Orthodox Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore (OCCNA)

Orthodox Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore (OCCNA)

Denis Garrison:

Excommunicated priest who illegally became a bishop, and was excommunicated twice again, has used a defective ordinal to perform over 20 bogus ordinations and consecrations since 1985. Garrison as an excommunicated priest was consecrated unknowingly by Francis Ryan who later also excommunicated him. Garrison admitted this when another jurisdiction called to inquire about it, and he refused to talk. Garrison was also excommunicated a fourth time by a group which he abandoned (see documents below). Garrison works for Medicare, US Dept of Health, and once got into trouble for wearing his priest outfit to work. Garrison's "chapel" is a small second bedroom on the second floor of his duplex and is filled with boxes which he slides into the closet when it's time to ordain bishops. (See Shedrick below)

Garrison started the "Military Order of the Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem" in OCCNA which Spataro (see here) now runs. Note that this is not a masonic group.

Paul Dolan:

Whereabouts unknown.

William Shedrick (William Louis Shedrick, Jr.):

As Garrison's latest bishopping project, Shedrick is consistent with his new found buddies. Shedrick claims "Church of the Most Holy Theotokos Mother of Africa Western Rite Orthodox Catholic Church" which has no telephone or mail contact (or congregation to speak of other than a few seminarian "clergy" scattered across the country). Shedrick's website sports a black Mary holding a black baby Jesus. Shedrick claims to be the bishop of "San Rafael, CA and Washington, D.C.". Garrison's description of the ceremony, taking place in the inappropriate season of Lent for the Orthodox, is dominated by references to food, Garrison's other hobby: "The lenten [sic] dinner was at a local Italian restaurant" and later "The lenten [sic] dinner was at a local Irish restaurant."

Another one of Garrison's more recent bishopping projects is found at http://www.occna.com/md/admin/stpatrick.html:

"DIOCESE OF PORTLAND Saint Jude the Apostle Parish Pastor - Bishop Bryan Smith, OSB Portland, Oregon. The Most Reverend Bryan Smith, OSB is the Pastor of Saint Jude the Apostle Parish and Bishop of the Diocese of Portland, which is the British Rite jurisdiction of OCCNA. His Excellency, Bishop Bryan resides in Portland."

Neither Bryan Smith nor Saint Jude Parish have a published telephone listing.

Also, there is no such thing as an Orthodox, or otherwise, "British Rite", hence there can be no such jurisdiction, unless it means that Smith uses tea and scones as the basis for his liturgical confections.

Get your free certificate of consecration from Denis Garrison for three box tops of frosted flakes at: www.occna.com/md/vocations/holyangels10f.html

CERTIFICATE OF THE ORTHODOX CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA

In the Name of the + Father, and of the + Son, and of the + Holy Spirit. Amen.

To All of the Faithful in Christ, Health, Peace and Apostolic

Benediction.

CERTIFICATE OF CONSECRATION OF BISHOP

Be it Known that I, Denis Michel Garrison, Exercising My

Divine Office as ARCHBISHOP in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of the Orthodox Faith, in the City of Baltimore, Do Certify by these present Letters That, on the __________ Day of _______ in the Year of Our Lord _____, At Baltimore, Maryland, By the Powers Conferred upon Me and In Accordance with the Constitution and Canons of the Orthodox Catholic Church, Whereas, in His Saving Providence, Our Lord JESUS CHRIST, Through the All HOLY SPIRIT, Has Established the ORTHODOX CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA (OCCNA) And Has Set as Elders and Teachers of His Holy Orthodox Church in the Americas the North American Orthodox Holy Synod Thereof, And Whereas, By Due Election and Confirmation by the said Orthodox College of Bishops, the holy & Orthodox servant of God, the worthy candidate, ___________________________________ Was Chosen and Ordered to be CONSECRATED as BISHOP of OCCNA Therefore, Be It Known Unto All the Faithful in JESUS CHRIST, that He/SheWas Consecrated as ___________________ At ______________; On the ____________ Day of __________ Anno Domini, _____. In Witness Whereof, the Said Consecrator Has Hereto Set the Imprimatur. In Testimony Whereof, I Affix Hereto My Hand and Seal. Given this ______ Day of _________, Anno Domini _____. Dennis Michael Garrison Imprimatur of the Archbishop Archdiocese of Baltimore

Interesting documents found on the internet:

[Editor notes: the foregoing has been misconstrued by those unchurched in Orthodoxy, such as Joe (Joseph Mahomond) Swaydyn, that Metroplitan Victor Prentice excommunicated those listed below. According to The Orthicon newsletter, it was THEOCACNA (Inc.) Synod, containing valid bishops (in the plural), which excommunicated those listed below.]

THE HOLY EASTERN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC

AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA, Inc.

HC74, Box 419-2 Mtn.View AR 7256O

870-269-2912

Primate: Metropolitan Victor

SYNOD FINDINGS

Former bishops of this church have established a church separate and independent of this Holy Church and Synod without authority or knowledge of the Metropolitan and contrary to canon. The Metropolitan was attacked verbally and in writing and he has been listed on a schismatic church website as their former primate thus they proclaim a new primate for their new church while listing our church history and their old roman rite among others. They also acknowledge recent ordinations on their own authority, and communion with non-orthodox groups.

Two of these bishops had resigned and two were released. One wrote the Metropolitan had mandated a consecration without synod approval which was incorrect. He later claimed another synod vote to be papal irregularity or error. A claim as this allows certain action by the synod which did not occur and instead the 2 bishops resigned only to start another church c1aiming the history of this church.

The full synod of this church declares these four bishops have left the church and acted against the canons and as former bishops who continue to hold liturgies separate and apart from Holy Church they continue to act against the mandates of the Rudder.

The full synod headed by the Metropolitan being in agreement that the canons have been violated numerous times agree to follow the canons and declare and proclaim Anathema and depose from office the bishops involved in this schismatic church. It is therefore decreed by the full synod that Denis Garrison, Paul Dolan, Paul Stoms and Andrei S.P. Brennan are proclaimed Anathema and deposed according to the precepts of the Sacred and Divine Canons. Their actions are public and on the internet and without repentance. The synod finds no valid reason to justify their actions and since their acts have been ongoing and contrary to canons we determine the canons mandate this action by the full synod.

For the Synod,

+ Victor

Dated this _16th_ day of

February, 1999 at

Mountain View, AR.

THE HOLY EASTERN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

DECREE

Primate: Metropolitan Victor

+In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

To fulfill the requirements of be Sacred Canons of the Holy Orthodox Church we find it necessary to proclaim and publish this "Anathema" against former bishops of this church who by their actions have created a Schism by founding and establishing a church titled "The Orthodox Catholic Church in North America", using our church history and actually acting in a non-orthodox manner. These actions by our former bishops violate numerous canons against leaving the church, and Metropolitan, setting up a separate altar without the approval, knowledge or consent of the Metropolitan, for condemning and for insulting their bishop and for other acts that have violated the Sacred Canons of the church.

The canons (rudder) are clear that the Anathema be pronounced and the bishops guilty of such acts be deposed from office. This act is not done lightly, but after much prayer, consideration, discussion and research of the sacred canons and seeking advice from those educated in such matters of canon law, as well as bishops of historic national (ethnic) churches.

The full synod including the Metropolitan agree and act as follows;

WE HEREWITH PRONOUNCE THIS ANATHEMA AGAINST AND DEPOSE FROM OFFICE:

Denis Garrison of Baltimore

Paul Dolan of Pennsylvania

Paul Stoms of Georgia (formerly N.J.)

Andrei S.P. Brennan of Canada

The Canons prohibit anyone from praying with them under penalty

For the Synod,

Dated this _16th_ day of +Victor

February, 1999 at

Mountain View, AR. Metropolitan (Primate)

More from the internet:

Newsgroups: alt.religion.christian.east-orthodox

Subject: Public declaration of invalid acts by Denis Garrison and Orthodox Catholic Church in North America (OCCNA) since before May 1984

Public Declaration of Invalid Acts by Denis Garrison and Orthodox Catholic Church in North America (OCCNA) since before May 1984

1 Garrison admitted being excommunicated as an orthodox priest in Western Orthodox Church in America (WOCA) before May 1984 in "Canonical Opinion" dated 9/12/1990 by Dom Justo R. Gonzalez Trimino, Primate (Designate), Catholic Apostolic Church in North America (CACINA).

2 Garrison was invalidly consecrated on 4/13/1985 because he was a defective subject (not being a canonical priest) to the sacrament.

3. Garrison has performed over 20 invalid acts since 4/13/1985 because he was a defective minister (not being a canonical bishop) to the sacrament.

Some of the invalid acts performed by Denis Garrison from 1985 - 1997 as listed at the web site

http://www.occna.com/md/history/annex.html are:

"ACTS OF ARCHBISHOP DENIS MICHEL GARRISON - 1985 - 1997 EPISCOPAL CONSECRATIONS

1986 RENE BERGERON Baltimore, MD April 6, 1986

1986 STANLEY ANJULIS Baltimore, MD April 6, 1986

1987 PAUL DOLAN Wilmington, DE June 13, 1987

1987 JOSEPH DUBOIS Wilmington, DE June 13, 1987

1987 WILSON SEHORN Wilmington, DE June 13, 1987

1987 PAUL BENTLEY Wilmington, DE June 13, 1987

1987 ALBERT ROSEVICH Wilmington, DE September 26, 1987

1988 SERAPHIM HOLDRIDGE Wilmington, DE June 4, 1988

1988 HARRY ARMSTRONG Wilmington, DE June 4, 1988

1990 DONALD BUTTENBUSCH Philadelphia,PA September 22, 1990

1991 MICHAEL MARTINAT Columbia, SC December 14, 1991

1993 PATRICK TAYLOR Gorham, NH November 20, 1993

1994 PETER STERLING Wilmington, DE October 16, 1994

1995 ANTONY EPAPHRAS Trenton, NJ July 23, 1995

1995 EUGENE KYLE Wilmington, DE December 3, 1995

1997 PAUL JAMES STOMS Timonium, MD May 3, 1997

1997 OPTAT BEHANZIN Timonium, MD May 3, 1997"

From the internet:

Newsgroups: alt.religion.christian.east-orthodox

Subject: Re: Bogus Orthodox group exposed: OCCNA (update2)

Catholic Apostolic Church

in North America

Province of the Paraclete

and the Theotokos

+Dom Justo R. Gonzalez,
250 West 91st Street 4N
New York, NY 10024

To: The Most Rev. Denis Garrison

From: Dom Justo R. Gonzalez-Trimino

Primate Designate/CACINA

RE: Canonical Opinion regarding the Decree of Excommunication issued

against the person of Denis Garrison.

DISTRIBUTION: +Dom Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez, Bishops of CACINA

Preamble: In our judgment, the ability to forgive a canonical crime or to even recognize it depends upon the prayerful, prudent and unbiased judgment of the competent authority. The decision we are about to render has been pronounced after much prayer and consultation with the appropriate ecclesiastical authorities [sic]

In order for a church or any of its officials to render a decree of excommunication or declare such sentence, it is required that the church enjoys ordinary jurisdiction. In the case of the Western Orthodox Church in America and/or the Servants of the Good Shepherd, all canonical authority was dissolved when the Bishop of Altoona, C. David Luther, sometime between the 1st and 15th day of June of 1983, did willfully leave the Communion of the Catholic Apostolic Church in North America by refusing to accept the decision of the Synod of Bishops to consecrate us as the duly elected Bishop of New York.

Therefore, we have determined that no lawful excommunication has been issued against the REVEREND DENIS GARRISON. We have found that Father Garrison, suffering under the unlawful jurisdiction of his bishop, was within his rights in establishing another altar due to the heterodox activities of his bishop within the rights allowed by Apostolic Canon XXXI.

And therefore, We, Dom Justo R. Gonzalez, The Primate Designate of CACINA, a canonically established national church, in communion with the Patriarch of all the National Catholic and Apostolic Churches, lift the unlawful Decree of Excommunication against THE MOST REVEREND DENIS GARRISON.

In witness whereof we hereunto set our hand and seal this 12th day of September in the year of our Lord of 1990 in the eighth year of our Episcopate.

+Dom Justo Roque Gonzalez Trimino

Metropolitan Bishop of New York

Primate-Designate of CACINA

Commentary on uncanonical acts by Gonzalez:

===========================================

1. Apostolic Canon XXXI [31] reads:

"If any presbyter, condemning his own bishop, draw people aside, and set up another altar, without finding anything wrong with the Bishop in point of piety and righteousness, let him be deposed, on the ground that he is an office seeker. For he is a tyrant. Let the rest of clergymen be treated likewise, and all those who abet him. But let the laymen be excommunicated. Let these things be done after one, and a second, and third request of the bishop."

This canon does not authorize a priest to leave a bishop and to continue to act as a priest without authority from his bishop.

Gonzalez cites this canon as justification for Garrison leaving Luther, but the canon does not support lifting a decree of excommunication by another bishop. The canon does not support the priest leaving his bishop, or a bishop lifting the decree of excommunication of another bishop.

2. Apostolic Canon XXXII [32] reads:

"If any Bishop excommunicates any Presbyter or Deacon, these men must not be incardinated by anyone else but the one who excommunicated them, unless by a coincidence the Bishop who excommunicated them should decease."

From Interpretation: "... can only be admitted and be freed from the excommunication by that same bishop who excommunicated him in the first place: with the sole exception that he may resort to another if the bishop or metropolitan or patriarch, as the case may be, who excommunicated him has by any chance died before the presbyter or deacon has received a pardon. For in that event a bishop or metropolitan or patriarch who has become the successor after the death of the one who excommunicated him may free him from the bond, and not anyone else."

Luther who excommunicated Garrison is alive, but Gonzalez attempted to lift the decree by citing an Orthodox canon that does not apply and by ignoring the Orthodox canon which does apply and which prohibited Gonzalez from doing so.

3. Gonzalez' decree was dated September 12, 1990, and ten days later on September 22, 1990 Gonzalez attempted to co-consecrate with Garrison one Donald J. Buttenbusch in Philadelphia: this smacks of favor-for-favor simony.

Garrison was subsequently excommunicated for a third time in 1991 by Jerome "Joachim" Ladd (Gonzalez' consecrator and predecessor as primate).

Why Garrison's cooked-up pontifical (a Roman Catholic, not Orthodox term) is invalid:

Newsgroups: alt.religion.christian.east-orthodox

Subject: Defective "pontifical" makes null and void all episcopal acts from 1985 to date by Denis Michel Garrison et al (including Andrei Brennan) of the Orthodox Catholic Church in North America.

Defective "pontifical" makes null and void all episcopal acts from 1985 to date by Denis Michel Garrison et al (including Andrei Brennan) of the Orthodox Catholic Church in North America.

From: http://www.occna.com/md/orosb/pontifical.html

Old Roman Orthodox Pontifical The Ritual for Bishops According to the Ancient & Orthodox Old Roman Rites ORTHODOX CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA ... Old Roman Orthodox Pontifical (4th Edition) was compiled & arranged by the Most Reverend +Denis Michel Garrison, Th.D., OSB, Metropolitan Archbishop of Baltimore. The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America [sic]. Fourth Edition published by Orthodox Benedictine Missions - Saint Herman of Alaska Orthodox Mission, Orthodox Catholic Church in North America. ...1998.

SOURCES OF THE RITES ... The consecratory prayers for ordination to the Major Orders are from the Apostolic Tradition of Saint Hippolytus: Deacon - cap. IX; Priest - cap. VIII; and Bishop - capp. II-III.. ...

[Comment: "[T]he Canons of Hippolytus ... have been more accurately described by Dr. C. H. Turner as 'a very secondary authority, a version of a version, not only late in their present Arabic dress, but also not earlier than the fourth century in their substance.' After the labours in England of Dom Hugh Connolly and in Germany of Prof. E. Schwartz, the Ethiopic, Coptic, and Arabic Texts, together with Hauler's Verona Fragments, which constitute the so-called 'Egyptian Church Order,' are now recognised by scholars as the lost treatise -- the Apostolic Tradition -- of that important but elusive person, Hippolytus." (See Clarke, W.K. Lowther; Harris, Charles; eds. Liturgy and Worship. London: SPCK. 1964. Walter Kelly Firminger. "The Ordinal". p. 629.)]

ORDINATION OF A DEACON

The Candidate kneels. Then the Bishop is seated and the Bishop (but no one else) lays hands on the Candidate's head and says:

"O God, Who hast created all things and hast ordered them by the Word, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Whom Thou didst send to minister to Thy will and reveal unto us Thy desire; grant the Holy Spirit of grace and earnestness and diligence upon this Thy servant, whom Thou hast chosen to minister to Thy Church and to bring up in holiness to Thy holiness that which is offered to Thee by Thine ordained high priests to the glory of Thy Name; so that, by ministering blamelessly and in purity of heart, he may, by Thy goodwill, be found worthy of this high and exalted office, praising Thee, Through Thy Child, Jesus Christ, our Lord, through Whom to Thee be glory, might, and praise, to the Father and to the Son with the Holy Spirit in the Holy Church, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Blessed is the Lord. Behold, the servant of God, [N...], is ordained a Deacon of the Holy Church of [N...]; in the Name of the + Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

[Comment: The words "grant the Holy Spirit of grace and earnestness and diligence upon this Thy servant" or the words " Behold, the servant of God, [N...], is ordained a Deacon of the Holy Church of [N...]" cannot be construed in any way whatsoever to invoke the Holy Ghost for the Office of Deacon.]

ORDINATION OF A PRIEST

The Candidate kneels. Then the Bishop is seated and the Bishop lays hands on the Candidate's head, and the other Priests assisting also touch the Candidate, and the Bishop prays:

"O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies and God of all comfort; Who dwellest on high, yet hast respect unto the lowly; Who knowest all things before they come to pass; Who didst give ordinances unto Thy Church by the Word of Thy grace; Who didst foreordain, from the beginning, the race of the righteous from Abraham, instituting Princes and Priests and leaving not Thy sanctuary without ministers; Who from the foundation of the world hast been pleased to be glorified in them whom Thou hast chosen; Now pour forth that Power which is from Thee, of the princely Holy Spirit which Thou didst deliver to Thy beloved Child Jesus Christ, which He bestowed on Thy Holy Apostles who established the Church which hallows Thee in every place, to the endless glory and praise of Thy Name."

[Comment: The above is a butchered translation which does not include the episcopal words of "pour forth now that power, that is from thee of thy principal spirit (principalis spiritus)". (See Clarke, W.K. Lowther; Harris, Charles; eds. Liturgy and Worship. London: SPCK. 1964. Walter Kelly Firminger. "The Ordinal". p. 630.) The words "pour forth that Power which is from Thee, of the princely Holy Spirit" is not the same as the words "pour forth now that power, that is from thee of they principal spirit" as above.]

"Look upon this Thy servant and impart to this chosen one the Holy Spirit of grace and counsel, that this chosen one may share in the Presbyterate and govern Thy people in a pure heart. As Thou didst look upon the people of Thy choice and didst command Moses to choose Presbyters whom Thou didst fill with the Spirit which Thou hadst granted to Thy minister, so now, O Lord, grant that there may be preserved among us unceasingly the Spirit of Thy grace, and make us worthy, that in faith we may minister to Thee, praising Thee in singleness of heart. Through Thy Child, Jesus Christ, our Lord, through Whom to Thee be glory, might, and praise, to the Father and to the Son with the Holy Spirit in the Holy Church, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Blessed is the Lord. Behold, the servant of God, [N...], is ordained a Priest of the Holy Church of [N...]; in the Name of the + Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

[Comment: The above is a butchered translation which does not include the episcopal words of "look down on this thy servant and impart the Spirit of grace and counsel of the presbyterate". (See Clarke, W.K. Lowther; Harris, Charles; eds. Liturgy and Worship. London: SPCK. 1964. Walter Kelly Firminger. "The Ordinal". p. 630.) The words "impart to this chosen one the Holy Spirit of grace and counsel, that this chosen one may share in the Presbyterate" are not the same as "impart the Spirit of grace and counsel of the presbyterate" as above. ]

CONSECRATION OF A BISHOP

... The First Bishop lays hands on the Candidate's head, the assisting Bishops also laying hands on the Candidate's head, and the First Bishop prays:

"The divine grace, which heals all infirmities and supplements all deficiencies, consecrates the most devout servant of God, [N...], as Bishop of [N...]. Therefore, let us pray that the grace of the Holy Spirit may come upon this chosen one. O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies and God of all comfort; Who dwellest on high, yet hast respect unto the lowly; Who knowest all things before they come to pass; Who didst give ordinances unto Thy Church by the Word of Thy grace; Who didst foreordain, from the beginning, the race of the righteous from Abraham, instituting Princes and Priests and leaving not Thy sanctuary without ministers; Who from the foundation of the world hast been pleased to be glorified in them whom Thou hast chosen; Now pour forth that Power which is from Thee, of the princely Holy Spirit which Thou didst deliver to Thy beloved Child Jesus Christ, which He bestowed on Thy Holy Apostles who established the Church which hallows Thee in every place, to the endless glory and praise of Thy Name."

[Comment: The words "The divine grace ... consecrates the most devout servant of God, [N...], as Bishop of [N...]" can not be construed in any way whatsoever to invoke the Holy Ghost for the Office of Bishop. The words "Therefore, let us pray that the grace of the Holy Spirit may come upon this chosen one" can not be construed in any way whatsoever to invoke the Holy Ghost for the Office of Bishop. The words "The divine grace ... consecrates the most devout servant of God, [N...], as Bishop of [N...]. Therefore, let us pray that the grace of the Holy Spirit may come upon this chosen one.", taken as a totality, can not be construed in any way whatsoever to invoke the Holy Ghost for the Office of Bishop The above butchered translation also does not include the episcopal words of "pour forth now that power, that is from thee of thy principal spirit (principalis spiritus)". (See Clarke, W.K. Lowther; Harris, Charles; eds. Liturgy and Worship. London: SPCK. 1964. Walter Kelly Firminger. "The Ordinal". p. 630.) The words "pour forth that Power which is from Thee, of the princely Holy Spirit" is not the same as the words "pour forth now that power, that is from thee of they principal spirit" as above.]

"Father, Who knowest the hearts of all, grant to this, Thy servant, whom Thou hast chosen for the episcopate, to feed Thy holy flock and serve as Thine high priest, that this, Thy servant, may minister blamelessly by night and day, and may unceasingly behold and propitiate Thy countenance and offer to Thee the gifts of Thy Holy Church; and that, by the high priestly Holy Spirit, this, Thy servant, may have authority to forgive sins according to Thy command, to assign lots according to Thy bidding, to loose every bond according to the authority Thou gavest to the Apostles; and that this, Thy servant, may please Thee in meekness and a pure heart, offering to Thee a sweet-smelling savour. Through Thy Child, Jesus Christ, our Lord, through Whom to Thee be glory, might, and praise, to the Father + and to the Son with the Holy Spirit in the Holy Church, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."

[Comment: The words above "grant to this, Thy servant whom Thou hast chosen for the episcopate, to ..." can not be construed in any way whatsoever to invoke the Holy Ghost for the Office of Bishop. The entire prayer is in fact a butchered translation of the parallel prayer at the ordination of a presbyter, and hence has no reason to be in the ordinal for a bishop. Furthermore, a required prayer is not recited. "The Canons of Hippolytus direct that at the ordination of a Bishop or presbyter the following prayer shall be recited: 'Grant to him, O Lord, a mild spirit, and power to remit sins, and grant to him power to loose all bonds of iniquity of demons [i.e. by exorcism], and to heal all diseases, and to beat down Satan under his feet quickly' (17)." ( See Clarke, W.K. Lowther; Harris, Charles; eds. Liturgy and Worship. London: SPCK. 1964. Charles Harris. "Visitation of the Sick", 'The Ministry in Primitive Times'. p. 477.)]