Our Catechism Our Statement and Confession of Faith
Gen.Art. I General Articles
Gen.Art. II We
Hereby Make This Statement and Confessions of Our Faith And Practice
which includes both General and Organic Articles below:
Gen.Art. III We are an independent Old Catholic Orthodox Church
governed in accordance with the Principles and Faith of the Ancient
Church as established prior to the Great Schism of 1054. Our
Confession of Faith is all inclusive and based not only on the
Ancient Church Faith, but on The Munich Statement of 1871, Declaration
of Utrecht of 1889, and the Statement of Faith of Archbishop Matthew
of 1911. We are a Catholic Church that practices all seven sacraments.
Gen.Art. IV We believe Sacred Scripture as interpreted by the Church,
together with the Seven Undisputed General Councils of the Whole
Church, together with doctrines believed by the Church as a whole
prior to the Great Schism of 1054, as defining the belief of the Whole
Church. Every person wishing to become a member of this Church must
affirm this Faith as contained in the articles below.
Gen.Art. V We affirm the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments
as interpreted by the Church, as containing everything that is
necessary for salvation, and as being the rule and ultimate statement
of the Faith of the Church.
Gen.Art. VI We accept the Canon of Scripture as handed down from of
Old.
Gen.Art. VII We affirm the Nicene Creed as the principal creed of the
Faith of the Church. We also recognize the Western Baptismal Creed,
commonly called the "Apostles Creed," and the hymn commonly called the
"Athanasian Creed" as representing statements of the Nicene Faith.
Gen.Art. VIII We believe that the Nicene Creed is a literal statement
of the belief of the Church and is not subject to interpretation which
dismisses as merely allegorical or merely mythological any portion
thereof.
Gen.Art. XIX We affirm the Seven Sacraments Baptism, Holy Eucharist,
Confirmation, Holy Order, Holy Matrimony, Penance and Holy Unction
administered with the unfailing use of the traditional outward and
visible signs, and the form, matter, ministers and intention received
of old.
Gen.Art. X We affirm the Historic three-fold ministry of Bishops,
priests and deacons, and the traditional rights and powers thereof,
locally adapted in the methods of its administration according to the
needs of the nations in which the Church resides, but historic in
form, matter, ministers and intention.
Gen.Art. XI We affirm that, in accordance with Sacred Love and Tender
Mercies of God, the love of and compassion of Jesus Christ, and by the
Holy Scriptures, males and females may be ordained to the Diaconate,
Priesthood, or Episcopate.
Gen.Art. XII We affirm the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist
when the Eucharist is performed by a validly ordained Priest of the
Holy Catholic Church, with the elements ordained by Christ, and a
valid Canon of the Mass including Christ’s Words of Institution and
the Epiklesis.
Gen.Art. XIII We affirm that those who receive the Sacraments
unworthily do so to their detriment, but do so without effecting the
nature or efficacy of the Sacrament itself.
Gen.Art. XIV We affirm that the unworthiness of a minister of a
Sacrament does not invalidate the Sacrament, but, rather, that a
Sacrament performed with the proper matter and form, and with the
intention of the Church to make such action a Sacrament, remains
valid, whether or not the minister is worthy to administer that
Sacrament.
Gen.Art. XV We affirm that marriage, conducted as a Sacrament, with
the full understanding and intention of both parties to make a
marriage, is indissoluble except by death. However, we believe that
the Church may annul "marriages" which have taken place without full
understanding and intention of the parties involved, and counsel that
error be made on the side of compassion for those seeking to make
marriages after divorce.
Gen.Art. XVI We affirm an openness to all of the gifts of the Holy
Spirit, including the so-called "Charismata," but finding it
unscriptural to require that anyone exercise any particular Charism to
be considered a full, believing member of this body. (I Corinthians
12:21) Those who exercise the Charismata are welcome and encouraged to
exercise their gifts to the edification of the Church in an orderly,
Biblical manner, subject to the godly discipline of the Pastor of the
Parish to which they have allegiance.
Gen.Art. XVII We believe in an intermediate state wherein all persons,
after death and individual (particular) judgment, will have an
opportunity to repent their sins, acknowledge Jesus as the only Way,
Truth and Life, and grow "from strength to strength." We deny that
this intermediate state is a place of torture and fear, but affirm
that any pains endured in this state are gladly embraced, as they are
the pains of releasing our earthly bondage and conforming to the Will
of God in all things.
Gen.Art. XVIII We believe that there is a possibility that some will
reject grace, no matter how often it is offered, and these people
freely choose to remain in a state of separation from God. This state
of spirit we call "Hell." It is a freely chosen state of the damned to
be damned. It is not the will of the Father that any be lost.
Gen.Art. XIX We believe that humans are truly endowed with free-will
and can freely choose Life in Christ Jesus or death through the
rejection of grace.
Gen.Art. XX We believe that the Holy Scriptures are correct on all
matters of faith and morals.
Gen.Art. XXI We believe that people are justified by faith, which is
demonstrated in good works and obedient practice. Both faith and works
are necessary to the living of a Christian life.
Gen.Art. XXII We believe that there is a "cloud of witnesses," the
Saints, whom we may ask in, on and through the Name of Jesus to God,
to pray for us as one would ask any other member of the Church to pray
for us in the Name of Jesus Christ. It is an idolatrous practice,
however, to ask Saints to give us any material or physical blessing of
their own. For, while the prayer of the righteous is very effective
(James 5:16), yet every good thing comes from the Father (James 1:17).
Gen.Art. XXIII We believe that the "Sacrifice of the Mass" is a
"making present" of Jesus’ One Sacrifice, once offered, forever.
Jesus’ Sacrifice is made present on the altar, and, as such, the Mass
may be spoken of as a Sacrifice. Therefore, it is appropriate that
Masses be offered for the living and the dead, making present to the
Church now the One Sacrifice once offered, and making very present the
benefits of Christ’s Holy Sacrifice to the benefit of those present at
the offering.
Gen.Art. XXIV We believe that Mary, mother of Jesus, was truly the
Theotokos, or bearer of the Incarnation of the Second Person of the
Trinity. When Mary is called "Mother of God" we truly honor her who
gave everything of herself to secure our Salvation. However, the
Theotokos is called "Mother of God" in the sense that she bore Jesus,
who was and is the Incarnation of the Son, not in the sense that she
generated, in any way, the Godhead.
Gen.Art. XXV We believe that the prayers of the Blessed Virgin are
effective because of her great and unique faith, and because she has a
relationship which is unique with God from having been the bearer of
the Son. The relationship, which exists between Jesus and His mother,
is the same relationship Jesus wants to have with all believers. Mary
is unique because of her great faith, and it is this which gives
special power to her prayers, and her maternal relationship with the
Lord.
Gen.Art. XXVI We believe that all Bishops who have valid orders and
remain in the Orthodox Catholic faith that existed prior to the Great
Schism of 1054 and in accordance with the line of succession of both
the Roman and Eastern Rites after the Great Schism of 1054, are
successors of the Apostles, and, while we accord to the Bishop of Rome
great respect, and primacy of position, we see him as first among
equals, and though we are in the same beliefs with Rome on all
Ecumenical matters and Sacraments, we, however, completely reject the
Papal Claims of Universal Jurisdiction and Infallibility.
Gen.Art. XXVII We believe that whatsoever is not repugnant to the
Catholic Faith, but which aids in belief and devotion, may be believed
as pious opinion, but may not be taught as doctrine of the Church.
Gen.Art. XXVIII We affirm that the Eucharist is the principal service
of the Church; that its celebration is commanded by the Lord, and that
it shall be the regularly celebrated during Sunday Worship and during
weekly Mass, whenever possible.
Gen.Art. XXIX We believe that the Way of Salvation. Eternal Salvation
is promised to mankind only through the merits of our Savior Jesus
Christ, and upon condition of obedience to the teaching of the Gospel,
which requires Faith, Hope and Charity, and the due observance of the
ordinances of the Orthodox and Catholic Religion.
Gen.Art. XXX We Believe in Faith, Hope and Charity. Faith is a virtue
infused by God, whereby one accepts, and believes without doubting,
whatever God has revealed in the Church concerning true Religion. Hope
is a virtue infused by God, and following upon Faith; by it one puts
their entire trust and confidence in the goodness and mercy of God,
through Jesus Christ, and looks for the fulfillment of the Divine
promises made to those who obey the Gospel. Charity is a virtue
infused by God, and likewise consequent upon Faith, whereby one, loving
God above all things for His own sake, and their neighbor as oneself
for God's sake, yields up one will to a joyful obedience to the
revealed will of God in the Church.
Gen.Art. XXXI We believe in The Holy, Apostolic, Old Catholic Orthodox
Church. God has established the Holy Catholic Church upon earth to be
the pillar and ground of the revealed Truth; and has committed to her
the guardianship of the Holy Scriptures and of Holy Tradition, and the
power of binding and loosing.
Gen.Art. XXXII We believe in the Nicene Creed. The Catholic Church has
set forth the principal Doctrines of the Christian Faith in twelve
articles of the Creed, as follows:
I believe in one God the Father
Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and
invisible;
And in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all
Ages, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten not
made, of one substance with the he Father, by Whom all things were
made;
Who for us men and for our
salvation came down from heaven, and was Incarnate by the Holy
Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made Man;
And was crucified also for us
under Pontius Pilate, He suffered and was buried;
And the third day He rose again,
according to the Scriptures;
And ascended into heaven, and
sitteth on the right hand of the Father;
And He shall come again, with
glory, to judge the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no
end;
And I believe in the Holy
Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father,
Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and
glorified, Who spake by the Prophets;
And in One, Holy, Catholic, and
Apostolic Church;
I acknowledge one Baptism for
the remission of sins;
And I look for the Resurrection
of the dead;
And the Life of the world to
come. Amen.
This
sacred Creed is sufficient for the establishment of the Truth,
inasmuch as it explicitly teaches the perfect Doctrine of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Gen.Art. XXXIII We believe in the Holy Sacraments. The fundamental
ordinances of the Gospel, instituted by Jesus Christ as special means
of conveying Divine Grace and influence to the souls of men, which are
commonly called Mysteries or Sacraments, are Seven in number, namely
Baptism, Confirmation, the Holy Eucharist, Holy Orders, Matrimony,
Penance, and Unction.
Gen.Art. XXXIV We believe in the Holy Baptism. The Holy Baptism is the
first Sacrament of the Gospel, administered by threefold immersion in,
or affusion with, water with the words, "I baptize thee (you) in the
Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." It admits
the recipient into the Church, bestows upon them the forgiveness of
sins, original and actual, through the Blood of Christ, and causes in
them a spiritual change called Regeneration. Without valid Baptism no
other Sacrament can be validly received.
Gen.Art. XXXV We believe in the Holy Confirmation or Chrismation. This
is a Sacrament in which the baptized person, on being anointed with
Chrism consecrated by the Bishops of the Church, with the imposition
of hands, receive the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit to
strengthen them in the grace which they received at Baptism, making
them a strong and perfect Christian and a good soldier of Christ.
Gen.Art. XXXVI We believe in the Holy Eucharist. This is a Sacrament
in which, under the appearance of Bread and Wine, the real and actual
Body and Blood of Christ are given and received for the remission of
sins, the increase of Divine grace, and the reward of everlasting
Life. After the prayer of Invocation of the Holy Spirit in the
Liturgy, the bread and wine are entirely converted into the Living
Body and Blood of Christ by an actual change of being to which change
the philosophical terms of Transubstantiation and Transmutation are
rightly applied. The celebration of this Mystery or Sacrament,
commonly called the Mass, constitutes the chief act of Christian
worship, being a sacrificial Memorial or re-Presentation of our Lord's
death. It is not a repetition of the Sacrifice offered once for all
upon Calvary, but is a perpetuation of that Sacrifice by the Church on
earth, as our Lord also perpetually offers it in heaven. It is a true
and propitiatory Sacrifice, which is offered alike for the living and
for the departed.
Gen.Art. XXXVII We believe in the Holy Orders. These Orders are a
Sacrament in which the Holy Spirit, through the laying-on of hands of
Bishops, consecrates and ordains the pastors and ministers chosen to
serve in the Church, and imparts to them special grace to administer
the Sacraments, to forgive sins, and to feed the flock of Christ.
Gen.Art. XXXVIII Holy Matrimony is a Sacrament in which the voluntary
union of husband and wife is sanctified to become an image of the
union between Christ and His Church; and grace is imparted to them to
fulfill the duties of their estate and its great responsibilities,
both to each other and to their children.
Gen.Art. XXXIX We believe in the Holy Penance. This Penance is a
Sacrament in which the Holy Spirit bestows the forgiveness of sins, by
the ministry of the priest, upon those who, having sinned after
Baptism, confess their sins with true repentance, and grace is given
to amend their lives thereafter.
Gen.Art. XXXX We believe in the Holy Unction. The Unctions is a
Sacrament in which the priests of the Church anoint the sick with oil,
for the healing of the infirmities of their souls, and if it should
please God, those of their bodies also.
Gen.Art. XXXXI We belive in the efficacy of the Sacraments. The
efficacy of the Scaraments depends upon the promise and appointment of
God; nevertheless, they benefit only those who receive them worthily
with faith, and with due preparation and disposition of mind.
Gen.Art. XXXXII We believe in the Holy Scripture. The Scriptures are
writings inspired by God, and given to the Church for her instruction
and edification. The Church is therefore the custodian and the only
Divinely appointed interpreter of Holy Scripture.
Gen.Art. XXXXIII We believe in the old Catholic Orthodox Church
Tradition. The Apostolic and Ecclesiastical Traditions received from
the seven General Councils and the early Fathers of the Church may not
be rejected; but are to be received and obeyed as being both agreeable
to Holy Scripture and to that Authority with which Christ endowed His
Church. Matters of discipline and ceremonial do not rank on the same
level with matters of Faith and Morals, but may be altered from time
to time and from place to place by the Authority of the Church
according as the welfare and greater devotion of the faithful may be
furthered thereby.
Gen.Art. XXXXIV We believe in the The Communion of the Saints. There
is a Communion of Saints in the Providence of God, wherein the souls
of the righteous men of all ages are united with Christ in the bond of
faith and love. Wherefore it is pleasing to God, and profitable to
men, to honor the Saints and to invoke them in prayer; and also to
pray for the faithful departed.
Gen.Art. XXXXV We believe in Religious Symbols. The relics and
representations of the Saints are worthy of honor, as are also all
other religious emblems; that our minds may be encouraged to devotion
and to imitation of the deeds of the just. Honor shown to such objects
is purely relative, and in no way implies a confusion of the symbols
with the thing signified, nor is the object or symbol placed in the
same or equal realm as God. There is only One, True God and no person,
item, relic or object is equal to or takes the place of our One, True
God.
Gen.Art. XXXXVI We believe in the Rites and Ceremonies of the Old
Catholic Orthodox Church. It is the duty of all Christians to join in
the worship of the Church, especially in the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass, in accordance with our Lord's express command; and to conform to
the ceremonies prescribed by holy Tradition for the greater dignity of
that Sacrifice and for the edification of the faithful.
Gen.Art. XXXXVII We believe in the Moral Law. All Christians are bound
to observe the moral law contained in the Ten Commandments of the Old
Testament, developed with greater strictness in the New, founded upon
the law of nature and charity, and defining our duty to God and to
man. The laws of the Church are also to be obeyed, as proceeding from
that Authority which Christ has committed to her for the instruction
and salvation of His people.
Gen.Art. XXXXVIII We believe in the Monastic Estate. The monastic
life, duly regulated according to the laws of the Church, is a
salutary institution in strict accord with the Holy Scriptures; and is
full of profit to them who, after being carefully tried and examined,
make full proof of their calling thereto.
Org.Art. I Organic Articles
Org. Art. II We believe in the Head of the Church. The Foundation Head
and Supreme Pastor and Bishop of the Church is our Lord Jesus Christ
Himself, from Whom all Bishops and Pastors derive their spiritual
powers and jurisdiction.
Org. Art. III We believe in true Obedience.
By the laws and institution of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel,
all Christians owe obedience and submission in spiritual things to
them who have rule and authority within the Church.
Org. Art. IV We believe in Ministerial Authority. Our Lord Jesus
Christ did not commit rule and authority within the Church to all the
faithful indiscriminately, but only to the Apostles and to their
lawful successors in due order, and God commanded order by and within
His Great Creation an for a unified and structured Church
organization.
Org. Art. V We believe in Apostolic Succession. The only lawful
successors of the Apostles are the Orthodox and Catholic Bishops,
united by profession of the self-same Belief, participation in the
same Sacraments, and mutual recognition and Intercommunion. The
Bishops of the Church, being true successors of the Apostles, are by
Divine Right and appointment the rulers of the Church.
Org. Art. VI We believe in virtue of this appointment, each
individual Bishop is supreme and independent in that part of the
Church which has been committed to his care, so long as the Bishop
remains in Faith and Communion with the united company of Catholic
Bishops, who cannot exclude any from the Church, save only them who
stray from the path of virtue or err in Faith.
Org. Art. VII We believe that by virtue of this same Divine
appointment, the supreme Authority over the whole Church on earth
belongs to the collective Orthodox and Catholic Episcopate. They alone
form the highest tribunal in spiritual matters, from whose united
judgment there can be no appeal; so that it is unlawful under the Code
of Canons of The Church (Canononical Law), for any single Bishop, or
any smaller group of Bishops apart from them, or for any secular power
or state, to usurp this authority, or for any individual Christian to
substitute his own private judgment for that interpretation of
Scripture or Authority which is approved by the Church, as promulgated
by the Holy Scripture.
Org. Art. VIII We believe in Church Authority. The collective body of
the Orthodox and Catholic Episcopate, united by profession of the
Faith, by the Sacraments, and by mutual recognition and actual
Intercommunion, is the source and depository of all order, authority
and jurisdiction in the Church, and is the center of visible Catholic
Unity; so that no Pope, Patriarch or Bishop, or any number of Bishops
separated from this united body can possess any authority or
jurisdiction whatsoever, unless the body is of an independent
jurisdiction with the Bishop is in a valid line of Apostolic succession.
The Authority of the Church can never be in abeyance, even though a
General Council cannot be assembled. It is equally to be submitted to
and obeyed in whatever way it may be exercised, and although it may be
exercised only through the ordinary administration of their respective
jurisdictions by individual Bishops.
Org. Art. IX We believe that the authority of this collective body is
equally binding, however it may be expressed: whether by a General
Council or by the regular and ordinary consultation and agreement of
the Bishops themselves.
Org. Art. X We believe that it is an act of schism to appeal from the
known judgment of the Orthodox and Catholic Episcopate, however it may
have been ascertained; or to appeal from any dogmatic decree of any
General Council even though such appeal be to a future Council. For
the Episcopate, being a continuation of the Apostolate, is clearly a
Divine institution, and its authority is founded in Divine Right. But
General Councils are not of Scriptural promise of Divine appointment;
and so the Episcopate having clearly the Scriptural promise of Divine
guidance into all Truth, cannot be hampered in the exercise of its
authority by the necessity of assembling a General Council which may
obviously be rendered impossible through natural circumstances.
Org. Art. XI We believe in the Seven General Councils. There have been
seven General Councils only, which are recognized by the whole of
Christendom, held respective in Nicea (AD-325), Constantinople (381),
Ephesus (431), Chalcedon (451), Constantinople (553), Constantinople
(680), and Nicea (787). At no other Councils was the entire body of
the Orthodox and Catholic Episcopate representatively assembled; and
the decrees and pronouncements of no others must of themselves be
accepted as binding upon the conscience of the faithful.
Org. Art. XII We believe in Church Hierarchy. All patriarchs,
archbishops, and metropolitans (that is to say, all Bishops who
exercise any authority over other Bishops owe that authority solely to
the appointment or general consent of the Orthodox and Catholic
Episcopate; nor can they ever cease from owing obedience to the
collective body of the Episcopate in all matters concerning Faith and
Morals.
Org. Art. XIII We believe in the Five Patriarchates. There are five
Patriarchates, which ought to be united and form the supreme authority
in the administration and government of the Holy Catholic Church.
These are Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome, Alexandria, and Constantinople.
Unfortunately, owing to disputes and differences on the one hand, and
to the lust for power and supremacy and domination on the other, the
Patriarchs are not at present in Communion; and the welfare of
Christendom is jeopardized by their unedifying quarrels, which, we
pray, may soon have an end.
Org. Art. XIV The Statement of Faith contained herein is to be
considered a Primary Summary of the Faith of the Old Catholic Orthodox
Church, Cluj-Napoca Synod. All Clergy, Religious, and Seminarians in
the Old Catholic Orthodox Church, Cluj-Napoca Synod are bound in
conscience to uphold and teach the Faith as contained herein. Any
future act of intercommunion with another Jurisdiction must be based
on a mutual agreement with this Statement of Faith. Any other
arrangement would be tantamount to heresy.
I, N., do solemnly swear to uphold and teach this Statement of
Faith with utmost conviction, aided by Divine Grace, with God as my
Judge.
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