What We Are
“…the Church, gathered by the one Spirit breathes, as it were, with the two lungs of East and West, and burns with the Love of Christ, having one heart, as it were, with two ventricles."
SMCDP is a Religious Order of Missionary Priests that comes underneath the protection of The Russian Orthodox Catholic Church in the Americas, which falls under the Byzantine Catholic Eastern Rite. In 2017, Patriarch Gregory Athanasius solidified the names of the churches under his authority and protection to The Russian Byzantine Orthodox Catholic Church (RBOCC).
The Eastern Rite Churches have always maintained a valid Mass and Sacraments - whether they retain unity with the Roman Catholic Church or not. Pope John Paul II expressed the mind of the Church in this marvelous phrase: " ... to promulgate two Codes (making reference to Canon Law) one for the Latin Church, the other for the Eastern Churches ... that the Church, gathered by the one Spirit breathes, as it were, with the two lungs of East and West, and burns with the Love of Christ, having one heart, as it were, with two ventricles."
As a result, Patriarch Gregory Athanasius has pledged his allegiance to the Pope in a letter dated 22 June, 2013. This allegiance to the Pope in Rome is contingent to the adherence of papal authority to the three pillars of foundation to the Catholic faith: (1) Canon of Holy Scripture, (2) Tradition of Faith, and (3) The Magisterium.
Who We Are
Consecrated religious Catholic Priests whose charism follows the spirituality of the Chambers of the United Hearts
OUR PRIEST ORDER
We are an order of consecrated religious Catholic Priests whose charism follows the spirituality of the Chambers of the United Hearts and whose members includes priest from the oriental churches and the roman church. The members of this order may be Bi-Ritual. In accordance with the spirituality of the order, we are dedicated to preserving the true Teachings of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church in its Sacred Faith and its Sacred Tradition as handed down from the Apostles.
OUR MISSION
To apply the teachings of The Chambers Of The United Hearts spirituality in the formation of the Confraternity Of The United Hearts communities of Catholics in all parts of the world who are rooted in the tradition of faith.
OUR FORMATION
Members of the SMCDP are trained to become spiritual leaders in the formation of new communities of the Confraternity Of The United Hearts throughout the world. Such members of the order are guided by and rooted in the teaching and spirituality of the revelations of the United Hearts messages of Holy Love which form the foundation of the souls’ journey of personal holiness through The Chambers Of The United Hearts.
OUR ORIGINAL LEADERS
Our current Patriarch is Metropolitan Bishop Gregory Athanasius. He was elevated to be the Metropolitan Archbishop of Mexico City in 1998 and led a vibrant community of clergy and laity in Catholic Orthodoxy that has spread throughout Mexico despite Mexico being almost completely Roman Catholic.
Prior to the death of Metropolitan Symeon - Bishop Gregory Athanasius was asked to take over as the head of all the Russian Orthodox Church in America (ROCIA) while discussing the future of our Church with Metropolitan Symeon who was very ill.
After the death of Metropolitan Symeon the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in America elevated Metropolitan Gregory Athanasius to be the Primate of ROCIA per the wishes of Symeon.
Metropolitan Bishop Athanasius presided over many and took part in even more episcopal consecrations. One of these was for Father Stanley Monaghan in 1997. Bishop Stanly Monaghan went on to become an Archbishop. He has since retired and has been replaced by Archbishop Mathias.
SMCDP was formed by Bishop Michael K. Flynn in 2023 as a Religious Order of Missionary Priests under the protection of ROCIA. He was ordained as a Marist priest in 2001 within the Roman Catholic Church. He later was incardinated into the ROCIA in 2011 and was consecrated as a Bishop by Archbishop Stanly Monaghan in 2013. Joining him in the ROCCIA is Bishop Kevin Re. He was ordained into the priesthood in 1997 by Bishop Gregory Athanasius and consecrated by Archbishop Stanly and Archbishop Mathias in 2014.
When, Where and How We Came to Be
The episcopal seat has been established at the Maranatha Spring & Shrine pilgrimage site in North Ridgeville, Ohio
WHEN WE CAME TO BE
WeThe SMCDP Religious Order of Missionary Priests was created in 2023 under the protection of ROCIA whose lineage and succession can be traced back to the Apostle Andrew when he took over Constantinople from his brother Peter
WHERE WE ARE
SMCDP is a newly formed Religious Order of Missionary Priests currently seeking a location for training seminarians and other priests in the orders of charism, spirituality and mission. It is currently leasing facilities in Northeast Ohio.
HOW WE CAME TO BE
Prior to Father Michael Flynn being consecrated as a Bishop in the ROCIA in 2013, Archbishop Stanly Monaghan gave him the full authority to establish his episcopal seat at the Maranantha Spring and Shrine pilgrimage site in North Ridgeville, Ohio. As well as a new Missionary Religious Priest order under the ROCIA. He has been working towards this goal for many years and through his diligence has been able to establish this episcopal seat and is in the process of forming the new missionary religious priest order known as the SMCDP.