Christ Catholic Church Ministries

The Only Begotten Son Hymn of great antiquity, is here presented with a newer melody setting. This melody setting was written in 1988 by David Ellis at St. Sergius Parish in Clinton Missouri USA, and has been used in Churches throughout the Midwest since that time. This recording is a live recording performance of the Hymn by David Ellis recorded in 2018 in Illinois, (This melody setting is free for use by all without fee; and likewise , may be re-recorded and freely disseminated everywhere). Key of E minor, chords: Em, D , Am7, D

"The Holy Synod of Christ Orthodox Catholic Church" is a linear descendant of the ministries of His Holiness the late Patriarch Archbishop Peter Zhurawetsky; and of the late Archbishop Karl Pruter, of Christ Orthodox Catholic Church, and Christ Catholic Church. After the death of Archbishop Pruter; Orthodox parishes and ministries in Northern Missouri and Illinois found the idea of continuing with the newly imposed hierarchy to be morally intolerable. Convening the principle of an Extraordinary Synod of the Holy Church; these ministries continued on, in separation from the "Ozark Mountain area" Free-Catholic ministries, those which intermittently held possession of the old Cathedral at Highlandville Missouri for a few years.

For a number of years, the Holy Synod of Christ Orthodox Catholic Church possessed a Provisional Cathedral on the north side of Vandalia IL. This was unfortunately lost when the owner of the property (a Jewish Rabbi) sold the property to a construction company for it's ultimate demolition for new businesses. More recently the Holy Synod has begun to use the style the name Christ Orthodox Catholic Church (in vernacular use); to greater illustrate that it has no relationship with the various groups claiming filial relationship to the succession of Archbishop Pruter; and to illustrate the Church's continued path in the Eastern Orthodox Faith; as demonstrated by forerunner Patriarch Peter, (who received confirmation of his canonical status via the letters of the Greek Patriarch of Alexandria Egypt).

Following in the Tradition of His Eminence Archbishop Aftimios (Ofiesh) (pictured above and below)

Above Left: The Reverend Dave Ellis and above right: with parents on day of elevation to the sacred priesthood in Kansas City in November1989, by Bishop Patrick M. Cronin. Below Left: Bishop Patrick M. Cronin, at ordinations to the diaconate at Excelsior Springs Missouri October 1988. Below right at Vandalia IL around 2010. (Bishop Cronin was originally consecrated to the episcopacy by the late Dom Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez, Patriarch of Igreja Catolica APostolica Brasileira, at the Western Orthodox Church June 1988 Synod at Altoona PA. Bishop Patrick was then involved in the creation of the United AMerican Orthodox Catholic Church (with Bishop David L. Jones); and a year later was attached to the Brasilian Patriarchate, as a religious order known as Servants of the Jerusalem Covenant. Bishop Patrick died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack after only a few years of ministry.

Below Left: The former Prince of Peace Pro-Cathedral in Vandalia IL as it appeared until late 2010. Below Right: The Late Patriarch Peter (A. Zhurawetsky)

ABOVE LEFT: 2nd Site of the Pro-Cathedral.

Greetings in the wonderful saving Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Son of the Father. He has given us light and life through His precious Blood, and we are Blessed to be called adopted sons of God. We therefore travel through this earthly pilgrimage in preparation for the heavenly, and apprehend the continuity of this relationshiip via the Holy Spirit's Divine Light in our life, and the fellowship of the Holy CHurch, and the grace of the Holy Trinity which flows unto us through the wellsprings of the Mysterion of the Holy Church. Welcome... please view also our main sites which are at: http://www.theorthodoxchurch.us and at https://sites.goole.com/view/christorthodox/home

Proclaiming Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, unto all the earth, whereby the lost of every nation may see the Light that is in Him and turn unto Him for the salvation of their souls.

USA

The Holy Synod of Christ OrthodoxCatholic Church

also known as:

Christ Catholic Church

WE STAND FOR BIBLICAL MORALITY

ICOR 6:9-11

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Welcome in the Wonderful Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are affiliated with the Archdiocese of the Eastern United States. Our legislative governing body is the Holy Synod of Christ Catholic Church. We have been in the United States actively since 1920; and have been "Autocephalous" (or self-governing) since 1937, when we became independent of the See of Utrecht, Holland. Originally called the Polish Old Catholic Church of the Americas and Europe; the name was changed later to Christ Orthodox Catholic Church of the Americas and Europe.The Leader of the Church in this country was His Holiness Patriarch Peter A. Zhurawetsky of New Jersey. After the death of Archbishop Karl Pruter of the Boston Diocese; the Church was rescued from near demise by the actions of what was left of the Holy Synod (after many members, and even a whole diocese had left the Church for other organizations). The Holy Synod continued and reconstituted the constitution of the Church, through its establishment of the Archdiocese of the Eastern United States within the structure of the body of the Church, for the renewing of the purposes of the Gospel Ministry and the fulfilling of the Great Commission of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and to be a beacon of light and hope in a dark world, holding up the banner of Orthodox Catholic Truth. Our name was amended to also be known as Christ Orthodox Church, , to better reflect exactly who we are, and what we are doing, and to distinguish us from the various off-shoots which do exist, who, in leaving the Church and Christ's Catholic Church (with an APOSTROPHE S) having changed their name and are now using the name associated with the late Bishop Pruter (but who stand for various left wing agendas). We adhere faithfully to Biblical Morality, Traditional practices, Orthodox Piety, and we are adamantly Pro-Life, and Pro-Traditional Marriage as being only between a MAN and a WOMAN. We ordain only men into the Sacred Holy Orders, and we will not knowingly ever ordain homosexual practitioners, or persons of any other type of immoral practices into Holy Orders. Unlike many of the jurisdictions today in the so-called independent movement, we are not a platform for current trends and fads of those who leap out of the Roman or Eastern Churches to have a voice for their pet peeve. We are instead; a platform for traditional faith and values, and the perpetuation of the Historic Orthodox Faith.

About Us

We praise the Lord Jesus for you coming to this site. This is the Reverend Dave Ellis. I have been in the so-called Independent Movement since early 1988. I was received into Orthodoxy at the Monastery of St. Anthony in Excelsior Springs Mo. in early 1988, by then Abbot, (now Bishop David L. Jones) while that church was still part of the Western Orthodox Church in America, led by the late C. David Luther, Bishop in Altoona PA. I was ordained to the diaconate in the fall of that year by Bishop Patrick M. Cronin. I was ordained to the priesthood on ov. 12, 1989 at Kansas City Missouri by the Late Bishop Patrick M. Cronin, of Schnectady New York, at a mass in which Raymond Loosmore II was also ordained to the priesthood. In attendance, among others, was Bishop David L. Jones of the United American Orthodox Catholic Church. I founded the Holy Orthodox Church of the Theotokos in Branson Missouri in 1989. And then established mission works in and around Shelbyville Illinois. After the death of Bishop Cronin, I was incardinated into the jurisdiction of Bishop Karl Pruter, who I lived about 15 miles south of; at that time. I began Prince of Peace Church in Illinois in 1994, under the ecclesiastical approbation of (then) Archbishop Donald W. Mullan of Christ Catholic Church International. At the time of the split between the Canadian Church (Christ Catholic CHurch International); and the Pruter American Church, I remained within the American Church under Bishop Karl Pruter. Bishop Karl passed away in 2007. Before his death, he granted consecration sub-conditione to Bishop O'Block (of the Southern Episcopal Church), with right of succession to the See of the Diocese of Boston of Christ Catholic Church. But Bishop O'Block did not disaffiliate himself from the SOuthern EPiscopal Church at that juncture. Rather...more SOuthern Episcopal Clergy were brought in and The SECUSA merged that portion of Christ Catholic Church into a "Diocese" OF the SEC. I have not ever been connected with that group, or approached by them. I at that time continued with that group of priests and ministries which have remained within the original body of Christ Catholic Church ...but not with the liberal group known variously as Free Catholic Communion, Christ's Catholic Church, and now they are using the term Christ Catholic Church again, The name Christ Catholic Church was a name that always provided much confusion to our particular identity anyway....So.. . For mattters of clarification, we have begun using the legal name "CHRIST ORTHODOX CATHOLIC CHURCH". (The name promulgated by Patriarch Peter years ago) This delineates from those groups of a much more liberal bent which currently exist using variations of the Christ Catholic name, with whom we have no afffiliation. And we wish to avoid any confusion with these groups.

For Potential Clergy to Review

Priests may marry and have families. Vows are to obedience to the Diocesan Ordinary.

Bishops in our Church have traditionally also been married, and can so do.

Individuals who may divorce and remarry, being reconciled to the Church through the grace of God; are thereby not excluded from the Sacraments. This is not a variance in Doctrine, only in discipline.

Artificial contraception is not endorsed, per Humanae Vitae, promulgated by His late Holiness Paul VI.

All baptized Orthodox Christians are invited to participate in the worship and sacraments of the Church; with belief in the Real Prescence of the Sacrament, for taking Communion in participation in the Holy Eucharist.

We do not officially endorse the Declaration of Utrecht, formulated by the Dutch Bishops assembled September 24, 1889, and since 1937, have ceased to be affiliated with Utrecht, when we severed connections with Archbishop W.H.F. Brothers, who at the time was acting as Exarch for America for the Utrecht Old Catholic Church, we do however; fully endorse the Statement issued by Archbishop Mathew, when he severed realtions with the Utrecht Church..

Priests who have left other Churches because they fell in love with a woman and married (a woman) may join the Christ Catholic Church; if they are otherwise fit to serve, and the Archbishop approves their service.

Priests are given the option to use any liturgy that has had prior approval from the Archbishop.

The Bible is clear on the issue of homosexuality as sin and rebellion against God, as is sacred tradition and the universal teaching of the church fathers.

A homosexual is barred from seminary and all ministry by canon law in our jurisdiction, and will not be accepted as a candidate for Holy Orders at any time. Only men can be ordained, as per Sacred Tradition of the Church, since the time of the Apostles onward. No clergy of this Church shall ever attempt to officiate at any so-called "same sex" service. No matter what the Supreme COurt says...these so-called unions are not true or legitimate marriages, and are severely condemned by God and by the Church.

Our Mission and Goals

In this time of Mass Apostasy, when herds of clergy and even whole denominations are being swept away into the rejection of Catholic and Christian truth, and into debauchery and unnatural practices and lusts; our mission is more important now than ever before. We must stand and will always stand, and will not bow to the social conventions of the age. We will continue to proclaim the Holy Orthodox Faith delivered unto us from Jesus Our Lord, unto the Apostles, and from them, unto us.

We will stand with one voice, in support of Traditional Marriage, as designed by GOD HIMSELF, as the spiritual union between one man and one woman. We will stand against any and all attempts by any governments to try to foist unnatural laws "redefining marriage" as any thing other than the union of one man with one woman.

We will stand with one voice in suport of Life, and the Pro-Life Movement. We will resist the culture of death, and defend life, from the moment of conception until the moment of natural death.

We will stand with one voice, in defense of Holy Orders, as being only for Decaons, Priests, and Bishops, as Men only, as ordained by Our Lord Jesus Himself.

We will stand in defense of the Holy Bible as the Inspired Word of God, and Biblical Traditional Christian Morality. We will continue to uphold the twin pillars of the Magisterium of Holy Church: Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

We receive all 73 Books of the Latin Vulgate as the Canon of Sacred Scripture. We receive the Vulgate text as the official Latin text of Scripture for the Church, and the Douay-Rheims translation as the official English language text of Scripture for Holy Church, and the Constantinopolitan text as the Greek text..

We believe that it is not enough to merely recall the fact that you were once baptized as an infant (which we most assuredly do also and encourage all parents to so do); but we implore all believers to daily place themselves under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and to assess and insure their personal relationship with Jesus, through Whom flows all life through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Our Parishes

We are simply a group of little Parishes in Southern Illinois and Missouri. We are not the smallest Congregations in our towns; but one of them. But we continue the great Tradition of the Historic Church. We provide a Western-Rite Divine Liturgy in the vernacular of the people, in traditional English; and we maintain the Historic teachings of the Faith, and preach the Word of God. We serve as the "Pro-Cathedral" (Provisional, not Professional) Parish for the Archdiocese of the Eastern United States.

We wish to live in harmony with all Christian bodies. As Orthodox Tradition Christians, we accept the teaching of the Holy Bible, and practice the customs of the Orthodox Church in History. We believe in all 73 Books of the Bible, and believe that they are all verbally Inspired by God. We reject those modernist aberrations such as the "ordination" of women to Holy Orders . We most fervently reject those culture of death errors, such as abortion, that imperil the very heart of human existence. We do not believe in "universal salvation", but stick to the Great Commission of Our Lord to, "Go baptize all nations...", and His words, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me."(John 14:6)

We believe that to live in harmony with those Christians whose beliefs are different means that we can still consider each other as brethren under the banner of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We consider that there are some ecumenical ventures through which we can share ministry while at the same time disagreeing. Trinitarian baptism with water is, we believe, the common denominator, as is the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist.

The Sacraments

Yes! We believe the Mysterion or Sacraments are "objective and effective signs of the continued presence and saving grace of Christ our Lord among His people and His covenanted means for conveying His grace." There are Seven Sacraments ordained of Christ: Firstly:

Baptism: by water (by pouring, sprinkling, or immersion) and performed in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. This washes away original sin, and restores us to fellowship with our Heavenly Father. This is necessary for the New Birth, and it is, in fact; the New Birth of Water and Spirit.

(Matthew 28:19, John 3:5; Romans 6:4, Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).

The Holy Eucharist, or the Divine Mystery, as the Divine Liturgy: was instituted by our Lord at the Last Supper when He said: (This is My Body...This is My Blood.)

Chrism (Confirmation) bestows the seal and gift of the Holy Spirit, through the Imposition of the Bishop's Hands and Prayer.Confirmation conveys the gifts of the Holy Ghost, and is administered through the laying on of hands by the Bishop.(Acts 8:14-17; 19:1-7; Ephesians 1:13).

The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is the bestowing of God's Grace uniting a MAN and a WOMAN together in Marriage in an indissoluble union. Only a man and woman can participate in this sacrament.Marriage: is the union of one man and one woman for life before God. This relationship, Saint Paul tells us, is like unto Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:31-32).

The Sacrament of Penance relieves us of the guilt of actual sins committed after Holy Baptism, by confessing aloud, and receiving absolution from the priest or bishop. This restores us to the place in grace that we occupy after Baptism.Penance: conveys the acceptance of the forgiveness of our sins.(John 20:23; James 5:16).

The Sacrament of Holy Orders transmits the graces of the Diaconate, the Priesthood, and the office of Bishop, through the Apostolic Succession from Christ to the Apostles, to the Bishops; through the Imposition of Hands of the Bishop along with the proper intent, matter, and form, of the sacrament, and with the proper candidate. The candidate must be Male, as was Christ and the Apostles.

Holy Orders: denote the Apostolic Ministry of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, instituted by Christ.

(John 20:19-23; Matthew 16:18-19; 18:18; Acts 6.1-6). Our Lord commissioned the Apostles and their successors, today's Bishops, to proclaim His work of salvation which He accomplished on Calvary. When we speak of Apostolic Succession, we mean an unbroken line of consecrations and commissions from our Lord to present day bishops, continuing the same teaching and ministry established by Christ.

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick involves the Anointing of the Sick with holy oil and prayer, that they may either recover or be healed, or be fortified spiritually and made ready to meet the Lord in death.

the anointing with oil and prayer for for the sick (physically or spiritually).

(James 5:14; Mark 6:13).

Pastoring in a Conservative Church in an Independent Movement gone wild

(The below article is pasted from Pastor's Blog)

Welcome in the Mighty Name of Our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. This blog is a little different than the other published online works that I am associated with. This one will not always be a “Bible or Doctrine Teaching” site; nor an exposition on the Independent Movement (or Independent Sacramental Movement, as they like to call it now); but rather, this is an outlet for my thoughts on our place (in Christ Catholic Church) within the Body of Christ; The One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; and within the Independent Movement itself.

I tend to really identify with Saints Athanasius and Gregory of Nazianzus these days. Much of what is termed the “Independependent Movement” is actually nothing more than a polyglot of various persons; in blatant rebellion against Christ; but who like to “have church”. So…they have marched out of the Roman Catholic Church, or the Episcopal Church, or the Lutheran Church, with their “pet” peeve, and founded an organization, and have gotten themselves consecrated by somebody, and now they claim that they are part of the “Old Catholic ” Movement. In reality they are part of the “Rebellion Movement” rebelling usually against one or more features of Biblical Morality. I am quite sure that most of these type people(who I am not making fun of…I pray for them to be converted to the Living Christ) will probably vote for Pres. Obama, because he lifts up the same immoral trademark items that most of these false churches lift up: namely…Abortion, Promiscuity, in the form of homosexual and lesbian activity, and couples living together without the Sacrament of Matrimony. And of course, many of these false churches will gladly “ordain” women, homosexuals, lesbians, profligate fornicators, and whatever other stance one can take against God and still want to “go to Church”.

Our little Church has been assailed and assaulted with attempts upon of all of the above, and survived and driven this back. Pastors of such groups will probably hate me, and that is fine, but they need to repent and to know that they are dupes and tools of demons who gladly use them to subvert the morality of the public unto the eternal damnation of the souls of the followers. Eternity is a LONG TIME, as those of us who are growing OLDER are keenly aware of…as we feel the approach of a Coming Eternity. NOW is the time when we must make an mpact for Christ in a world governed by “moral relativism”, bereft of absolutes. Well, I am one to tell you, that the Catholic Faith contains TRUT…THE TRUTH, and true Moral absolutes. It is opnly by God’s sovereign grace in Christ Jesus that we are saved and made holy; yet on our part, we must acquiesce to God’s will and to the action of the Holy Spirit, and respond in such a way to become developed into sainthood. We need to about the works of Christ, and of the emulation of the great saints, that we may become instruments of Christ in the Holy Spirit, unto the redemptionof the world and thesaving of souls. May God Bless all who read this. David

for more on our parish we also have Parish sites at:

http://apostolic-ministries.tripod.com and at

http://princeofpeacemin.tripod.com

http://www.princeofpeacemin.webs.com/

GOD WARNS US NOT TO BECOME AS THOSE OF OLD WHO FELL INTO GROSS IMMORALITY

Romans 1:16-32

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them

The Apostle teaches us that if we abandon God in favor of our lust for sin; we will be given up by God unto all sorts of foul Satanically inspired behaviours. And then we will loose the knowledge that these things are horribly wrong, and we will follow the path of perdition straight into eternal damnation in Hell. Sadly, whole major denominations have adopted this course; even offering to write LITURGIES celebrating such heinous behaviour! God deliver us from such in this apostate age!

Beliefs and Faith

We believe in the Holy Bible. We believe that it is the Inspired WOrd of God unto mankind. It is equally inspired in all of its 73 Books. We receive those Books commonly known as the Old Testament, and those books known as the Deutero-Canonical (or Second Canon); and also the New Testament of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

We accept the Historic Faith of the Holy Church as faithfully continued, especially by the Churches in fellowship and doctrinal agreement with the Ancient Patriarchal Sees of Constantinople; Jerusalem; Antioch; and Alexandria. We believe that the Lord has used both Scripture and the Sacred Tradition to preserve the Faith of Jesus Christ unto, and through the Church and its Divine Authority.

We are people of the Holy Trinity. We believe without compromise; the Doctrine of the One God present in the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity. God the Father created heaven and earth; and is the Father of the only begotten Son. Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son of God; God the Son; the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. He exists uncreated from all eternity, and He came to earth, begottne of the Virgin Mary, as the sinless sacrifice for sin; acceptable unto the Father. He died Once for Sin; upon the Cross of Calvary. He was buried, and on the Third Day, He arose from the dead and ascended into heaven, where He sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from whence He shall comagain in Glory to judge both the Living and the Dead, and His Kingdom shall have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit; or Hoy Ghost. He is the third Person of the Blessed Trinity. He convicts and convinces men of their sinful state, and their separation from God due to sin. He leads men to Christ, and renews them during Holy Baptism with the Gift of regeneration; by which man is recreated after the image of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and receives the remission of sins; both Original and actual.He fills and sanctified the believer, to mold us into the image of Christ as we yield orselves to His Will.

We believe, and preserve, and practice the Seven Sacraments of the Church, the fountains of Grace flowing from the throne of God in the Authority of Jesus Christ, through the unction of the Holy Spirit.

We hold to the Seven Councils of the Historic and Undivided Church of Orthodoxy.

We endeavour, thrugh the Grace of Christ, to live pleasing unto Him day by day, for He is Our Master, and Our Saviour.

We recognize in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, in the Divine Liturgy, the Real and abiding Prescence of Our Lord Jesus under the appearances of bread and wine, which really and truly are changed into His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, during the awesome Sacrifice of Calvary made present upo the Altar of God during the Divine Liturgy.

We maintain an educated clergy, replete with Canonical, Valid Holy Orders, which is necessary to the continuance of the Church and its sacramental Ministry. (We reject Anglican Orders as Invalid, and possess valid Orders derived from the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church and from Eastern (Russian) Orthodoxy).

We stand for traditional Biblical Morality. We condemn the current notion of so-called "Same Sex Marriages" and will never allow it