Who we are
The Apostolic Orthodox Church was formed at the turn of the twenty-first century by clergy and believers seeking renewal of Orthodox life, stronger conciliar responsibility and freedom from political control of the Church. It is an independent Orthodox Christian body and is not under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate.
We do not claim that institutional differences within world Orthodoxy do not exist. Recognition and canonical communion vary across Orthodox jurisdictions. Our public identity therefore begins with what can be stated plainly: our faith, our sacraments, our history, our communities and the way we seek to live the Gospel.
What holds us together
Our published confession of faith is Trinitarian, Christ-centred and sacramental. Scripture and Holy Tradition are received together. The Church venerates the Mother of God and the saints, celebrates seven sacraments and honours the dogmatic decisions of the Ecumenical Councils.
Unity does not require uniformity. Local churches and communities can carry the same faith into different languages, cultures and pastoral realities.
A church of persons, not abstractions
The Church’s modern story is inseparable from the defense of human dignity and freedom of conscience. That emphasis is especially visible in the life of co-founder Fr Gleb Yakunin, a Soviet-era priest and human-rights advocate whose public ministry challenged state control over religious life.