OrthodoxUSA

A New Shoot from an Old Vine: The History of the UAO

The United American Orthodox Catholic Church (UAO) is a gathered assembly. It was not born of a separation from a larger group, but of a coming-together of Christians sharing the same vision of Christ’s message. In this case, it began with a small group of clergy, already ordained and representing a variety of backgrounds: Russian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and a variety of Old Catholic and independent Orthodox jurisdictions.

The idea to form what would become the UAO had its beginning as early as 1986, but it was not until October 1988 that its clergy finally gathered the Monastery of St. Anthony in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. This assembly of Christian leaders prayerfully decided to join forces, creating an organization linked by philosophy, by mission, and by apostolic succession to the efforts earlier in the 20th century to create a truly American Orthodox Church. Sadly, many of those who participated in the formation of the UAO did not hold fast to their commitment. These clergy have been released to pursue their own interests in Roman Catholic and Anglican customs which would have compromised historic Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Thus, the UAO is poised to enter the 21st century as an Eastern Orthodox jurisdiction, a continuation of the Orthodox mission in North America, and a home for American Orthodox Christians.

The first efforts toward an American Orthodox Church. Although the first colony of Orthodox Christians settled in New Smyrna, Florida in 1768, the continuous history of Orthodoxy in the Americas stems from the Kodiak Island mission established by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1794. However, from early in the 20th century, the traditional pattern of Orthodox evangelism has been disregarded on this continent.

Early in the 20th century, the need for a truly American Orthodox Church became evident to church officials. In his address to the Pre-Conciliar Commission in 1905, Archbishop Tikhon--who would later become Patriarch of Moscow--states: “In North America a whole Exarchate can easily be established, uniting all Orthodox national churches....” At his enthronement in 1922, Ecumenical Patriarch Meletios IV expressed similar feelings: “I saw with my own eyes the biggest and most numerous part of the Orthodox Church of the Diaspora and I understand the measure in which the name of Orthodoxy would be exalted, especially in the United States of America, if the two millions of Orthodox Christians were organized there into one united ecclesiastical organization, as an American Orthodox Church.”

Abp. Aftimios

When Archbishop Evdokim of the Russian Orthodox Church arrived in the North American Diocese in 1915, he set out to make the vision of Abp. Tikhon a reality. Father Aftimios (Ofiesh) was consecrated by Abp. Evdokim in early months of 1917 to serve as Bishop of Brooklyn and head of the Syro-Arab Mission as successor to Bp. Raphael (Hawaweeny), who had died in 1915. For this same work Bp. Aftimios was elevated to archbishop by Metropolitan Platon in 1923. He was later given responsibility for the growing English-language mission.

On February 2, 1927, a solemn act was signed by Russian Orthodox Church officials, charging Abp. Aftimios “with the full responsibility and duty of caring and providing for American Orthodoxy in the special sense of Orthodox Catholic People born in America and primarily of whatever nationality or linguistic character or derivation not satisfactorily provided with proper canonical Orthodox Catholic care..., or who may wish to attach themselves by the properly and legally provided means to an autonomous, independent, American Orthodox Catholic Church.”

This first attempt at an American Orthodox Church met with opposition from the various autocephalous Orthodox Churches and with little to no support from other ethnic churches in America. After support for the new American Church was withdrawn, Abp. Aftimios abandoned his episcopacy and married in 1933. He lived out the remainder of his life in virtual isolation.

During his tenure, Abp. Aftimios consecrated at least two men to continue the work of the American Church. Emmanuel Abo Hatab was consecrated in 1927 for the See of Montreal, and Sophronius Bashira was consecrated in 1928 for the See of Los Angeles.

Met. Theophan

Another attempt. A second call for an American Orthodox Church and even for the establishment of a Patriarchate was made by Metropolitan Theophan (Fan S. Noli) of the Albanian Church. As a priest serving in the United States from 1908 until the 1920’s he was a loud voice calling for a united American Orthodox Church and for the liturgical use of English.

While he was elected bishop of the Albanian Orthodox Church in America in 1919, the Albanian political climate (the Balkan Wars and the independence of Albania) prevented his consecration until 1923. To represent his nation, Met. Theophan served in the Albanian Parliment, and was Prime Minister of Albania in 1924. He was forced to leave Albania that same year but was unable to re-enter the United States until 1932.

Before his death in 1965, Met. Theophan published eight liturgical books in English, many of which are still being used today. He also participated in the consecration of additional bishops, which, when combined with those consecrated by Abp. Aftimios, establish the mission and the apostolic succession for many of the small Orthodox jurisdictions found in the United States. The United American Orthodox Catholic Church is one of these organizations.

UAO Chancery: 1000 Lake Maurer Road, Excelsior Springs MO 64024-9321, USA

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