British Orthodox Church
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2017) |
| British Orthodox Church | |
|---|---|
| Type | Oriental Orthodox |
| Classification | Independent Oriental Orthodox (independent sacramental movement) |
| Primate | Patriarch Seraphim |
| Founder | Jules Ferrette (claimed) |
| Branched from | Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria (2015) |
| Official website | britishorthodox.org |
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The British Orthodox Church, formerly the Orthodox Church of the British Isles,[1] is a small independent Oriental Orthodox church.
The British Orthodox Church has not been in communion with any of the Oriental Orthodox churches since a 2015 decision to return to an independent status.
Overview[edit]
The church claims to be the continuation of the Ancient British Church.[2]
In February 1994 a delegation headed by Metropolitan Seraphim of Glastonbury, representing the Orthodox Church of the British Isles, was invited to Egypt by Pope Shenouda III, of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The Coptic Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, Pope Shenouda III, met the delegation and discussed their dogma (they being of Orthodox origin), and the matter of their uniting with the Coptic Church.[3]
The Orthodox Church of the British Isles split from the Celtic Orthodox Church in 1994, under Mar Seraphim (William Henry Hugo Newman-Norton): the Orthodox Church of the British Isles joined the Coptic Orthodox Church and changed its name to British Orthodox Church.[4][5]
On 4 October 2015 the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, in response to a request from the British Orthodox Church, "in the same spirit with which this union came into being", agreed to the British Orthodox Church returning to its pre-1994 status "in fulfilment to what it sees as its current mission in the light of the developments and changing dynamics of the Middle East and Britain". The British Orthodox website spoke of it "amicably returning to its original status in order to fulfil its mission more effectively".[5] This resulted in the British Orthodox Church returning to a non-canonical status, outside of communion with any church.
Metropolitan Seraphim of Glastonbury is the metropolitan of the Metropolis of Glastonbury and primate of the British Orthodox Church. In January 2019 it was announced that he would be known as His Beatitude Patriarch Seraphim.[2]
Return to independence[edit]
The British Orthodox Church is a small community, and since 2015 has a policy of "concentrating on existing parishes" rather than establishing new missions.[6]
On 29 October 2017, Metropolitan Seraphim, acting solus, consecrated Father David Seeds as Bishop David of Priddy.[7]
On 23 February 2019, Patriarch Seraphim, acting with Bishop David of Priddy, consecrated Father James Maskery as His Eminence Abba James, Archbishop Titular of Caerleon-upon-Usk and Mafrian of the British Orthodox Church.[8] Mafrian is a title used in the Syrian Orthodox Church for the Catholicos of the East, and the primate of the church in the Sassanid Empire, now Iran and Iraq.
Publications[edit]
Through the church press it publishes the Glastonbury Review, the only English language journal committed to regular reporting about the activities of the Oriental Orthodox churches and it has also begun to republish some important theological works.
See also[edit]
Leader[edit]
- Richard Williams Morgan (claimed)[2]
- Charles Isaac Stevens (claimed)[2]
- James Martin (claimed)[2]
- Andries Caarel Albertus McLaglen (claimed)[2]
- Herbert James Monzani-Heard (claimed)[2]
- Hugh George de Willmott Newman
- Abba Seraphim
References[edit]
- ^ admin (2020-09-11). ""The British Orthodox Church (Metropolis of Glastonbury) is the Indigenous Orthodox Church of Britain – Abba Seraphim". Retrieved 2021-10-18.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The British Patriarchate Restored After 24 Years In Commission - The British Orthodox Church". Retrieved 2021-10-24.
- ^ "El-Keraza". The Arabic versions of El-Keraza and in the English edition. 3 (1). January–February 1994.
- ^ Pearson, Joanne (27 June 2007). Wicca and the Christian Heritage: ritual, sex and magic. Taylor & Francis. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-415-25413-7. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
- ^ a b "Joint announcement from the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom and the British Orthodox Church of the British Isles - The British Orthodox Church". Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ Charity Commission, British Orthodox Church Accounts 2015, Charity Commission, London, 31 December 2015.
- ^ "Consecration of Bishop David of Priddy". 2017. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
- ^ "Consecration of Archbishop of Caerleon and Mafrian". 2019. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
External links[edit]
- Official website
- Joint Announcement from the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom and the British Orthodox Church of the British Isles, 5 October 2015
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