The Holy Apostolic See of Sts. Peter, Andrew, Stephen, and Mark

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Principal Portals and Institutions

Continuity and unity

The Custodian of Apostolic Continuity and Orthodox-Catholic Unity

The United Roman-Ruthenian Church is a contemporary expression of an ancient Apostolic inheritance. It traces its succession through Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem, and their historic extensions into Rus’ and the Americas. These inherited lines and constituent jurisdictions were consolidated in 2023 under the present united institutional structure of the Church, preserving continuity of faith, ecclesiastical order, and sacramental life.

Under the patronage of Saints Peter, Andrew, Stephen, and Mark, the Holy Apostolic See embodies both the Eastern and Western dimensions of this inheritance. Through Apostolic succession, ecclesial grants, and formal recognitions, the Church received sacred orders, jurisdiction, autocephaly, and custodial responsibility for the Petrine inheritance within the Latin Orthodox tradition.

Declared by ecclesiastical decree and divine providence, the Roman-Ruthenian Pope Radislav I, was quietly confirmed in 2014 as coadjutor to the Roman Pope by the Cardinal Dean, entrusted with full papal authority in the jurisdiction of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church. The results began to be revealed publicly in 2020.

That confirmation was brought to full completion following the death of Pope Francis on 21 April 2025, the traditional founding date of Rome and the day on which Radislav had been sacramentally confirmed into the Roman Church decades earlier. The convergence is a divinely providential realignment.

The Roman-Ruthenian Church is the guardian of Latin Orthodoxy, the bridge between East and West, and the visible head of the Latin tradition in fidelity to the Orthodox and Catholic faith.

A Church, a State, a People

The Pontifical Imperial State of Rome-Ruthenia, a non-territorial ethno-religious nation, complements the Church’s mission. It preserves the cultural, legal, and spiritual heritage of the Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, Old Rus’, and the Holy Apostolic See.

The Pontifical Imperial State is the Church’s unified, non-territorial titular and temporal expression. Its present name brings inherited historic dignities and patrimonies—including the former Pontifical State and the Kingdom of Ruthenia—under one name for clarity, unity, and simplicity. This name expresses and consolidates the Church’s continuing Roman-Ruthenian inheritance.

The Church’s mission is custodial, protecting the undivided Church’s theological, liturgical, and cultural legacy. It embraces conciliar Orthodox Christianity, integrating East and West in fidelity to the Apostolic tradition.

The Church offers itself as a sanctuary of continuity for those dislocated by theological rupture, ecclesiastical scandal, or spiritual displacement.

Apostolic inheritance

Immediate Patriarchal Ancestors

The Church is a derivative patriarchate of these Russian, Syrian, Greek, and American patriarchates, as well as Rome as rightful temporal successor of St. Peter. St. Aftimios is one of the two Holy Fathers of the Holy Apostolic See.

Verified official presence

Official Websites

The websites listed below constitute the official online presence of the Roman-Ruthenian Church and State.