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HSWT
P.O. Box 65645
Lubbock, TX 79424

Message Number
806-799-7387

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This website contains information about this Historic Church, Holy Scripture, Orthodox Canons and Tradition.

Before you continue please read this statement. This is not up for discussion. We are the one and only American Orthodox Catholic Church - (short name for) The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America that was canonically chartered by the Russian Synod in North America and headed by Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh. This Church continues today. We are the original 1928 corporation!

All the independent groups who claim to be us by using one of our names, claiming to be us but under another name and who claim to be us based on their lines that trace back to Ignatius Nichols are in no way associated with us, are not us and have no apostolic succession from us. We deny they are even Orthodox! Since we exist and continue they cannot be us. When they or the ethnic schismatic jurisdictions attack us and Abp. Ofiesh of blessed memory they prove their unchristian nature by their actions!

Corrections: We believe all information published to be factual. If you disagree with any information on this website you may send the corrected information in the manner you feel it should be corrected and any related documents to theocacna@msn.com. The details and documents you provide will be reviewed.

We are the one and only Church that was canonically established by the Russian Synod in North America (Moscow Patriarchate) and headed by Abp. Aftimios Ofiesh of blessed memory.

We use the approved Orthodox Liturgy for the Western Rite as published by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Our Eastern rite clergy used the approved Eastern Liturgies. We follow Holy Scriptures, the Pedalion which is also known as the Sacred and Divine Canons and Traditions of Orthodoxy.

Today while some orthodox claim the canons are only a guide we still view them in the same historical manner as they were viewed in Orthodoxy 100 years ago - as Sacred and Divine.

Holy Scripture is comprised of the writings of both the New and the Old Testaments. The New Testament reveals the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ, and His sacred teachings that we are charged to follow. The Old Testament is a history of the Hebrew people. It contains, among other sacred writings, the prophecies and the writings of the Prophets that foretold the coming of the Messiah. It therefore serves as an introduction to the revelation and the saving message of the New Testament.

Holy Tradition, of which Holy Scripture is a part, includes the writings, teachings, acts of the Apostles, saints, martyrs, and fathers of the Church, and her liturgical and sacramental traditions throughout the ages, the oral tradition of the early Church and the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils. All of this collective wisdom and experience through the centuries are combined to form this second great source of sacred authority.

The Creed contains the Church's basic summary of doctrinal truths to which we adhere as Orthodox Christians. It consists of the twelve articles of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed which is recited at each Divine Liturgy.

In Orthodoxy the Canons do not allow;
Women to approach the altar, to speak (teach) in Church and
The Western Rite Service Book is similar to the Book of Common Prayer.

What is said of the Patriarchs in existance (at the time the Canons were written) is also true of the independent Patriarch's, then and now, that is to say, the Autocephalous Patriarch's.

We seek members and clergy. If you have no Church home please consider us.

If you are Orthodox, follow the teachings, canons and traditions of Orthodoxy and are seeking a new bishop and a canonically established Church home we look forward to hearing from you. Our clergy must sign a clergy declaration.

Church members are also welcome but we are limited as to our locations. We await a decision by another synod of a canonical bishop to see if they will be merging with us.

We welcome members and clergy of the various Liturgical Churches who leave their present Church due their allowing women clergy and other serious breaches in the Churches teachings and beliefs that are contrary to Holy Scripture. Non-Liturgical Church members as well as those of other faiths are welcome also.

As a canonically established Orthodox Church who is recognized by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church USA we are the closest Church to the old world ethnic Churches available today. We are not a uniate Church and are not under the Pope of Rome. We are under Patriarch Nikon of the American Orthodox Patriarchate. Most non-scoba orthodox today in this country make various claims about their status and recognition but appear to be part of the independent movement. Those who seek to be part of a sacramental Church outside the old world Churches need to look no further. America is our canonical jurisdiction! As the American Church we offer all in doubt, lost or those who have fallen away from their former Church a new home if they willingly submit to the Patriarch & Synod.

We are a traditional Orthodox Church and the only Church whose canonical jurisdiction is the New World (North America). We follow Holy Scripture, Orthodox Canons, the Rudder, and Orthodox Tradition, in that order. We were established as an Eastern Orthodox Church by the Russian Orthodox Synod of Bishops in North America with the knowledge and approval of the Moscow Patriarchate in 1927.

Many of us are Western Rite and our Service Book is very similar to the Book of Common Prayer. We are a historic Church from the historic old world jurisdictions that pre-date the Anglican Communion.