Below is a brief history of the Archdiocese, and to the left of the page are some other links with more information about the Archdiocese. Feel free to contact us anytime if you would like more information.

Prior to November, 2002, Fathers Anthony (Bondi), Stephen (Sinclair) and Joseph (Lory) were under the American Diocese of the Church of France under their Vicar Bishop Gabriel. After having been abandoned by Bishop Gabriel for a period of one year, they decided to form into The Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church of America and entered into the American Mission of ROCOR (The Orthodox American Church). On the day they were received into The Orthodox American Church, Father Anthony was elevated to a mitered Archpriest and appointed Vicar General of the Western Rite.

On February 2nd of 2003, Father Anthony was ordained a Bishop by Metropolitan Nicholas (Lambrou), Archbishop John (Schneyder) and Bishop James (Johnson) in the Cathedral of the Holy Protection of the Mother of God. Metropolitan Nicholas was from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and both Archbishop John and Bishop James were from the Orthodox American Church. This established the Apostolic Succession required for all Orthodox Bishops by the universally accepted “Canons” of the Orthodox Christian Church.

Realizing the unfortunate jurisdictional fragmenting that was going on, His Grace, Bishop Anthony and his Priests, along with Archbishop John and Bishop James, decided to join with the Former Exarchate of the Patriarchate of Alexandria to mitigate against the fragmentation. On August 19th 2003, in the Cathedral Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in New York City, Bishop Anthony was elevated to Metropolitan Archbishop of New York by the Holy Synod of the Former Exarchate of Alexandria. This was done by the hands of Archbishop Constantine (Spyrou), who continues to serve as the Primate of the Former Exarchate of Alexandria, and Archbishop Anthony, Archbishop John and Metropolitan James, received cheirotosia (canonical blessing of their own ordinations as Bishops) from Archbishop Constantine.

As a new Metropolitan in the Holy Synod of the Former Exarchate of Alexandria, His Eminence, Archbishop Anthony, was appointed to oversee Western Rite parishes. Since being received into the Former Exarchate of Alexandria, the Archdiocese has grown spiritually and numerically to the point where the Archdiocese of New York now has several missions and sketes located in North America. Each year it continues to grow one step at a time.

More than just growing numbers, the Archdiocese envisions itself continuing to produce holy and faithful Priests who will spread Holy Orthodoxy by both word and example using the Ancient Orthodox Western Rite. It is our mission to do all that we can to support efforts for unity within Holy Orthodoxy. In order to accomplish this mission, we are doing a number of things; 1) pressing for a better educated clergy, 2) contacting other jurisdictions to create a forum for traditional non-SCOBA Orthodox Churches to spiritually unite and work together for the common good and 3) working to make quality Liturgical materials available to all people. For more information about the history of the Archdiocese, or to speak with Archbishop Anthony about advancing our vision and mission, please email or call anytime.