The Mission to Establish a True Western Rite Orthodox Church in the Americas

 By Mor Abdiel Theophorus Tikhon (The Rt. Rev. Manuel A. Otero III)

The Orthodox Church has long struggled to develop deep roots in the Western

cultural legacy of the Americas, which is dominated by Protestantism, Roman Catholicism,

and secularism. The purpose of building a true Western Rite Orthodox Church here is to

faithfully restore the range of liturgical expression that existed within the undivided Church

before to the Great Schism of 1054, rather than to introduce a new or novel concept. This

Western Rite, which draws from the historic traditions of Rome, Gaul, Britain, and the

Celtic countries, serves as a bridge for Western Christians seeking the fullness of the

apostolic faith without abandoning their preferred styles of worship.

This article covers the history made by visionaries and saints like Archbishop

Aftimios Ofiesh and St. Tikhon of Moscow, the problems that have made it hard to move

forward, the strange rules that ethnic Eastern Rites have kept in place, the mistakes of past

efforts, and the religious importance of bringing back practices like having married

bishops. Above all, it highlights the Saint Tikhon Anglican Tradition Orthodox Mission as

a beacon of hope for this revival, emphasizing the critical role of the Anglican Tradition.

Historical Background: Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh and St. Tikhon

In the early 1900s, two great leaders, Archbishop Aftimios (Ofiesh) and St. Tikhon

(Bellavin) of Moscow, helped to start Western Rite Orthodoxy in America.

St. Tikhon came to America in 1898 to be the Bishop of Alaska and the Aleutians. He

quickly restored the diocese's reputation, reformed it, and encouraged cooperation among

diverse immigrant groups. He was a creative leader who allowed changes to the Anglican

Book of Common Prayer so that Orthodox Christians might use it. In 1904, he sent

questions to the Russian Holy Synod. They answered positively in 1907 and approved a new

version of the Liturgy of St. Tikhon that had a strong epiclesis and removed the filioque

(Western Rite, Anglicans, and Economy, 2014; LITURGY GENERAL - ORTHODOX WESTERN

RITE, n.d.).

St. Tikhon's ecumenical mentality was shown in things like going to Anglican

consecrations and ordaining clergy that were more Western. His work made it possible for

an indigenous American Orthodoxy that wasn't limited by race (Patriarch Tikhon of

Moscow, n.d.).

In 1917, amidst the upheaval of the Revolution, Syrian-American bishop Archbishop

Aftimios Ofiesh pursued this purpose. He founded the American Orthodox Catholic Church

in 1927 with the intention of creating a single, English-speaking jurisdiction. Aftimios'

activities revealed a bold adherence to early Christian rituals and American inculturation,

but they were problematic, particularly his 1933 marriage, which violated Eastern celibacy

requirements for bishops (Aftimios Ofiesh, n.d.; The Death of Aftimios Ofiesh, 2012).

The fact that they have this legacy reminds them that Western Rite Orthodoxy is not

a modern invention, but a restoration interrupted by historical movements.

Historical Difficulties and Ethnic Eastern Rite Predominance

Western Rite Orthodoxy had a lot of problems, even with these roots. These

included the 1917 Russian Revolution, the breaking up of jurisdictions, and resistance from

Eastern leaders who thought Western ideas were bad (Restoration of Western Rite

Orthodoxy (history), n.d.).

It's more worrying that Eastern religious practices are so common in America,

especially since they often go against church law. Apostolic Canons and Nicaea I forbid the

appointment of many bishops in the same territory depending on ethnicity. In 1872, an

error called ethnophyletism was condemned (Territorial Jurisdiction According to Orthodox

Canon Law, n.d.). But there are still places where culture protection is more important than

doctrinal unity and missionary work.

By pushing Western expressions of Orthodoxy to the side and shutting out potential

followers, this ethnophyletism keeps the West viewing Orthodoxy as something strange.

Failures of Past Efforts and Future Direction

The OCA, Antiochian Archdiocese, and ROCOR all failed to include Western Rites.

The OCA largely discarded St. Tikhon's concept of Byzantine uniformity. Even though they

are important, the Antiochian and ROCOR vicariates are under Eastern control, which often

means the changing of the rites to make them more Byzantine and not giving them full

independence to function fully as a Western Rite (Thoughts on the Western Rite?, 2023).

Future directions include reaching out to Anglican and Catholic communities,

educating about pre-Schism Western traditions, training clergy in authentic Western forms,

and preserving territorial canons. It is critical that the American Church be autocephalous,

with both rites under one authority.

Bringing Married Bishops Back to Life: Following Scripture and Early Tradition

A big change in real Western Rite Orthodoxy is the return of married bishops, which

was done in the Church before it split. The Bible says, "A bishop then must be blameless,

the husband of one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2). Apostles like as St. Peter are examples of how the

early fathers and canons permitted this to occur.

Contrary to apostolic tradition, the Eastern practice of requiring bishops to be

celibate, which was established at Trullo (692), encouraged monasticism while discounting

married clergy. Aftimios fearlessly demonstrated that a true Western Rite values family life

in the episcopate.

The Essential Tradition of the Anglican Church

The Book of Common Prayer is a patristic rich liturgy that may be altered for

Orthodoxy (the Liturgy of St. Tikhon), making the Anglican Tradition important. It protects

cultural history while maintaining doctrinal purity, serving as a missionary bridge for

Westerners (Western Rite Orthodoxy, n.d.).

In summary: Saint Tikhon Anglican Tradition Orthodox Mission's Hope

Saint Tikhon Anglican Tradition Orthodox Mission in the Americas is critical at

this time. It is based on the Anglican heritage and St. Tikhon's approval. It stands for the

purity of the canon, the faithfulness of the Bible, and its societal importance. This objective

provides a path forward from ethnophyletism and Eastern dominance toward a true

American Orthodoxy that includes everyone.

Let us pray and fight for the growth of the ancient Western faith in the New World so that it

might thrive again.

In Christ, Mor Abdiel Theophorus Tikhon (The Rt. Rev. Manuel A. Otero III)

References

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Married Bishops in the Orthodox Church: An Analysis. (n.d.). St. Mary Orthodox Church.

https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/orthodoxy/articles/married_bishops

Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow. (n.d.). Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarch_Tikhon_of_Moscow

Restoration of Western Rite Orthodoxy (historical). (n.d.). OCA-UAOC. https://oca-

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Territorial Jurisdiction According to Orthodox Canon Law. (n.d.). OMSGA.

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tern_rite/

Western Rite, Anglicans, and Economy. (2014). David Heith-Stade's blog.

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Western Rite Orthodoxy. (n.d.). Wikipedia.

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