The Orthodox Church of Gothia: Canonical Continuity in Crimea under the Catacomb and RTOC Tradition

The Orthodox Church of Gothia: Canonical Continuity in Crimea under the Catacomb and RTOC Tradition

Introductory Note This article is provided as background material for the intercommunion agreement between two historic autocephalous jurisdictions:

• The Archdiocese of the Goths at Crimea / Gothia (Gotiska Ärkestiftet av De Sanna Ortodoxa Kristna, Swedish: “The Goths’ Archdiocese of the True Orthodox Church”), and
• The Archdiocese of the Culdees at Glastonbury, under the Orthodox Church of the Culdees (OCC).

This intercommunion reflects the full recognition of canonical sacramental validity and historic succession between the heads of both jurisdictions. The agreement particularly recognizes the ministry and titular status of Dr. Stephen M. K. d’Guelph Brunswick, Archbishop-Primate of the OCC, and his ecclesiastical integration into the Orthodox Church through the associative ethnic ministry of the Northwest European populations—an area of historical and pastoral overlap between both churches.

Dr. Stephen M. K. Brunswick holds apostolic succession lines documented in his consecration through the William White succession, which was co-consecrated by three Anglican Bishops: Markham of York, Moss of Bath and Wells, and Hinchliffee of Peterborough. This line of succession has been documented and published at: https://celticorthodoxy.com/2020/04/lines-of-apostolic-succession-of-prince-archbishop-dr-stephen-m-dguelph-brunswick-primace-occ/

This succession has been co-recognized by the Russian True Orthodox Church (RTOC) through Archbishop Ambrose von Sievers, affirming the canonical re-integration of the OCC with the historic Orthodox Church. The sacramental recognition has particular importance due to the ethnic overlap and shared apostolic concerns for the faithful of the Northwest.

The following article offers a historic, ethnic, and canonical background on the Metropolitanate of Gothia, its ancient roots under Constantinople, and its present continuity through the Catacomb Church and RTOC.

I. Introduction The historic Metropolis of Gothia and Kaphā, established under the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the 4th century, once ministered to a multiethnic Orthodox population in the Crimean Peninsula. The area was spiritually and culturally rich, composed of Orthodox Greeks, Bulgarians, Alans, Ukrainians, and the ethnic Goths—a lesser-known but foundational Christian people. This ecclesiastical heritage was forcibly interrupted in 1788 when the Russian government dissolved the ancient metropolises following the annexation of the Crimean Khanate. However, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has never recognized the legitimacy of this action, and the continuity of true Orthodoxy in the region remains alive through the Catacomb Church and the Russian True Orthodox Church (RTOC).

II. The Catacomb Church and the Break from Sergianism In 1927, Metropolitan Sergius Stragorodsky, acting under Soviet pressure, declared loyalty of the Orthodox Church to the antichristian Soviet state. This declaration was condemned by several bishops who went underground, forming what became known as the Catacomb Church. These bishops, faithful to pre-revolutionary canonical norms, rejected the Soviet-installed hierarchy and continued ordaining clergy in secret.

In 1928, the Council of Syzran-Yeltz-Vyshny-Volochok (the “Nomadic Synod”), led by Bishop Mark Novoselov and attended by bishops and clergy from various Catacomb factions (Danilovites, Josephites, Andrewites, Victorites, etc.), officially condemned the Sergianist and Renovationist bodies as schismatics, declaring them bereft of sacramental grace.

III. ROCOR and Its Parallel Witness The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), founded by bishops fleeing Bolshevik Russia, maintained canonical succession and a public Orthodox witness outside Soviet control. While not identical with the Catacomb Church, ROCOR maintained spiritual communion with it until at least the mid-20th century. In 2007, ROCOR entered communion with the Moscow Patriarchate—a decision that caused deep rifts and led to some clergy aligning with the Catacomb tradition or the RTOC.

IV. The Metropolitanate of Gothia and +Ambrose von Sievers Today, Archbishop Ambrose von Sievers represents a canonical continuation of the Church of the Goths within the Catacomb Church tradition. Consecrated by an escaped Andrewite bishop of the Catacomb Church, +Ambrose’s episcopacy is considered valid by traditionalist Orthodox standards. He actively ministers to the persecuted ethnic Gothic minority of Crimea and preserves their heritage, including elements of the Gothic language and liturgical runes.

Under his leadership, the Metropolitanate of Gothia includes:

• Bishop David of Hersones
• Bishop Dori Hilar of Tamantarchont & Redae

These bishops minister to remnants of a community with ancestral connections to the Goths, with some traditions claiming descent from the Benjaminite tribe of Israel. This connection is sometimes paralleled with British Israelite theories and ties to the Guelph noble houses, historically tied to Nordic and Crimean courts.

**Table: Historical Succession of the Metropolitanate of Gothia**

V. The Amossoff Line of Bishops in the Catacomb Church Within the broader RTOC/Catacomb Church tradition, another notable lineage includes four bishops from the noble Novgorodian Gens of Amossoff. Their Gens legend claims origin from Haggi of the Tribe of Gad. These bishops maintain the deep underground traditions of the Catacomb Church while rejecting any communion with the Moscow Patriarchate or compromised synods.

VI. Persecution and Survival The clergy of the Gothian Church have suffered persecution, exile, and martyrdom in the past two generations. Despite this, they continue their apostolic work in secrecy and humility. The refusal to submit to state-controlled ecclesiastical authorities has made them targets, but it also affirms their spiritual lineage as successors of the original Orthodox Church of Crimea.

VII. Conclusion The Orthodox Church of Gothia, represented by Archbishop Ambrose von Sievers and his bishops, stands as a unique and legitimate expression of true Orthodoxy. It preserves ancient Christian traditions rooted in Constantinople, the Gothic mission, and the spiritual resistance of the Catacomb Church. It exists in canonical continuity and in spiritual opposition to the compromised institutions installed by the Soviet regime. Though small, its historical and spiritual significance is immense, offering a vital link to an ancient and faithful remnant.

Further reading:

• Canonical History and Ecclesiastical Succession of ROCOR and RTOC