The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America A/K/A THEOCACNA received in 1927 as our short name "The American Orthodox Catholic Church".

We are the one and only canonically established American Orthodox Catholic Church (THEOCACNA) and all those not part of this Church who use this name are attempting to mislead the public.

We now have documented proof, not only from our archives but also from the ethnic Orthodox in America, that no independent groups claiming to be the Society of Clerks Secular of St Basil or the AOCC are or could be us under any name. All such claims are clearly false. Continued claims are lies and proof these episcopi vagants are unchristian frauds.

None of the following are associated with THEOCACNA in any way. Thy have used our name and in some cases our logo and church history to falsely claim they are us. They have no sacramental authority from this canonically established Orthodox Church and as far as we know they are not associated with any canonically established Orthodox Church.

Following is a list of groups who have claimed in the past or still claim to be us by using one of our names, either the corporate name of THEOCACNA, our short name "American Orthodox Catholic Church" or both. You should understand that the name "American Orthodox Catholic Church" was canonically granted to THEOCACNA as our "short name" in 1927. It has been adopted by a number of groups in the independent movement who are not part of this or any canonical or canonically established Church. We have found that all independent groups claim they have valid lines of Apostolic Succession but none to the best of our knowledge have "recognized" lines and they are not in communion with any canonical (ethnic or SCOBA) Church or any other old established Church. Many will claim their lines were recognized by the Catholic Church at some time many years ago but not in the present day due to the various splits in the lines or the manner in which the lines were finally received. Not in a canonical orthodox method.

Any group that attempts to steal an identity or use the name of another Church cannot be a good organization to be associated with. Think about it, would you go to a Church that claims to be the Roman Catholic Church that holds its services in a home and has a woman priest? Or a group using a name like Greek Orthodox who also posts a different type name on the sign or webpage and holding services in a small rented room or store front?

For the most part these groups are part of the Independent Movement and are in fact old catholic and not Orthodox.

Here is a partial list of such groups and we suggest you be very careful in any dealings with them.

Some of the independent clergy who claim to be A.O.C.C. and Orthodox include:

One group claiming headquarters out of New York using the AOCC name includes the Penticostal Orthodox Church as part of their group.

Dominick Lorenzo, Retired
Former head of a NY AOCC group
Consecrated by U. Ryzy-Ryski 6-26-77
Appointed by John Christian as Metropolitan

Patrick K. McReynolds
b. May 1950
Member-God's Benevolence Institute
Ordained Deacon & Priest 4-6-74 by Itkin
Consecrated 4-7-74 by Itkin
Consecrated 5-19-75 by E.C. Payne
(Ind. Catholic Church/Ind RC Church)
Consecrated 11-26-76 by U. Ryzy-Ryski
Also listed as Cons. by Andre Barbeau w/Andrei Letellier and as a consecrator of Andrei Barbeau
Th.M from Fordham U. 1978
6/81 began God's Benevolence Orthodox Catholic Church (independent)

Steven Kochones, b. 1/31/31
Greek Orthodox layman, left and
was ordained minister ind. Assemblies of God
Ordained Priest by Propheta 9/4/67
Est. Church of God in the Lord Jesus Christ in Pasadena, CA. 1969
Consecrated 5-18-80 Catholic Church of God, Pasadena, CA
Changed Corporate name to A.O.C.C. 5-11-89

Donald Jolly
Independent Catholic Church International
12-31-73 - Cons. by John Brown
Free Protestant Episcopal Church
6-25-80 - Cons. by Antonio Pietroburgo in Rome and appointed AOCC Representative.

Many episcopi vagantes will claim their churches variously as Orthodox, Catholic, Apostolic, or any of the other historical names used by the Church. Attempting to trace their roots, delineate one group from another, or easily identify them as being episcopi vagantes can be a difficult matter, especially because such groups seem to be subject to internal schisms and name changes. One indication often pointed out about the webpages of such groups is that they often have a list of their alleged apostolic succession displayed prominently up front and insisting on their "canonicity."

American Orthodox Catholic Church Western Rite of Medford, Long Island, NY.

This group ordains women which is contrary to Orthodox Canons. Therefore they are not orthodox so this is likely another independent old catholic group.

Another NY group under Patriarch Samuel also claims the AOCC name. They list numerous clergy outside the U.S., most by first or Church, name only.

They claim their lines of Apostolic Succession from Prophetta thus proving they are old catholic. Propheta was never part of the original "American Orthodox Catholic Church" but started his own jurisdiction, copied our short name, and ordained clergy to go off and do their own thing. This group calls themself the American Orthodox-Catholic Church. They claim to be the continuation of the Walter Propheta 1964 organizaton and claim their lines trace to us.

They list clergy who are known, in the past, to have had warrants issued for criminal matters after leaving the state. We have a copy of a document that claims they were deposed or excommunicated.

American Orthodox Catholic Church webpage by Stephen Tyminski of N.Y. claims both the AOCC name and our Corporate name "The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America" which is a registered service mark of this Church. On this webpage he mentions Abp. Thaddeus (Condrick) who he has not been associated with for a few years now.

Thaddeus, Alan Stanford, of Deming or Columbus, NM (formerly of Calif.) used to list THEOCACNA and American Orthodox Catholic Church on his website but now states not associated with THEOCACNA. He has made a number of claims that have changed from time to time. Claims to have the "Blessing of the Holy Patriarchate of Moscow" who deny knowing him, claims no other "Mother Church" existed 1921-1927 until his group was incorporated - the 1927 appears to refer to our Charter again, and then he denies being or claiming to be the Mother Church.

The OCCNA - Orthodox Catholic Church in North America is a group that had been started by Denis Garrison. The group has pretty much faded away but still has a webpage up that seems to claim the 1927 Charter issued to THEOCACNA was also issued to them.

A few groups also used to claim our corporate name "The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America". They used to claim to be us until they were shown that our name is a Registered Service Mark and to use our name was illegal.

Groups who used to use our name were in Md., NC/SC, Wy/Co, Ca., La., and Pa. to name a few.

Links to some of those claiming to be the American Orthodox Catholic Church, who claim our Church history or claim to be us under another name.

http://www.cinemaparallel.com/Apostolic.Episcopal.Church.html

http://community-2.webtv.net/AOCChurch/info/

http://www.americancatholicchurch.org/home__education__apostolic_suc.htm#3

http://aocc.wordpress.com/about/

http://www.forministry.com/USNYAMOCCNOCCN