On July 6, 2003 The North American Holy Synod of The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America declared itself The American Orthodox Patriarchate. As the American Orthodox Catholic Church which is our short name (see the 1927 Constitution) and since we were canonically establised as an autocephalous and autonomous Church we have the right to canonically declare ourself a Patriarchate. Due to the continued attacks on us and Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh of blessed memory by the Schismatic Orthodox we do not share communion them as the Sacred and Divine canons direct. The canons state that Schismatics cannot pray together with Orthodox Christians, that a Schism can become a heresy.

The Schism in American Orthodoxy occured in 1929 by clergy of the ethnic Orthodox churches.