Category: San Luigi Gazette

Letter of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

On By johnkerseyIn Apostolic Episcopal Church, Catholicate of the West, News, San Luigi Gazette

The Abbey-Principality of San Luigi affirms its commitment to peace and its rejection of armed conflict. It notes the recent letter of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and reproduces its text below, commending it to all who adhere to the Abbey-Principality and its dependent institutions.

Letter of the Patriarch

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
May the Lord give you peace!

We are going through one of the most difficult and painful periods in our recent times and history. For over two weeks now, we have been inundated with images of horrors, which have reawakened ancient traumas, opened new wounds, and made pain, frustration, and anger explode within all of us. Much seems to speak of death and endless hatred. So many “whys” overlap in our minds, adding to our sense of bewilderment.

The whole world views this Holy Land of ours as a place that is a constant cause of wars and divisions. That is precisely why it was good that a few days ago, the whole world joined us with a day of prayer and fasting for peace. It was a beautiful view of the Holy Land and an important moment of unity with our Church. And that view is still there. Next Oct. 27, the pope has called for a second day of prayer and fasting, so that our intercession may continue. It will be a day that we will celebrate with conviction. It is perhaps the main thing we Christians can do at this time: pray, do penance, intercede. For this, we thank the Holy Father from the bottom of our hearts.

In all this uproar where the deafening noise of the bombs is mixed with the many voices of sorrow and the many conflicting feelings, I feel the need to share with you a word that has its origin in the Gospel of Jesus. That is the starting point which we set out from, and return to, time and time again: a word from the Gospel to help us live this tragic moment by uniting our feelings with those of Jesus.

Looking to Jesus, of course, does not mean feeling exempt from the duty to speak, to denounce, to call out, as well as to console and encourage. As we heard in last Sunday’s Gospel, it is necessary to render “to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Mt 22:21). Looking to God, we therefore want, first of all, to render to Caesar what is his.

My conscience and moral duty require me to state clearly that what happened on Oct. 7 in southern Israel is in no way permissible and we cannot but condemn it. There is no reason for such an atrocity. Yes, we have a duty to state this and to denounce it. The use of violence is not compatible with the Gospel, and it does not lead to peace. The life of every human person has equal dignity before God, who created us all in his image.

The same conscience, however, with a great burden on my heart, leads me to state with equal clarity today that this new cycle of violence has brought to Gaza over 5,000 deaths, including many women and children, tens of thousands of wounded, neighborhoods razed to the ground, lack of medicine, lack of water and of basic necessities for over 2 million people. These are tragedies that cannot be understood and which we have a duty to denounce and condemn unreservedly. The continuous heavy bombardment that has been pounding Gaza for days will only cause more death and destruction and will only increase hatred and resentment. It will not solve any problem but rather create new ones. It is time to stop this war, this senseless violence.

It is only by ending decades of occupation and its tragic consequences, as well as giving a clear and secure national perspective to the Palestinian people that a serious peace process can begin. Unless this problem is solved at its root, there will never be the stability we all hope for. The tragedy of these days must lead us all, religious, political, civil society, international community, to a more serious commitment in this regard than what has been done so far. This is the only way to avoid other tragedies like the one we are experiencing now. We owe it to the many victims of these days and to those of years past. We do not have the right to leave this task to others.

Yet, I cannot live this extremely painful time without looking upward, without looking to Christ, without the faith that enlightens my view and yours on what we are experiencing, without turning our thoughts to God. We need a Word to accompany us, to comfort and encourage us. We need it like the air we breathe.

“I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have tribulations, but take courage, I have conquered the world” (Jn 16:33).

We find ourselves on the eve of Jesus’ passion. He addresses these words to his disciples, who will shortly be tossed about, as if in a storm, before his death. They will panic, scatter, and flee, like sheep without a shepherd.

Yet, this last word of Jesus is an encouragement. He does not say that he shall win, but that he has already won. Even in the turmoil to come, the disciples will be able to have peace. This is not a matter of theoretical irenic peace, nor of resignation to the fact that the world is evil, and we can do nothing to change it. Instead it is about having the assurance that precisely within all this evil, Jesus has already won. Despite the evil ravaging the world, Jesus has achieved a victory and established a new reality, a new order, which after the resurrection will be assumed by the disciples who were reborn in the Spirit.

It was on the cross that Jesus won: not with weapons, not with political power, not by great means, nor by imposing himself. The peace he speaks of has nothing to do with victory over others. He won the world by loving it. It is true that a new reality and a new order begin on the cross. The order and the reality of the one who gives his life out of love. With the Resurrection and the gift of the Spirit, that reality and that order belong to his disciples. To us. God’s answer to the question of why the righteous suffer is not an explanation but a Presence. It is Christ on the cross.

It is on this that we stake our faith today. Jesus in that verse rightly speaks of courage. Such peace, such love, require great courage.

To have the courage of love and peace here, today, means not allowing hatred, revenge, anger, and pain to occupy all the space of our hearts, of our speech, of our thinking. It means making a personal commitment to justice, being able to affirm and denounce the painful truth of injustice and evil that surrounds us, without letting it pollute our relationships. It means being committed, being convinced that it is still worthwhile to do all we can for peace, justice, equality, and reconciliation. Our speech must not be about death and closed doors. On the contrary, our words must be creative, life-giving; they must give perspective and open horizons.

It takes courage to be able to demand justice without spreading hatred. It takes courage to ask for mercy, to reject oppression, to promote equality without demanding uniformity, while remaining free. It takes courage today, even in our diocese and our communities, to maintain unity, to feel united to one another, even in the diversity of our opinions, sensitivities, and visions.

I want, and we want, to be part of this new order inaugurated by Christ. We want to ask God for that courage. We want to be victorious over the world, taking upon ourselves that same cross, which is also ours, made of pain and love, of truth and fear, of injustice and gift, of cries and forgiveness.

I pray for us all, and in particular for the small community of Gaza, which is suffering most of all. In particular, our thoughts go out to the 18 brothers and sisters who perished recently and to their families whom we know personally. Their pain is great, and yet with every passing day, I realize that they are at peace. They are scared, shaken, upset, but with peace in their hearts. We are all with them, in prayer and concrete solidarity, thanking them for their beautiful witness.

Finally, let us pray for all innocent victims. The suffering of the innocent before God has a precious and redemptive value because it is united with the redemptive suffering of Christ. May their suffering bring peace ever closer!

We are approaching the solemnity of the Queen of Palestine, the patroness of our diocese. The shrine was erected during another time of war, and was chosen as a special place to pray for peace. In these days we will once again reconsecrate our Church and our land to the Queen of Palestine! I ask all churches around the world to join the Holy Father and to join us in prayer, and in the search for justice and peace.

We will not be able to gather all together this year, because the situation does not allow it. But I am sure that the whole diocese will be united on that day in prayer and in solidarity for peace, not worldly peace, but the peace which Christ gives us.

With sincere prayers for all, 

+Pierbattista Card. Pizzaballa 
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

Source: https://www.lpj.org/cached_uploads/download/2023/10/24/1-1318-2023-en-1-1698133294.pdf

Disclaimer: Mauro Contili

On By johnkerseyIn Apostolic Episcopal Church, Catholicate of the West, San Luigi Gazette

The Abbey-Principality of San Luigi and the Apostolic Episcopal Church have been informed that one Mauro Contili has claimed falsely that he has been elected bishop by the Prince-Abbot of San Luigi (The Most Revd. Edmond John Kersey de Polanie-Patrikios/Mar Joannes Edmundus) in his capacity as Primate of the Apostolic Episcopal Church. The false claim has been published on his website here and reads (in translation) “he was ordained Anglican Canon by the Primate Archbishop Mar Joannes Edmundus and always as Bishop-elect Vicar General for Italy.”

Mauro Contili has never met Archbishop Kersey and Archbishop Kersey has never ordained or consecrated him, nor has he elected him bishop. It is not possible to ordain a man to the offices of canon or provincial vicar-general, which are purely appointive offices.

Mauro Contili had previously been a priest in the Chiesa Cristiana Anglo Cattolica under Mgr. Damiano di Lernia, who had ordained him deacon and priest on 20 June 2016. In 2017, having previously left that church, and in consequence of a personal introduction by the then-representative of the Apostolic Episcopal Church in Italy, Mauro Contili was incardinated in his existing priestly orders into the Apostolic Episcopal Church and appointed Canon and Vicar-General of the Province of Italy, with faculties being issued to him on 17 June 2017. At no time was he elected bishop.

However, subsequent events made it quickly apparent that Contili did not in fact share in the aims and intended mission of the Apostolic Episcopal Church. As a result he was granted a full release from the Apostolic Episcopal Church and the Faculties issued to him were rescinded on 17 July 2017. At this time Archbishop Kersey also resigned as Spiritual Protector of the Università Anglo Cattolica San Paolo under Contili’s direction, and removed that university from affiliation with the Apostolic Episcopal Church. Since that time there has been no contact between Contili and our organization. The appointments in the Apostolic Episcopal Church to which he refers in his publications were held by him for less than one month and were removed for cause.

Disclaimer: Fraudulent company misusing the name of the Order of Corporate Reunion

On By johnkerseyIn Apostolic Episcopal Church, San Luigi Gazette

The Order of Corporate Reunion notes that a company has been formed in England and Wales with the name “The Universal Primate of the Order of Corporate Reunion, Ltd.” and company number 13121319. This company is fraudulent and uses the name of the Order of Corporate Reunion, a registered service mark in the USA, without authorization from the Order.

The company’s directors are named as Richard Cumming, Victor-John Payne and David Coir. None of these men are members of the Order of Corporate Reunion. The fraudulent claims made by Cumming and others associated with him, which derive in turn from the imposture of Michael Kline, have been exposed and discussed in full here.

The only company which is authorized to represent the Order in the United Kingdom is the company limited by guarantee that is entitled simply “The Order of Corporate Reunion” with company number 12692440.

Treaty of Amity, Friendship and Goodwill with the Stooldom of Abura Papagya

On By johnkerseyIn News, San Luigi Gazette

The Abbey-Principality of San Luigi has entered into a Treaty of Amity, Friendship and Goodwill with the Stooldom of Abura Papagya, Abura Traditional Area, Republic of Ghana. The Stooldom is a recognized traditional kingdom in Ghana, ruled by HRH Nana Kojo Kurentsir X, the current Papagyahen (King), who was enstooled in 2015.

The website of Papagya linked above gives further information concerning the Kingdom, its history and its current projects.

As is customary on these occasions, an exchange of honours has taken place whereby HRH Nana Kojo Kurentsir X has been awarded the Grand Collar of the Order of the Crown of Thorns, and the Prince-Abbot has been awarded the Grand Collar of the Royal Order of Kwakyen Ababio.

From the archives: A photograph of Archbishop William Bernard Crow

On By johnkerseyIn Apostolic Episcopal Church, Catholicate of the West, News, San Luigi Gazette

This photograph of the future Archbishop William Bernard Crow (Mar Bernard, subsequently Mar Basilius Abdullah III) (1895-1976) has recently been shared with us by his family. Dr Crow is shown here in the full dress robes of a Doctor of Science of the University of London.

Dr Crow held the degrees of Associate of Arts (University of Oxford), Master of Science (University of Wales), Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Science (University of London). This last degree was a rare academic distinction awarded in 1928 for a thesis entitled “Contributions to the Principles of Morphology” At that time, the higher doctorate of Doctor of Science from a British university was so prized that a university professor who had been awarded the degree would be called Doctor rather than Professor. Dr Crow was aged 33 in 1928 and so would have been one of the youngest persons ever to be awarded this degree.

At the University of London, the Doctor of Science degree by examination was withdrawn on 30 September 2001 and is no longer awarded.

Dr Crow’s published D.Sc. thesis (1929) – a signed copy preserved in our archives.

The academic robes for the Doctor of Science degree worn by Dr Crow in the photograph were of scarlet cloth, faced and the sleeves and hood lined with faculty silk, which for Science was gold.

Dr Crow was Grand Master of the Apostolate of the Holy Wisdom (which includes the Ancient Catholic Orthodox Church). This has since 2015 been united with the Abbey-Principality of San Luigi, which continues its work.

Clergy of the Ancient Catholic Church: Mar Lukos of Lagos, Accra and Trinidad

On By johnkerseyIn Apostolic Episcopal Church, Catholicate of the West, San Luigi Gazette

Mar Lukos (Davison Quartey Arthur) was a bishop of the Ancient Catholic Church, appointed in 1951.

Davison Quartey Arthur was born in Ethiopia, but travelled to the United States as a young man, where he worked with Bishop St-John-the-Divine Hickerson (sometimes rendered Hickersayon, or referred to as St-John-the-Vine) of the Malankara-Syriac Vilatte succession in an evangelical mission called the Church of the Living God. In 1942, the two prelates established the Coptic Orthodox Church Apostolic Incorporated in Harlem, New York, and Hickerson consecrated Arthur as Mar Lukos, Bishop of Lagos, Accra and Trinidad.

This church adopted the Coptic rites and traditions familiar from Mar Lukos’s youth, and found a following among Black African-Americans who, influenced by the teachings of Marcus Garvey, were looking to connect with their roots and heritage in Africa. Hickerson corresponded with the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, hoping for a formal church relationship to be established, but this was not forthcoming.

John A. Hickerson’s faith journey had taken him from Pentecostalism into the Baltimore African-American movement under the travelling preacher Samuel Morris. Here he met the cleric known as Father Divine. Both Morris and Father Divine asserted that they were divine manifestations of God. In 1912, Hickerson broke with Morris and Father Divine, holding that divinity was in fact present in all mankind (1 John 4:15) and that the two of them did not hold a monopoly on the same.

Hickerson was also an early believer in the ideas of Ethiopianism, which holds that the true Jews are Africans and that Jesus Himself was an African. In 1938 he was consecrated in the succession of the African Orthodox Church, one of the first major Black church movements established by George Alexander McGuire and Mar Timotheos (Joseph-René Vilatte, fifth Prince-Abbot of San Luigi).

In 1950, Mar Lukos relocated from the USA to London, UK, where he was resident in Chelsea. He came to know Mar Joannes I of the Ancient Catholic Church (Harold Percival Nicholson) at the Cathedral Church of the Good Shepherd, then at Lower Sloane Street, Chelsea, and through him Mar Georgius of Glastonbury.

Mar Lukos presented papers relating to his clerical status which, after initial scepticism on the part of Mar Georgius, were scrutinized closely and accepted as fully authentic on account of their Coptic seals. While Mar Georgius accepted that there was a Coptic Orthodox origin to Mar Lukos’s consecration, it is notable that his account in Successio Apostolica (1959) does not trace that succession beyond Hickerson, and the same work refers to his church as an American mission of the Coptic Orthodox Church. This was certainly true in respect of its religious practice and heritage, even if it was not in communion with the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate. Indeed, in the United States, a tradition of independent Coptic Orthodoxy has continued in New York to this day.

On 19 February 1951, Mar Lukos participated in an episcopal consecration for the Catholicate of the West and the Ancient Catholic Church in the Cathedral Church of the Good Shepherd, Chelsea, London, where he received subconditional consecration for ecumenical reasons from Mar Georgius of Glastonbury assisted by Mar Joannes I (Nicholson). At the same ceremony, Mar Lukos consecrated the two prelates sub conditione. A photograph from the ceremony is reproduced above, in which an English translation of the Coptic Orthodox rite was used. The consecration was reported in the local press.

Mar Lukos was subsequently appointed Archbishop of the West Indies in the Ancient Catholic Church. In 1957, he was further appointed to the Sacred Synod of the Eglise Catholique Apostolique Primitive d’Antioche Orthodoxe et de Tradition Syro-Byzantine under Prince-Patriarch Mar Joannes Maria (Assendelft-Altland).

Although none of the churches to which he belonged was in communion with the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, in 1952 Mar Lukos travelled to Ethiopia and was received by Emperor Haile Selassie at the Imperial Palace in Addis Ababa.

Remaining in London, Mar Lukos during the 1950s conducted a correspondence with various members and hierarchs of the Church of England, who were generally hostile to him, and his request to them to use a redundant church for worship was refused. The Church of England would not consecrate a Black bishop until 1985.

Nonetheless, Mar Lukos continued to make a contribution to the London community, and the photograph above, which appeared in the Kentish Mercury in April 1957, shows him with the Mayor and Mayoress of Deptford at a Boys’ Brigade inspection. Of his life after the 1950s, nothing is known.

During the late 1950s Mar Lukos consecrated Mar Solomon (T. Makeba) (pictured left) as Bishop of Niger and Chad. Mar Solomon had been a priest of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate. He left or was deposed from the Patriarchate and joined a group called Christ Gospel Apostolic Church of Nigeria. He met Mar Lukos in the 1950s when Mar Lukos visited Africa. In 1966, he consecrated Albert Aluya, known as Holy Prophet Aluya.

Albert Aluya was a member of the Royal House of Irrua of the Benin Kingdom of West Africa, and was the grandson of Queen Abuade I. Having been called to ordination in his youth, he served multiple ministries in various churches, including as Primate of Nigeria in the Christ Orthodox Catholic Exarchate. He was often featured in Nigerian newspapers on account of his prophetic pronouncements, and also took a role in ending the Nigerian Civil War, where he was close to the government that was eventually victorious. With a change of government, however, he fell out of favour and was imprisoned, dying while incarcerated.

Archbishop Aluya in 1971 consecrated Archbishop Prince Kermit Poling de Polanie-Patrikios, who was a Royal Patron of the Abbey-Principality of San Luigi and adoptive father of the present Prince-Abbot.

The Apostolic Succession that was held by Mar Lukos is a branch of the Malankara-Syriac succession from Mar Timotheos I (Vilatte) descending through the African Orthodox Church. This branch is preserved today in the Abbey-Principality of San Luigi, and indeed Archbishop Phillip Lewis, one of the consecrators of the present Prince-Abbot and a prelate in the contemporary independent Coptic Orthodox movement, stands in the same succession.

Mar Lukos’ first name is also sometimes mistakenly recorded as Denison, but Mar Georgius’s published references to him make it clear that it was in fact Davison.