Those who lie about who they are and who their Church is clearly are not christian's or clergy.

While the SCOBA Orthodox attack this Canonically Established Church and caused the Schism in American Orthodoxy they ignored the claims of many independents who would claim to be us and claim to be Orthodox. They allowed these independent to "muddy" our name by their silence. To clearly identify us apart from the many false claims of independents we proceeded to do what was necessary such as filing Service Mark applications on our names "The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America" AND "The Society of Clerks Secular of Saint Basil". These are our names under Common Law. These are also our legal names since we have owned them for over the required 5 years as a Service Mark. Our name "American Orthodox Catholic Church is still our name under Common Law, but is used by many independents. We have a page that lists these independents who are in fact Old Catholic and not Orthodox. Some Ordain women, some have "clergy" of questionable reputation but none are part of this Church now or in the past.

The canons mention theft of Church property but since the canons were written centuries ago they do not detail Church property in a modern manner. The canons mention holy objects such as candles but in a modern sense Church items must include a churches identity, name and legal property as well, which was not an issue when the canons were drafted. In this day and age the taking of one churches identity and legally owned property, such as a Registered or formerly Registered Copyright or Service or Trademark that is owned by a Church is also considered theft and according to the canons the punishments can be a clergy being deposed, laity excommunicated and even more severe punishment is mentioned.

Beware of those who try to pass themselves off as us. They are not Orthodox Bishops and they have no Sacramental authority from this, or any, Orthodox Church. Their claims are Catholic, not Orthodox.

Such individuals may be viewed as episcopi vagantes. This is a term with no basis in Orthodoxy.

Any individual or group who illegally use our name and logo (service mark) are party to Identity theft, infringement and fraud, which are criminal acts. Presently the HOC-AJ, one recent group claiming they are us, are basically independent old catholic and in no way true Orthodox.

This guy in Florida who recently claimed to be the head of THEOCACNA, one "Metropolitan" Carl Bartholomew has never been associated with this Church and his claims to our Church history and lines of Apostolic Succession are groundless in Orthodoxy. As far as we know Bartholomew is a former Roman Catholic priest playing Orthodox bishop and nothing more. He prefers to threaten and deceive and to act in a very unchristian manner.

Evidence of his illegal acts include the document on his website claiming to have been elevated to the office of Metropolitan of The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church (in North America was left off) and showing our logo which with our name is our service mark and legal property. Therefore such a document shows Identity theft, fraud and service mark infringement since he was never part of our Church as this document claims. These are criminal acts and this man and his associates are criminals by their acts.

Again do not be deceived by such liars who will claim they are "THE HOLY EASTERN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA (Inc.)", the 1927 Church that Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh incorporated in 1928. Archbishop Victor, our former Metropolitan remains Corporate President of this Church corporation. You may locate almost all information about this Church and our Synod at http://www.theocacna.us. If someone claims to be with us all bishops are listed on the synod directory page and you may contact one of the bishops for information on our priests and Deacons.

It should also be noted that we are the first American Orthodox Church established by the Russian Orthodox Church Synod of Bishops in North America of the Moscow Patriarchate. We deny the claims of many in the independent movement who claim our lines traced through Prophetta, Plummer, Dewittow, Noli and others. They did not receive any holy orders in a canonical Orthodox manner and thus have no true or valid lines from this Church.

The owner of a registered trademark may commence legal proceedings for trademark infringement to prevent unauthorized use of that, or any, trademark. However registration is NOT required. The owner of a common law trademark may also file suit.

Since we have been Registered with the U.S.P.T.O. we hold all rights to our Registered, formerly Regstered and claimed Service Marks ₁, ₂.