The Lutheran Orthodox Church, inc
A Lutheran Church in Apostolic Succession
Apostolic Succession of The Lutheran Orthodox Church
Below, members of The OCR, many of which participated in the consecration of the founders of The Lutheran Orthodox Church. Front row in red, Bertil Persson, and Archbishop Brennan at his installation as Primate of OCR. LOC Founder, +Sam Guido second row, between +Brennan and +Persson. Photo at Cathedral of St Lucy, NYC.
Through the Order of Corporate Reunion, a holy order established by Pope Pius in the late 1800's,(and recognized as valid by the Vatican today), the line of Apostolic Succession has been extended through the Lutheran Orthodox Church. Apostolic Succession is the laying on of hands, one to another in an unbroken line of succession from the original Apostles down through history to today. This lineage is recognized as a mark of a true church, one recognized by both Eastern(Orthodox) and Western(Roman)Catholic churches, as well as others. Through these various lineages, The Lutheran Orthodox Church is in direct Apostolic Succession of St Peter, St James, St Mark, StPaul,St John and St Andrew. Copies of the Apostolic Succession lineage of The Lutheran Orthodox Church are available upon legitimate request by contacting our office.
Left: Consecration ceremony for Bishop K.Sak Thomas of India, St Peter and Pauls, NYC
DECLARATION; DOMINUS JESU,
CONGREGATION FOR
THE DOCTRINE OF FAITH, THE VATICAN,
AUGUST 6 2000 17.
17.Therefore, there exists a single Church of Christ, which subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the Successor of Peter and by Bishops in communion with him. The [other] Churches which, while not existing in perfect communion with the Catholic Church, remain united to her by means of the closest bonds, that is, by Apostolic Succession and a valid Eucharist, are true particular Churches. Therefore, the Church of Christ is present and operative also in these Churches, even though they lack full communion with the Catholic Church..."
CANON 844.3, THE CANON LAW CODE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, (1983)
"Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and annointing of the sick to members of the Eastern Churches [Orthodox] not in full communion with the Catholic Church, if they spontaneously ask for them and are properly disposed. The same applies to members of other Churches which the Apostolic See judges to be in the same position as the aforesaid Eastern Churches so far as the sacraments are concerned."
From THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION, Article XXI:
"There is nothing in our Confession that varies from the Scriptures, from The Catholic Church or from The Church of Rome as known from its writers".