www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Vagante "Orthodox bishops" in the US?

Is there a reliably informed and reputably-sponsored web site that provides a listing (plus backgrounds) of suspiciously bogus "Orthodox bishops" in this country?
Thank you for your input!

This is a tough one, but you might try a google search for "al green orthodox", which will give you a list of sites to try. Al Green has made it something of an avocation to keep up with all the canonical and non-canonical groups who call themselves orthodox. He has also been a frequent poster on orthodox forums elsewhere. Unfortunately, when I went to aggreen.net, I didn't arrive at the information you are looking for.

IndMovement.org is a website for independent church groups and religious orders, most claiming apostolicity through vagante orders. It is a fascinating site, with everything from an Elvis impersonator priest to a "Holy Father" with a hundred or so adherents....happy surfing!
-Daniel

Such people certainly have a tremendous sense of mission. Perhaps the Angel Moroni appeared to them and told them that "GENERATIONS OF CRACKPOTS YET UNBORN ARE RELYING ON YOU!"

Incognitus

Thanks, Jim and Daniel.
Actually, I am failing to bring up a website I've seen once in the past that dealt with something along the lines of "religious organizations that have the word 'Orthodox' in its name."
I mention that because it may ring a bell with someone. I will keep trying.

Dear durak,

Actually, I once knew a vagante "bishop" who wanted to establish an Anglican branch . . .

I suggested he call it the "Anglican Orthodox Catholic Church."

So he did . . .

My ecclesial versatility is legendary, you know!

Alex

A search on Byzantine Forum just using the word "vagante" produced 57 different threads. The website you seek is likely to be squirrelled away in one of them.

AHA - that's is Al Green's - but I do not have the URL - you really want Neil for that - he has a fund of knowledge about Vagantes

Hey, don't speak ill of Moroni. He'll yank your underwear.

Oh,those Yanks. But what can you expect from them?

Incognitus

Oh woe! No more angel pants for Incognitus.

Durak,

Actually there's a few sites where you can peruse lists of these kinds of groups and individuals, some are run by folks in the genre, others by watchdogs.

Most include links - but vagante websites disappear faster than urban storefront churches, as names change, "hierarchs" excommunicate one another while vying for control, etc..

Here's four for your edification, education, and/or amusement (note that "Catholic" and "Orthodox" are interchangeable and/or merged terms in the minds of all these people, who as often as not employ both in styling their ecclesial empires). Note that two of these might be questionable in some folks minds as to one of your criteria (i.e. reputable sponsorship), but I will vouch for the reliability of the information in all four instances:

• maintained by the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch - Malabar Rite (which is neither Catholic, of Antioch, nor connected with the Malabarese, except in their own minds):
  • Directory of Independent Catholic Jurisdictions [concentric.net]

• operated by Father Tony Begonja, an "independent Anglican priest" and a character in his own right (and rite - ), who (to his credit) acknowledges at least some of what goes on in the "movement" as bizarre (it's a huge site and can be fascinating reading; it includes photos and many mini-bios of the players in the "independent" world):
  • Your Complete Guide to the World of...t;) Churches in the Apostolic Succession [ind-movement.org]

• the work of Al Green, an Orthodox layman (the site you mentioned having seen previously); some of the group descriptions include some clever and humorous editorial commentary and observation on Al's part:
  • Religious Groups That Use "Ort... Not Canonical Eastern Orthodox Churches [a_g_green_jr.tripod.com]

• belonging to Terrance Boyle, a Catholic layman, this site used to have a very extensive listing, but has refocused more recently to describing some of the lineages claimed by those who trumpet their apostolic succession:
  • Outline of Episcopi Vagantes [tboyle.net]

As to how to identify a vagante church, the website of a parish in the Orthodox Church of the Phillippines has a page devoted to this topic. While there are a few generalizations with which I might take issue, it is extremely well-written and on-target in many respects. See:

Caution: On Independent "orthodox catholic" Groups [geocities.com]

Another such listing of the characteristics that mark vagante bodies and hierarchs is on the website of the American Orthodox Church (a/k/a American Orthodox Catholic Church, a/k/a North American Orthodox Church, a/k/a Western Orthodox Church in America, a/k/a Orthodox Catholic Church of the Americas, a/k/a Irvine Community Church of Canada, a/k/a Federation of Orthodox and Catholics, a/k/a International Federation of Orthodox Catholics), itself of this genre. They add comments to each of the points, suggesting circumstances that mitigate; my advice - read the points, ignore the comments .

A Word of Advice [apostle1.com]

Many years,

Neil

Durak,

As Anhelyna said, I have a lot of info on vagantes; they're a special interest of mine (an interest that Daniel/Iconophile shares with me). If there is a particular "hierarch" or "jurisdiction" about which you have a question, feel free to pm me, I'll be happy to share whatever info I might know - and may be able to direct you to some other sources.

Many years,

Neil

Esteemed Neil,

I am indebted!

This is a group that has been around Knoxville for a few years. They meet in a Lutheran Church, but have recently purchased a rather run-down little Baptist church as their "world headquarters." St. Demetrios [geocities.com]