Official Record of Apostolic Succession of

The Primary Apostolic Succession from
The Syrian-Malankarese (African Orthodox) Church
Believing that Blacks should have a Church of their own, a PECUSA priest (the Rev'd Dr. George Alexander
McGuire, an immigrant from the West Indies), withdrew from that jurisdiction to establish independent Black
congregations in the United States. This new movement was first called the Independent Episcopal Church,
but a few years later (on 2 September 1921) in The Church of the Good Shepherd in New York City the
name was changed to "The African Orthodox Church." This meeting became the first General Synod of
the new jurisdiction, which also elected Fr. McGuire as its first Bishop.
Negotiations were immediately initiated with The Russian Orthodox Church in America in order to obtain
valid Apostolic Orders for the newly elected Bishop. With the uncanonical actions of other national Orthodox
groups in the United States, taking advantage of the confusion and disorganization caused by the
Communist Revolution in Russia, the Russians were hesitant to assist the formation of yet another
"independent" jurisdiction. They made it clear that they were willing to talk, but in the end they intended to
fully control this Black jurisdiction.
Such an arrangement was totally unacceptable to Fr. McGuire and the other leaders of this new jurisdiction.
Other Orthodox groups in the U.S.A. expressed the same willingness and intent as the Russians, however.
The African Orthodox Church finally entered into negotiations with Archbishop Joseph Rene Vilatte and
The American Catholic Church.
Bishop-elect George Alexander McGuire was finally consecrated on 28 September 1921 by Archbishop
Vilatte (who took his episcopal orders from the West Syrian Church of Antioch) and Bishop Carl A. Nybladh
(of The Swedish Orthodox Church) in The Church of Our Lady of Good Death in Chicago, Illinois.
The African Orthodox Church lays strong emphasis upon the Apostolic Succession, a valid priesthood and
upon the historic Mysteries and Rites of The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. It holds the original
seven Sacraments of the Western Church; its worship is a blending of Western and Eastern liturgies and it
espouses the three traditional and historic Catholic Creeds (i.e., Apostles, Nicene and Athanasian)..
Polity is, of course, episcopal; bishops are in charge of dioceses or jurisdictions. Groups of dioceses form a
Province, which is led by an Archbishop. The Primate Archbishop Metropolitan is general overseer of all the
work of the Church, which now extends over the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Union of
South Africa. All baptized are considered members of the Church.
SYRIAN – MALANKARESE (AFRICAN ORTHODOX) SUCCESSION
1. Peter, 38;
2. Evodus 40;
3. Ignatius I, 43;
4. Aaron, 123;
5. Cornelius, 123;
6. Eodos, 142;
7. Theophulus, 157;
8. Maximinus, 171;
9. Seraphim, 179;
10. Astlediaes, 189;
11. Philip, 201;
12. Sebinus {Zebinus},219;
13. Babylos, 237;
14. Fabius, 250;
15. Demetrius, 251;
16. Paul I, 259;
17. Domnus I, 270;
18. Timotheus, 281;
19. Cyrilus, 281;
20. Tyrantus, 296;