Antiochian Catholic Church in America

The Antiochian Catholic Church in America or the ACCA, is one of the Independent Catholic Churches. The ACCA is distinct from most such Churches in that it embraces the theology of the Syriac Orthodox Church and that of its daughter Church, the Indian Orthodox Church, from which the ACCA primarily derives its apostolic succession via the lineage of J. René Vilatte. The clergy of the ACCA also derive their Holy Orders from the Old Catholic movement, in this case through Arnold Harris Mathew. However, the ACCA is not in full communion with the Oriental Orthodox Churches because it ordains women and because it does not require celibacy of its bishops, allowing them, like priests and deacons, to be married.

Related Topics:
Independent Catholic Churches - Syriac Orthodox Church - Indian Orthodox Church - Apostolic succession - J. René Vilatte - Holy Orders - Old Catholic - Arnold Harris Mathew - Oriental Orthodox - Celibacy

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The current See City of the ACCA is Knoxville, Tennessee. It is led by a Metran, or Archbishop, Victor Mar Michael Herron (consecrated 1990, Metran since 1996), who is the pastor of St. Demetrios Antiochian Catholic Church. While attendance at the Sunday Qurbana (Eucharist) at St. Demetrios is small, averaging around 13 people (including the bishop, a deacon, and a subdeacon), the congregation operates a food bank which serves 30-40 families per month. Another small congregation, St. Elias, worships in nearby Kodak, Tennessee.

Related Topics:
Knoxville, Tennessee - Eucharist

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