The United Roman-Ruthenian Church
and the Pontifical Imperial State:
A Guardian of Christian Heritage

Highlights:

The United Roman-Ruthenian Church (URRC) is an independent Orthodox Old Catholic Church dedicated to preserving ancient Christian traditions through apostolic succession from various Orthodox and Old Catholic lines.
The URRC functions as a custodian of historic Christian patrimonies, emphasizing preservation over proselytism, thereby honoring and transmitting its cultural and spiritual heritage.
The URRC's diverse community focuses on chaplaincy and humanitarian efforts in various regions, while also maintaining local parishes that foster community connections and support traditional faiths amid modern challenges.
At the core of the URRC’s mission is the Pontifical Imperial State of Rome-Ruthenia, a cultural entity that safeguards the historic legacies of the Roman Empire and is led by the Prince-Bishop, who embodies this heritage without political ambitions.
The URRC’s commitment to preserving a spectrum of Christian traditions promotes unity among Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant communities, highlighting the integrity of apostolic lineages and the shared foundations of early Christianity.
Ultimately, the URRC and its Pontifical Imperial State serve as guardians of Christian heritage, striving to foster historical continuity and mutual respect among diverse Christian communities.

In-Depth:

An Overview

The United Roman-Ruthenian Church (URRC) is an independent, autocephalous Orthodox Old Catholic Church committed to preserving the unity and heritage of ancient Christian traditions. Our Apostolic lineage—united from diverse Orthodox and Catholic sources, including Russian, Greek, Roman, Syrian, Coptic, and Armenian traditions—reflects a unique position within the Christian world. As such, the URRC safeguards the fullness of the apostolic faith as it was practiced in the early, undivided Church. While deeply rooted in Eastern Christianity, it also serves as a bridge, much like the ancient Eastern Roman Empire, honoring both Eastern and Western Christian traditions within a unified apostolic heritage, serving all who seek unity in Christ.

Preservation of Christian Heritage

Unlike many churches, the URRC is not a territorially-limited body seeking to expand its congregation at the expense of others; rather, it serves as a custodian of historic Christian patrimonies and liturgical practices, drawing from the Orthodox, Catholic, and Eastern Christian traditions. This emphasis on preservation rather than proselytism allows it to focus on honoring and passing forward the cultural and spiritual heritage it has received.

Community Engagement and Support

The United Roman-Ruthenian Church's community is diverse, with a focus on chaplaincy in some regions, offering spiritual support in institutional settings, while also engaging in humanitarian efforts. In other areas, it operates local parishes, fostering grassroots connections within communities. Notably, the Church also supports segments of the Christian nobility, aiding in the preservation of traditional faiths and cultural legacies amidst contemporary challenges.

The Pontifical Imperial State of Rome-Ruthenia

At the heart of the URRC’s mission is the Pontifical Imperial State of Rome-Ruthenia. This entity is a nation without borders that constitutes a state unto itself. However, it is not a political state making modern territorial claims but rather a “cultural state” – a guardian of the historic patrimony once associated with the Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Old Russian State (Ruthenia). The Pontifical Imperial State embodies the URRC’s commitment to the heritage of both Eastern and Western Christianity, and it is led by the Prince-Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia, who carries this legacy as a custodian rather than a ruler of a civil state. This office honors the ancient Christian tradition of holding spiritual and temporal patrimonies together, although in this modern context, its primary mission is cultural and historical, not territorial.

Emphasizing Unity Among Christian Traditions

The URRC’s emphasis on preservation allows it to represent a broad spectrum of Christian traditions without favoring one. It maintains the integrity of each apostolic lineage, preserving Slavic, Byzantine, and Eastern traditions alongside the Roman and Western rites that have shaped Christian history. For Orthodox Christians, the URRC’s approach may be seen as a commitment to the unity and fullness of early Christianity, emphasizing the original teachings and sacred traditions of the undivided Church, which Orthodox Christians cherish as foundational. For Catholics, the URRC’s emphasis on maintaining the unbroken continuity of faith and practice through apostolic succession resonates as a shared commitment to upholding and revering the teachings and traditions passed down from the Apostles. And for Protestant Christians, the URRC’s focus on honoring early Christian roots may serve as an invitation to explore the shared heritage of the first followers of Christ, valuing the early Church’s foundations and the diverse traditions that formed before later divisions.

A Mission of Unity and Diversity

Overall, the URRC and its Pontifical Imperial State are guardians of a shared Christian heritage, striving to preserve the ancient traditions and spiritual patrimonies that unite all who hold faith in Christ. This mission seeks to build bridges among Christian communities, emphasizing historical continuity, mutual respect, and a commitment to the diversity that characterizes the Christian faith’s earliest centuries.