Question: Are We Canonical?

Answer: To be “canonical” is to be true to the whole of sacred tradition that has been handed down to us in the sacred Scriptures, the sacred Canons, the Creeds and the sacred writings of the Fathers; everything that composes the sacred Tradition of the Church. All to the Glory of God!

A church is canonical if it keeps or maintains two essential requirements.

+++ First, a Bishop must maintain at all times and continuously the teachings and traditions of the Orthodox Church. In other words, he must preach the Orthodox Faith, which was handed down to us by the Holy Apostles.

+++ Secondly, a Bishop must have the continuous Apostolic Succession in his ordination. In other words, he must be part of the unbroken line of ordinations (laying on of hands) which can be traced back to the Holy Apostles.

Some inaccurately say that “canonicity” is defined as “being in communion with the Ecumenical Patriarch, or other Eastern Patriarchates.” Father Alexander Schmemann once wrote: “Canonical is that which complies with the canons of the Church”.

While the question of our Apostolic Succession has been queried by clergy interested in joining our jurisdiction, in short, we do have valid Apostolic succession. The Apostolic successions of our Bishops have been validated by multiple mainstream Orthodox Jurisdictions and the Vatican. We have the same spiritual and sacramental authority, supremacy, and accountability that were conferred upon the Apostles by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We do not list our succession because they have been copied it and used fraudulently, by some claiming to be part of our jurisdiction. 

So we repeat, no American Orthodox jurisdiction is under obligation to belong to an ethnic Patriarch from another country and some have classified us as, “a Church in Resistance”.  

Are we Eastern Rite or Western Rite? The answer simply is that we’re Orthodox! We wear western style habits and use  the Divine Liturgy of St. Tikhon with expanded Epiclesis. In all other matters we follow the orthodox tradition that was handed down to us via the Apostles by word and epistle.

 The accepted definition of Western Rite Orthodoxy is: “Western Rite Orthodoxy or Orthodox Western Rite are terms used to describe Orthodox congregations and groups which follow the customs of the Eastern Orthodox Church, but which may use Western attire and traditional Western liturgies such as the Liturgy of St. Tikhon, St. Gregory or the Sarum Rite rather than Eastern liturgies such as the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.”

Saint John the Wonderworker said; “Never, never, let anyone tell you that, in order to be Orthodox, you must also be Eastern.” 

2 Thessalonians 2:15 “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” and 3:6 “Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us”.

We read of two types if traditions (1) the traditions of men (Matt: 15:1-9; Col. 2:8) is soundly condemned. Jesus (quoting Is. 29:13) describes this as “teaching tradition: by contrast, is to be preserved by the church, for God is its source.

Holy tradition is that which Jesus taught to the Apostles, and which they in turn, taught the church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in (a) their instructions as they visited the churches and (b) their writings. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit we adhere to Holy Tradition as it is present in the Apostles’

Western Rite Orthodoxy must preserve unity: (2 Thessalonians 14-15) state: If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. (Ref: Footnote Orthodox Study Bible). Tradition according to the Bible MUST therefore be important.

Western Rite Orthodoxy, in order to be truly “Orthodox” MUST by DEFINITION represent a genuine mindset of pre-schismatic Orthodox worship of the Ancient Christian Faith which means not dismissing the traditions of the East just because they are Eastern in origin. We DO NOT have to become Eastern to be Orthodox, BUT WE DO have to observe certain customs, conduct, behavior and traditions to be called Orthodox.