We thank all those who send inquiries for membership, incardination and ordination to us. As many of you have discovered we are the original and only true American Orthodox Catholic Church and the same Church that the canonical Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh was appointed to head. He did not, as some would claim, found or start this Church.

We welcome former members of the various Orthodox Churches, Rome, Episcopal Church USA as well as the Liturgical Lutheran Churches to our services. We hope those who have fallen away from their former Church will reconsider their position and return to a Church for their Spiritual well being. We also welcome individuals from other denominations and faiths who desire a closeness to Our Lord they may not get in their present or former Church, Temple or other place of worship.

We seek orthodox members and clergy. We require strict obedience to the canons. We are happy to consider applications from Active Orthodox clergy, seminary students and lay members who seek valid orthodox sacraments in North America.

This is not up for discussion. We are the one and only American Orthodox Catholic Church - (short name for) The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America that was canonically chartered by the Russian Synod in North America and headed by Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh. This Church continues today. We are the original 1928 corporation!

All the independent groups listed herein and who later appear and claim to be us by using one of our names, claiming to be us but under another name and who claim to be us based on their lines that trace back to Ignatius Nichols are in no way associated with us, are not us and have no apostolic succession from us. We deny they are even Orthodox! Since we exist and continue they cannot be us. When they or the ethnic schismatic jurisdictions attack us and Abp. Ofiesh of blessed memory they prove their unchristian nature by their actions!

The original text follows.

Due to all the false and misleading claims by members of the independent movement who state they are us, are us under a different name, claim our history and lines of Apostolic succession in an unorthodox manner or just use our name but admit directly or indirectly to being old catholic we have had to put together a list of as many as we have located who make these claims.

The groups named herein make numerous false claims and/or use one of our names which are the legal property (Service Marks) of this Church. This is Service Mark infringement.

The law says we can legally claim our corporate and short name's & logo as our service mark and we do. As of 1932, after 5 years of ownership, our name and logo were ours under common law in the United States. Under 15 USC 1065 we claim our Legal and statutory right to our name and logo as it was our Registered Service Mark over 7 years and the law states once its owned 5 years it is legally yours. There is no law that requires us to maintain an active registration to claim our name and logo.

We do not state that any one group is not who or what they claim except when they claim to be us or use one of our names and history. We state that;

1. they are not in any way canonical Orthodox (to the best of our knowledge),
2. their lines do not trace to us - The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America (inc.), and many use our short name since 1927 -"American Orthodox Catholic Church" and

3. they have no canonical sacramental authority from THEOCACNA.

The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America [our former registered service mark and legal name] A/K/A THEOCACNA received in 1927 as our short name "The American Orthodox Catholic Church" [our common law service mark]. The link below shows that our corporate name was a Registered Service Mark.

We are the one and only canonically established American Orthodox Catholic Church (THEOCACNA) and all those not part of this Church who use this name are misleading the public.

None of the following are associated with THEOCACNA in any way. They have used our name and in some cases our logo and church history to falsely claim they are us. They have no sacramental authority from this canonically established Orthodox Church and as far as we know they are not associated with any canonically established Orthodox Church.

Following is a list of groups who have claimed in the past or still claim to be us by using one of our names, either the corporate name of THEOCACNA, the short name (American Orthodox Catholic Church) or both. You should understand that the name"American Orthodox Catholic Church" was canonically granted to THEOCACNA as our "short name" in 1927. It has been adopted by a number of groups in the independent movement who are not part of any canonical or canonically established Church. We have found that all independent groups claim they have valid lines of Apostolic Succession but none to the best of our knowledge have "recognized" lines and they are not in communion with any canonical (ethnic or SCOBA) Church or any other old established Church. Some will also claim that our Charter was issued to them.

For the most part these groups are part of the Independent Movement.

Many claim to have lines of Apostolic Succession from Bishop Ignatius Nichols. This is a false claim. Click on the link for the truth. The same Orthodox canons apply to claims of succession from Christian I who also was not the presiding bishop of THEOCACNA at any time. Any acts with non-orthodox do not transfer orthodox lines.

From our Church Constitution dated December 1, 1927.

The religious body organized hereunder shall be known both ecclesiastically and in civil law (by incorporation) as THE HOLY EASTERN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA (THE AMERICAN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC CHURCH). Either the first part of this legal title or the shorter second part exclosed in parentheses shall be deemed sufficient designation to point out this body to the exclusion of any other in all cases except where the full corporate title is required for purposes of civil legal documents.

We, the lawful owners of the name, "The American Orthodox Catholic Church" state as follows;

Any group using our name and not part of The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America (chartered 1927) and (bishops) not shown on the Synod Directory on our website are not part of the True American Orthodox Catholic Church - THEOCACNA and have no sacramental authority from this Church.

A bishop friend told me this story.

Seems a protestant gentleman who converted to the Roman Cathlic Church wrote, or stated, that no protestants would go to heaven since they do not have lines of Apostolic Succession and therefore no true salvation. He now feels that the only true churches are those that have valid Apostolic Succession. This is one mans opinion from a Catholic view point.

We have repeatedly stated that these independent groups do NOT have lines of any (Orthodox) Apostolic Succession from this Church and no sacramental authority from this church either. We have attempted to explain the "Orthodox view" and those who claim our lines and our name are "claiming" to be orthodox. We do not know or claim anything about their ministries. They may or may not hold true orthodox services or they may just be out for titles and make false claims. What we do know is that we are the one and only American Orthodox Catholic Church (THEOCACNA) originally headed by Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh of blessed memory. We are the one Church that knows who, if anyone, has our orthodox lines of Apostolic Succession. Based on the 1927 Charter as stated above in Article 1 we are to be known by either our original (corporate) name or our short name and many independent groups falsely claim our lines and our short name and we deny they are associated in any way with us and that they do not have our lines. Most appear to be from non-orthodox backgrounds and we believe many never received baptism in a sacramental church. They claim their authority from us and we said "NO!" They are intentionally misleading others as to who they are and will answer to the highest authority for misleading individuals into believing they have any sacramental authority. It is time they Change their Church names and be honest and truthful.

There is no exception to this! Either they are part of this Church which there groups are not or they are falsely claiming our name(s), our lines, our history and our Sacramental Authority! We are also aware that some of these groups have individuals who have been accused or convicted of sexual abuse listed as their clergy.

The first 2 links below go to the pages listing those claiming to be us using our legal name or claiming they changed our name, those claiming our lines of Apostolic Succession, Church Charter or history. The other 2 links provide some additional information.

Claims made are documented in our files, from their own statements and claims as well as from independent sources.