|
 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 |
