American World Patriarchates

American World Patriarchates, also known as the American World Patriarchs (AWP), is an independent Eastern Orthodox church established by Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski in 1967.^[1] The members of the American World Patriarchates both claim to be Orthodox and Catholic.^[2]

American World Patriarchates
Abbreviation	AWP
Type	Eastern Christian
Classification	Independent Eastern Orthodox
Scripture	Septuagint, New Testament
Theology	Orthodox theology, Palamism, Hesychasm, Clerical marriage, Catholic theology
Polity	Episcopal
Apostolic Administrator	Disputed
Liturgy	Byzantine and Western
Founder	Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski
Origin	1967 New York, N.Y., United States
Branched from	American Orthodox Catholic Church
Congregations	60+
Members	54,457+

History

Byelorussian priest Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski was consecrated as bishop of Laconia, New Hampshire and the states of New England within the American Orthodox Catholic Church.^[2] He was also enthroned as an archbishop by the Old Orthodox Catholic Patriarchate of America; when Ryzy-Ryski established the American World Patriarchates, he organized the church as loosely-structured; he elevated other independent sacramental bishops to the patriarchate.^[3] Through Ryzy-Ryski's American World Patriarchates, those patriarchs he elevated were neither required to recognize his authority, nor come under his episcopal jurisdiction.^[3]

In 1972, Ryzy-Ryski was excommunicated from the American Orthodox Catholic Church by Walter Myron Propheta.^[2] Following this excommunication, the American World Patriarchates expanded throughout Canada, Hungary, West Germany, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Haiti, Santo Domingo, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, El Salvador, Nigeria, the West Indies, Norway, Sweden, Formosa, and Ukraine.^[3] During his leadership, the Peoples University of the Americas and Cathedral of Learning of the American World Patriarchates were founded; by 1975, the Cathedral of Learning was barred from conferring diplomas after granting more than 400 degrees without authority from the New York Board of Regents.^[4]

In 1978, after the death of Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski, the leadership of the American World Patriarchates was succeeded by his brother, Emigidius J. Ryzy.^[2][3] He functioned as apostolic administrator.

In 1997, the American World Patriarchates reported 19,457 members, 17 congregations, and 54 priests in the United States. They also claimed 1 congregation and 3 priests in Canada. In the same report, the American World Patriarchates claimed 1 congregation in Belarus with 35,000 members.^[3]

In 2015, Emigidius J. Ryzy died,^[5] and one group within the American World Patriarchates claimed that his designated successor refused to administrate over the church.^[6]

References

1. Melton, J. Gordon (2018-12-07). Religious Bodies in the U.S.: A Dictionary. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-52353-4.
2. Walker, James K. (2007-04-01). The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality: Includes Hundreds of Definitions of*Sects, cults, and Occult Organizations *Alternative Spiritual Beliefs *Christian Denominations *Leaders, Teachings, and Practices. Harvest House Publishers. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-7369-2011-7.
3. Lewis, James R. (2001). The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions. Prometheus Books. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-61592-738-8.
4. "Metropolitan Briefs". The New York Times. 1975-09-22. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-15. The Cathedral of Learning of American World Patriarchates, a nonprofit corporation based in Manhattan and organized to promote and teach gospel study, has been barred from granting diplomas by State Attorney General Louis J. Lefkowitz. Mr. Lefkowitz charged the school with granting more than 400 degrees ranging from associate level to Ph.D. since 1972 without authority from the New York Board of Regents.
5. "Памёр архіепіскап аўтакефальнай народнай царквы Юры Рыжы". Наша Ніва (in Belarusian). 2015-12-02. Archived from the original on 2024-08-15. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
6. "The American World Patriarchates". The Abbey-Principality of San Luigi. 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2024-08-15.