The Fraternity of St Gregory the Great


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The Fraternity of St Gregory is an informal group of Western Rite Clergy formerly of the Archdiocese of New York of The Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church of America who have been graciously received into The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia by Metropolitan Hilarion between October 27th and December 18th 2010.  Since our entrance into the Russian Church, more clergy have been added to the ranks of the Western Clergy and have requested to be part of the Fraternity.

 

It is the mission and ministry of our group to win the West back to Holy Orthodoxy. The increasing fragmentation of Protestantism in the West and its loss of fidelity to scriptural morality have led many of its adherents to leave the churches of their youth and seek other alternatives.

Some, not knowing of the opportunity of canonical Western Rites within Orthodoxy, have entered Rome. For many from the Anglican High Church tradition this has been very disappointing for them. The abandonment of the Eastward position and the traditional Liturgical ceremonial by Rome have left them cold and wanting.

For others, long held beliefs (which are Orthodox) had to be abandoned and replaced with new doctrines such as infallibility, merits of the saints, the immaculate conception, and indulgences. Many of these ideas were rejected by their protestant forbearers centuries ago.

The Orthodox Church, the original Catholic Church from which Rome broke in 1054 continues in the Apostles’ Teaching, and Fellowship, The Breaking of Bread and the Prayers. The timeless message of Orthodox Christianity, faith and morals, is the only answer to this sinful and broken world in order to remain faithful and to be assured a place in the kingdom of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to whom is glory, honor and worship now, always and for all ages of ages.

For those of us within Orthodoxy…As time goes by it becomes increasingly apparent that we must examine what each of us must do to alleviate the fragmentation in the Orthodox Church in America. For our part, our bishops have, in all humility stepped down from the episcopacy to increase the unity of the Orthodox Church. This is not a time for pride. It is a time for humility and prayer and openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit among us. May all of the Western Rite parishes, now outside of Orthodoxy, find a true home and spiritual stability in Holy Orthodoxy.

Please use the links on this page to learn more about our group. If you would like to join one of our parishes, please contact the local Priest. If you are a Western Rite priest and would like to join our Fraternity, or if you are a non-Orthodox parish seeking to explore the Orthodox Western Rite you may contact Father Anthony directly by clicking here.  Bishop Jerome (vrevjrs@execpc.com) may also be contacted regarding the Western Rite, by those who wish.

 

By Decree of the Metropolitan the following are appointed:

Bishop Jerome of Manhattan is Vicar Bishop for Western Rite Vicariate

Abbot James (Deschene) assists in overseeing the Western Rite in the United States and Canada
Father Anthony (Bondi) is Pastoral Vicar For The Western Rite and Dean of the Fraternity of Saint Gregory

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