Apostolic Succession

The Apostolic Succession is the historically traceable lineage of hands-on Consecration (Ordination) of bishops that is an unbroken link with the Holy Apostles.

Our bishops have multiple lines of Apostolic Succession including schismatic Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Anglican as well as others. Our bishops and their Consecrating prelates (bishops) and those before them are to be found in the books of the so-called “books of irregular bishops” that are known to scholars of the Apostolic Succession.

Even if a bishop breaks with any Church of the Apostolic Succession such as Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Moscow, etc. he is still validly consecrated for life and may pass on the Apostolic Succession along with other such bishops. Holy Orders are indelible. There are some who wish that this indelibility did not exist–but it does. We have valid Holy Orders and can prove it.

We are, technically speaking, “Western Rite Orthodox”; this means that we are Orthodox yet using one of the Western Rites for the administration of the Sacraments. As Orthodox, we are in the true spiritual meaning of the phrase, part of the “one, holy, catholic and apostolic church” as referred to in the Creed used by all Churches of the Apostolic Succession since 381 AD.

The term “Western Rite” indicates that Holy Baptism, Holy Communion, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Matrimony, Confession/Absolution, Confirmation, and Holy Orders are performed in the Roman or Roman derived rituals. The term Orthodox means “straight teaching” or “true teaching” and was first used simultaneously by Rome, Constantinople, and the Ancient Churches with them after the Fourth Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon in 451AD.

The term “catholic” means “universal” and has been used along with the term “Orthodox” since ancient times. The term “Catholic” has never been exclusively the property of the Church of Rome and its ecclesiastic governmental divisions.

We realize that some individuals are being denied the Sacraments from other churches. We try to help every individual that we can. You may contact our clergy directly:

Archbishop David L. Cooper Succession

Archbishop David Cooper

We need priests! We operate our own seminary program leading to ordination to the Holy Priesthood. Married men are especially welcome. We are a conservative church and follow the most ancient rules in this regard which allowed for marriage of both priests and bishops. (Bishops were allowed to be married by the First Ecumenical Council in 325 AD. There were numerous married popes even after it was stopped.)

We want men who are interested in a primary ministry in nursing homes in their community. College graduates are preferred. If you are interested in this volunteer ministry please contact us by writing a letter expressing your intentions and future plans for service to: