The Didache or “Teaching of the 12 Apostles” many Scholars date between 70 to 100 A.D. Several of the Original 12 Apostles were still living during these decades. In the First 400 years of the Church this Document was held in such high Regard that many Bishops Read and Taught from it at Public Worship. We read in the Didache, “DO NOT KILL THE UNBORN CHILD”. This is Irrefutable Evidence of the Teaching on Abortion during the Apostolic Era. If not, the question then becomes, From what Source did it Originate? Logic dictates it would have come in some form to the Apostles from Christ Himself.

Sexual Relations are Confined to a Man and a Woman who have a Lawful Marriage Sanctioned by the Church. The Sacred Scriptures in their Entirety and Holy Tradition are the Standard of Christian Doctrine and Morality. The Ancient Liturgies do not need to be Modernized and Diluted nor stripped of their Splendor and Dignity. Heaven and Hell are Real and at some point in time we will be judged Worthy of the One or Reduced to the Consequence of the other. At the Final Judgement each Soul standing before the Creator and given his Eternal Destiny.

Outwardly you appear to be “Continuing Anglicans”?

It might appear that way, but No we are not. If “Continuing Anglicans“, “Traditional Anglicans” or “Independent Anglicans” as they often refer to themselves were to rid their Jurisdictions of Extremes in Ideology of High Church verses Low Church factions; remove the Filioque from the Nicene Creed and discard the Heretical 39 Articles of Religion they would in esse’ be exactly as we are.

Many Continuing High Church Anglicans bind themselves to a number of Roman Catholic Dogmas. Among them are the Immaculate Conception, Transubstantiation and Purgatory which are completely Papal innovations. Where Roman Catholic doctrine is in full concord with the Undivided Church we are in full agreement. However, if any Papal Teaching is in conflict with Christ’s True Religion we will Refute it with the utmost Vigor. We do not acknowledge the Bishop of Rome as the Vicar of Christ on Earth as many Anglo-Catholics do. The title of Pope as used by the Bishop of Rome (i.e. the Dogma of Papal Infallibility) is a man made innovation and not in use among us. We respect the Bishop of Rome in the same way we honor and respect the Metropolitan of the Latvian Orthodox Church and the Prime Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church. We do not acknowledge the Bishop of Rome as having any form of Universal Jurisdiction. In 1054 A.D. the Bishop of Rome as a matter of Historical Fact separated from Holy Orthodoxy over advocating Superstitious Practices in word and deed; the insertion of the Filoque in the Nicene Creed and Exaggerated Claims of Universal Primacy of Jurisdiction. We Pray the Roman Catholic Church lead by the All Good and Life Sustaining Holy Spirit returns in Unblemished Form to Holy Orthodoxy from whence she came.

Regarding our Protestant Brethren

We Believe the Sacraments Celebrated in good faith by Protestant Clergy are a means of Efficacy & Blessing for their own Members. That we would maintain otherwise would in effect deny sincere Believers in the Christian of the Gospel the Benefits of Christ’s Redemption. GOD FORBID.

Epilog Regarding Continuing Anglicanism

You will find Continuing Anglicans who tout themselves as Evangelical Low Churchman who are nothing more than Baptists or Presbyterians in the practical manner of Exercising their Ministry. We do not accept Morning or Evening Prayer Services as adequate Forms of Worship on the Lord’s Day. This is how Liberal Protestants and Fundamentalist Evangelicals Worship. The Continuing Anglican Movement is replete with rival High and Low Church factions warring with the other in the same Jurisdiction. Over the Decades this strife has given way to much Schism and further splintering among themselves.

Fidelity to Holy Mother Church is not measured by the use of Incense, Candles, Holy Water, Laced Surplice’s or the Ringing of Bells (High Church). Neither is it to be measured by the elimination of them (Low Church). The Heart of the Church is Her Orthodoxy and without Fidelity to the “Correct Belief” all those things just detailed are mere empty Vessels. And to abrogate them without Orthodox Belief is the Ultimate exercise in Futility.

AN OPEN INVITATION

Are you a Lay member or Minister of the Episcopal Church or the Canterbury (Anglican) Communion who wants to rid yourself of the Liberalism and Heresies they openly teach? Is it your desire a return to Traditional Worship and Biblical Sermons? If the answer is YES; then you would be quite comfortable in becoming Members of our Olde English expression of Holy Orthodoxy. Continuing Anglicans who are not Papal Sympathizers or do not hold to an Evangelical approach to Ideology are also at Home with us. It all comes back to the “VIA MEDIA” (MIDDLE WAY) which is Orthodoxy. Whether you are Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, a Latter Day Saint, a Seeker of Truth or Anything Else; You are Most Welcome Here.

If It Is Not Broke! Do Not Fix It!

THAT WHICH APPEARS TO BE INSIGNIFICANT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN MATTERS OF (CORRECT) ORTHODOX BELIEF. THE THIRD COUNCIL OF TOLEDO IN 589 A.D. SUMMONED BY LOCAL BISHOPS IN SPAIN TOOK UNILATERAL PRESUMPTIVE ACTION UPON ITSELF. THE MATTER HAVING BEEN SETTLED ONCE AND FOR ALL TIME BY THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OF NICEA IN 325 A.D. THE SPANISH BISHOPS ACTING IN THEIR OWN NAME (IN CONCERT WITH THE BISHOP OF ROME) ADDED THE WORDS “AND THE SON” TO THE CREED. SINCE THAT TIME AND ITS ACCEPTANCE BY NEARLY ALL DIOCESE’S IN THE WEST THIS ADDITION AND ABRASION HAS BROUGHT DISCORD AND SCHISM WITHIN THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH.

THE FILIOQUE AND THE NEED TO FOR ITS OMISSION IN FIDELITY TO THE ANCIENT CHURCH

As is stated elsewhere recitation of the Nicene Creed separates us from the Episcopal Church and Continuing Anglicans. They have retained the Papal Error of reciting the Creed with the addition of the Filioque (and the Son) in their Public Worship Services. The Anglican Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of America uses the Nicene Creed in its pure unadulterated form as Holy Orthodoxy has from time Immemorial. Once the Universal Church decided on which Books were to be included in our Bible, to add additional Books was unthinkable. Once the Articles of Faith were decided upon by the Universal Church in the wording of the Nicene Creed, should this same Standard not be Upheld? The Restoration of the Creed in its original form could have easily been made by Continuing Anglicans from their early beginnings. Why they have not done so is a Question they have yet to answer? In the case of High Church Continuing Anglicans, it is their affinity towards the Papal Church which is the apparent rationale. The Low Church factions identify with Protestant Evangelicals among whom the addition Filoque has never been a consideration. In each case Orthodox Doctrine and Historical continuity with the Universal Church as defined by St. Vincent of Lerins appears to be Irrelevant in this Matter.

John Henry Newman Much Admired and Revered by Continuing Anglicans and His Theological Introspection on the 39 Articles of Religion

According to Papers Written by his own hand, (Tract 90 and in personal correspondence with his contemporaries) John Henry Newman ultimately left his beloved Church of England over daily Intellectual and Ideological Struggles over the 39 Articles of Religion. Newman wrote to a contemporary, “I am afraid before I can come to terms with these Articles, I will surely be driven to madness”. He spent sleepless nights with pen and paper attempting to turn these decidedly Protestant-Calvinist platitudes into Catholic Articles of Belief. He finally gave up in despair, realizing all his efforts were for naught. Upon realizing his folly in this matter he forthwith converted to the Papal Church. If nothing else, we must give Newman accolades for his Intellectual Honesty and Integrity in this regard. There were many others like him who championed the Oxford Movement when they were in the Church of England. This high profile Convert (Newman) brought many High Church Anglicans with him. He was rewarded by the Bishop of Rome with Extravagant gifts of Vestments, Altar Ware and given large Stipends. His greatest Boon came when he was Awarded the Red Hat and made a Cardinal.

Why is There No Link or Solicitation for Donations on Your Website? Do You Not Need Funds for the Support of Your Clergy & Missions?

Yes, We Do Need Money To Continue the Mission Entrusted To Us. We Have Always Relied on Donations From Our Own Members & Sympathizers to Extend our Varied Apostolates. It Is the Responsibility of Our Members to Assist our Clergy To Be Good Stewards & Provide the Necessary Financial Means to Support our Missions & the Minister(s) in Charge. Our Members are Taught the Biblical Directive to Tithe. They Respond Accordingly. This is Why You Will Never Find Us Soliciting Alms From the General Public. Upon Reading This Website, We Periodically Are Asked How a Donation Can Be Made? Use the Information on the Contact Page For All Such Requests. Your Financial Support Though Unsolicited is Appreciated.

TRADITION WITH MEANING ~ WHERE REASON & FAITH ARE LIVED OUT FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLES LEFT BY THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH AS RECORDED IN THE BOOK OF ACTS ~ WITH NO CONTROVERSY & NO COMPROMISE

“ESSE QUAM VIDERI” ~ “PRO DEO ET HUMANITATE”

“RATHER BE THAN SEEM” ~ “FOR GOD AND MANKIND”