Antiochian Catholic Church in America
Encyclopedia
The Antiochian Catholic Church in America (ACCA) is one of the Independent Catholic Churches
. The ACCA is distinct from most of these churches in that it largely embraces the theology and much of the practice of the Syriac Orthodox Church
and the Indian Orthodox Church
, from which the clergy of the ACCA primarily derive their claim to apostolic succession
via the lineage of Joseph Rene Vilatte
. The holy orders
of the ACCA also come through the Old Catholic movement, in this case by way of Arnold Harris Mathew. The ACCA, however, is not in full communion with the Oriental Orthodox churches because it ordains women and because it does not require celibacy
of its bishops, allowing them, like priests and deacons, to marry. The ACCA states that its approach to theology and practice is a process of "critical reappropriation" which is open to influences from all sectors of trinitarian Christianity
but is, at the same time, firmly grounded in the Syriac Christian tradition, particularly with regard to such basic matters as Christology
, soteriology
, ecclesiology
, and ethics
.
The current See city of the ACCA is Knoxville, Tennessee
. It is led by a metran, or archbishop, Victor Mar Michael Herron (consecrated 1990, metran since 1996), who is the pastor of St. Demetrios Antiochian Catholic Church. While attendance at the Sunday Qurbana (Eucharist
) at St. Demetrios is small, less than 10 (including three clergymembers), the congregation continues to operate a limited food bank and meal program. Avva (Father) Zakkai Patrick Pardee assists Mar Michael at St. Demetrios. Another small congregation, St. Elias, worships in nearby Kodak, Tennessee. In October, 2008, the pastor of St. Elias, Andreas Richard Turner, was made a bishop, taking the name Mar Cassian. As a suffragan bishop, Mar Cassian assists Mar Michael in his episcopal duties. Mar Cassian is chancellor of the ACCA.
In 2007, the Cloistered Heart Franciscans, a non-residential, ecumenical sisterhood of women (who do not necessarily vow celibacy, but fidelity in marriage), headed by Mother Shirley Raper of Sparta, Tennessee, reorganized within the ACCA as the Cloistered Heart Myrrh-bearers. Mother Shirley celebrates the Qurbana weekly for about 20 people at a small facility, called Holy Adoration Chapel. Mother Jacqueline Dierring, of Black Mountain, North Carolina, serves the liturgy at Holy Trinity chapel, an oratory in her home. Both were ordained to the priesthood in May, 2009. A brotherhood, the Cloistered Heart God-bearers, is associated with the sisterhood.
Fr. Gregory Ned Blevins is the ACCA's Ecumenical and Social Concerns Representative. Amma Caitlin Turner is an itinerant missionary throughout the southeastern United States.
Independent Catholic Churches
Independent Catholic churches are Catholic congregations that are not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church or any other churches whose sacraments are recognized by the Roman Catholic Church...
. The ACCA is distinct from most of these churches in that it largely embraces the theology and much of the practice of the Syriac Orthodox Church
Syriac Orthodox Church
The Syriac Orthodox Church; is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Eastern Mediterranean, with members spread throughout the world. The Syriac Orthodox Church claims to derive its origin from one of the first Christian communities, established in Antioch by the Apostle St....
and the Indian Orthodox Church
Indian Orthodox Church
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, also known as the Indian Orthodox Church, is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church centred in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the churches of India's Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas...
, from which the clergy of the ACCA primarily derive their claim to apostolic succession
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
via the lineage of Joseph Rene Vilatte
Joseph René Vilatte
Joseph René Vilatte was, at different times, a Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Russian Orthodox and Jacobite...
. The holy orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
of the ACCA also come through the Old Catholic movement, in this case by way of Arnold Harris Mathew. The ACCA, however, is not in full communion with the Oriental Orthodox churches because it ordains women and because it does not require celibacy
Celibacy
Celibacy is a personal commitment to avoiding sexual relations, in particular a vow from marriage. Typically celibacy involves avoiding all romantic relationships of any kind. An individual may choose celibacy for religious reasons, such as is the case for priests in some religions, for reasons of...
of its bishops, allowing them, like priests and deacons, to marry. The ACCA states that its approach to theology and practice is a process of "critical reappropriation" which is open to influences from all sectors of trinitarian Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
but is, at the same time, firmly grounded in the Syriac Christian tradition, particularly with regard to such basic matters as Christology
Christology
Christology is the field of study within Christian theology which is primarily concerned with the nature and person of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament. Primary considerations include the relationship of Jesus' nature and person with the nature...
, soteriology
Soteriology
The branch of Christian theology that deals with salvation and redemption is called Soteriology. It is derived from the Greek sōtērion + English -logy....
, ecclesiology
Ecclesiology
Today, ecclesiology usually refers to the theological study of the Christian church. However when the word was coined in the late 1830s, it was defined as the science of the building and decoration of churches and it is still, though rarely, used in this sense.In its theological sense, ecclesiology...
, and ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
.
The current See city of the ACCA is Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. It is led by a metran, or archbishop, Victor Mar Michael Herron (consecrated 1990, metran since 1996), who is the pastor of St. Demetrios Antiochian Catholic Church. While attendance at the Sunday Qurbana (Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
) at St. Demetrios is small, less than 10 (including three clergymembers), the congregation continues to operate a limited food bank and meal program. Avva (Father) Zakkai Patrick Pardee assists Mar Michael at St. Demetrios. Another small congregation, St. Elias, worships in nearby Kodak, Tennessee. In October, 2008, the pastor of St. Elias, Andreas Richard Turner, was made a bishop, taking the name Mar Cassian. As a suffragan bishop, Mar Cassian assists Mar Michael in his episcopal duties. Mar Cassian is chancellor of the ACCA.
In 2007, the Cloistered Heart Franciscans, a non-residential, ecumenical sisterhood of women (who do not necessarily vow celibacy, but fidelity in marriage), headed by Mother Shirley Raper of Sparta, Tennessee, reorganized within the ACCA as the Cloistered Heart Myrrh-bearers. Mother Shirley celebrates the Qurbana weekly for about 20 people at a small facility, called Holy Adoration Chapel. Mother Jacqueline Dierring, of Black Mountain, North Carolina, serves the liturgy at Holy Trinity chapel, an oratory in her home. Both were ordained to the priesthood in May, 2009. A brotherhood, the Cloistered Heart God-bearers, is associated with the sisterhood.
Fr. Gregory Ned Blevins is the ACCA's Ecumenical and Social Concerns Representative. Amma Caitlin Turner is an itinerant missionary throughout the southeastern United States.