By A. Hernandez
ROME-RUTHENIA 18 February 2025 (NRom)
In every age, there are those who stand as guardians of faith and tradition, carrying forward the light of Christian civilization even when others abandon it. In our time, one such figure has emerged—His Apostolic Highness Rutherford (Radislav) I, Prince-Bishop and Pope-Catholicos of Rome-Ruthenia, Supreme Pontiff of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church (URRC)—a man whose journey from caretaker of a historic jurisdiction to the restoration of a fully Orthodox and autocephalous Church reflects a larger story: that of a Church reclaiming its rightful place in history.
The United Roman-Ruthenian Church maintains a substantial presence across multiple nations, with clergy, adherents, and affiliated communities spanning diverse cultural and geographic backgrounds. Rooted in the traditions of both East and West, its mission continues through preserved apostolic succession and an enduring commitment to faith, service, and spiritual leadership.
From Inheritance to Transformation
The story of the URRC is one of inheritance, preservation, and renewal. Rooted in Apostolic Succession primarily from Eastern Churches with some also from Western traditions, the Church was entrusted with an ancient mission: to preserve and uphold the fullness of Orthodox* and Old Catholic* Christianity as it once existed throughout the entire Christian world—East and West alike.
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The URRC preserves the authentic Orthodox,
Catholic, and Apostolic Faith. |
For centuries, Christianity was one universal, undivided faith, spread by Roman roads, embraced by the Roman Empire, and encompassing both the Latin and Byzantine worlds. The URRC stands as a living remnant of that unity, carrying forward traditions that many assumed had been lost. It is not a recreation, but a continuation, holding firm to the Orthodox, Catholic, and Apostolic heritage that shaped Christian civilization.
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Some of the principle Apostolic successors to
the modern United Roman-Ruthenian Church. |
Unlike many independent Old Catholic groups that maintain some level of subservient deference to the Roman Pope, the URRC stands as a fully Orthodox and autocephalous Church, independent in governance and doctrine. While it honors its Western apostolic heritage, it does so in the same way that the Eastern Orthodox Church honors its connection to Rome before the Great Schism—not through submission, but through historical continuity.
At the heart of this mission stands the Prince-Bishop, whose journey reflects the same transformation undergone by the Church itself. The restoration that eventually became the URRC began within a traditional Anglican diocese that had earlier been brought into Eastern Orthodox and Old Catholic Apostolic lineage by its then-bishop, St. Edwin Caudill. For this reason, St. Edwin is known as the Apostolic Founder and Confessor, and he is succeeded by the current Prince-Bishop.
From the beginning, the vision of H.A.H. the Prince-Bishop was to continue this work and restore the Church principally to an Eastern rite, while still allowing for the continuation of traditional Western rites to preserve that ancient heritage as well. In its early years, however, the Anglican Rite was used to serve its constituency, but the path was always set toward a return to the fullness of the Orthodox and Catholic faith as an autocephalous patriarchal church.
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The Prince-Bishop in pontifical dress,
as representative of his people around the world. |
This transition did not happen all at once – after all, Rome wasn’t built in a day! Rather, it occurred through a process of reviving and fully embracing the Church’s Orthodox and Old Catholic foundations. Before formally adopting its Eastern Rite, the URRC first reintroduced its Latin heritage through the Old Catholic patrimony, ensuring that the fullness of Western Orthodox tradition was preserved. Over time, this natural progression led the Church to its fully realized Orthodox identity.
Interestingly, many traditional Anglicans have long seen their liturgy as a kind of "Western Orthodoxy," and in some places, their churches even incorporate the same kind of iconography seen in Eastern Orthodox churches. This continuity is a testament to how deeply interconnected the historic Christian traditions remain.
The Roman Empire, Holy Rus’, and the Guardianship of Christian Civilization
While the URRC preserves the rich heritage of Christian civilization, it does so as a spiritual authority rather than a political entity. In an age where functioning civil governance has taken new forms, our mission is not to reclaim any form of civil rule but to uphold the faith, ensuring that the wisdom of our traditions continues to guide believers today.
The URRC does not merely preserve an Orthodox Old Catholic heritage; it also stands as a custodian of the broader vision of Holy Rus’, the spiritual and cultural ideal that has shaped Orthodox Christian civilization for centuries. Holy Rus’ was not simply a political entity that began in the middle ages, but rather it was a vision of Christian society—one where faith and life were intertwined, where the Church was both the spiritual and moral compass of the people, and where sacred order was upheld against the forces of secularism and disorder.
The concept of Holy Rus’ transcends geography. It represents not only the historical legacy of Kievan Rus’, the Kingdom of Russia, and the later Tsardom, but also the spiritual mission of Orthodox Christian peoples worldwide to uphold the faith in purity and truth. In this sense, the URRC continues the mission of preserving Holy Rus’ beyond borders, ensuring that it remains not just a memory of the past, but a lived reality for Christians today.
This connection to Holy Rus’ is particularly significant given the Ruthenian heritage of the URRC, for "Ruthenia" itself historically refers to the lands of the Kingdom of Russia. The Prince-Bishop’s role in this mission is clear—not to claim civil or territorial political authority, but to serve as a shepherd for those who seek to preserve Orthodox Christian civilization in a world that is increasingly hostile to it. Thus, the URRC plays a distinct role, not in conflict with anyone else, ensuring that the deeper spiritual and cultural essence of Holy Rus’—its commitment to Orthodox faith, Christian kingship, and sacred tradition—is safeguarded for future generations.
And, just as Holy Rus’ was the rightful heir to the Christian legacy of the Byzantine Empire, which itself was the continuation of the original Roman Empire, the URRC stands as a guardian of that unbroken tradition. The Roman ideal was never merely about earthly rule; it was about the establishment of a sacred civilization underpinned by faith, order, and divine authority. The URRC preserves this vision—not as a territorial and political entity, but as a spiritual bridge between the East and West, across Christendom, ensuring that the imperial Christian ethos, rooted in both Roman and Byzantine heritage, remains alive. Just as Byzantium upheld the Christian Empire after Old Rome’s fall, and as Rus’ carried forward that mission after Constantinople, so too does the URRC today safeguard the faith, culture, and apostolic heritage that defined Christendom at its height.
As part of its role as a guardian of Christian civilization, the URRC also preserves an extensive temporal titular patrimony, inheriting historical titles and legacies that once belonged to the great Christian realms of the past. Unlike purely secular dynastic claims, these titles—many of which were held directly by the Prince-Bishop’s family and other families—have been ceded to the Church itself, ensuring that they are preserved as part of the ecclesiastical office rather than personal property. In this way, the URRC carries forward the model of Christian stewardship, where historical and cultural legacies serve the faith rather than being lost to time.
Standing Firm Amidst Challenges
Throughout history, those who seek to restore the faith are often met with opposition. The Prince-Bishop has faced many challenges—misunderstanding from outsiders, resistance from those uncomfortable with the mission, and personal sacrifices along the way. Yet, like the great defenders of the faith before him, he has remained unwavering in his commitment to preserving Christian heritage.
When others sought to compromise, dilute, or erase the unique Christian identity of the Church, he responded by boldly proclaiming it. When faced with pressure to submit to external influences, he stood his ground, ensuring that the URRC remained fully Orthodox and truly autocephalous. When critics tried to reduce the Church to a footnote, he and those who remained faithful ensured its place as a living testament to Christian heritage.
Throughout this journey, the URRC has remained confidently autocephalous while also embracing unity with others. The Church welcomes dialogue and communion with other Apostolic Churches that share the Orthodox faith, without compromising its independence. Importantly, the URRC has never been part of a schism or breakaway movement—it has simply preserved and carried forward the Christian inheritance entrusted to it.
Far from standing alone, His Apostolic Highness has been surrounded by a dedicated and growing body of clergy, laity, and supporters—including loyal family members, chief of whom is the Apostolic Princess—who all recognize the importance of the URRC’s mission. While some instead chose different paths, those who remain are the ones truly committed to the vision of restoring Christian civilization and apostolic faith.
Christian Kingship: A Reflection of Divine Order
Unlike many modern churches that have moved toward an exclusively monastic or bureaucratic structure, the URRC preserves the ancient Christian model of both monarchical and ascetical traditions. While the Church today includes monastics and values the ascetic life, it also upholds the historic vision of Christian kingship—not as civil and territorial political power, but as a reflection of the Kingdom of God on earth.
This ideal was deeply rooted in the Byzantine and Old Russian understanding of the Church as the guardian of Christian civilization. Then the symphony of Church and state—where the spiritual and temporal authorities worked in harmony rather than in domination—was not about earthly conquest but about ensuring that society was guided by faith and sacred order. This also was not a system of forced union, but a cooperative model, where the state protected the Church, and the Church provided moral and spiritual guidance to the people and rulers alike. Byzantium and Old Russia embodied this balance, demonstrating that a civilization rooted in faith could flourish when both the spiritual and temporal realms upheld their respective roles. The world of today is no longer that way, however, for other forms of civil governance exist. The URRC does not seek to change that, but rather reflect what the customs of their heritage can teach modern humanity.
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The URRC preserves the legacy of Christian
monarchy as a model of servant leadership. |
Indeed, the Prince-Bishop embodies this balance, standing as a custodian of this legacy, not for personal civil or territorial rule, but as a steward of Christ’s kingship in the life of the Church. The URRC’s commitment to this model ensures that the faith is not only lived inwardly through prayer and monastic devotion but also manifested outwardly in the life of the Church and society. It reminds the world that true Christian governance is not a relic of the past but a vital component of preserving the faith.
A Future Rooted in Tradition
As the world grows increasingly secular, and as many churches abandon their heritage, traditions, and even their faith, the URRC stands as a witness to the endurance of true Christianity. In a time when many seek comfort in compromise, the Prince-Bishop and the Church he leads remain uncompromising in their mission.
What began as an inheritance has become a bold restoration of Christian civilization.
What was once misunderstood has now become a clearly defined Church with a growing and devoted following.
What some saw as an isolated movement has now drawn the attention of those seeking true apostolic faith.
Through it all, the Prince-Bishop has remained steadfast, ensuring that the URRC does not drift into irrelevance or become absorbed by those who would alter its mission. Instead, it stands stronger than ever—Orthodox, apostolic, and autocephalous—carrying forward the faith of the undivided Church into the future.
One Church, One Faith, One Mission
The story of the Prince-Bishop and the URRC is far from over. It is a story still being written—one of faith, perseverance, and the restoration of what was once thought lost. As the Church continues to grow and define its place in history, one thing is certain:
The light of Christian civilization has not gone out—it is alive, preserved, and carried forward by those who refuse to let it fade.
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* Orthodox means “right believing,” and Catholic means “universal.” These are the key defining elements of the authentic, historic Church.
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