Declaration of Establishment of
The
United Holy
Caribbean Apostolic Church,
The Patriarchate of the west-Indies
by the Strength and Mercies of God’s Will, Trevor ‘Elihu’ Greene, Metropolitan of Port-of-Spain, Primate of Trinidad and Tobago, and Senior Apostle and Patriarch of All the West-Indies,
His Majesty Ferdinand 2nd – crowned with the title “The Most Catholic King” by Pope Alexander VI of Rome in 1493 a.d. for his devotion and defense of the Faith – requested of Pope Leo X of Rome for a Church governed by Patriarchate be established in and over the region of the Caribbean for the sake of the Christian faith in the newly-colonized West-Indies. While the Roman Catholic hierarchy rejected the notion, clinging to powers in a manner not fitting of a Bishop, on the 11th day of May 1524 a.d., his apostolic successor Pope Clement VII of Rome would reluctantly agree to plant a Patriarch for the West Indies. Archbishop Antonio de Rojas, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Granada and Bishop of Palencia, was consecrated as the first “Patriarch of the West Indies”. Unfortunately, the Primate would be titular in title and authority only, being even without an official ecclesiastical jurisdiction or clergy to assist in the work of the Patriarchate of the West-Indies. In addition, the Titular-Patriarch was banned from residing in the Americas.
Other bishops would be enthroned to the West-Indian See, yet this title was given half-heartedly by the Vatican, thus hindering the evangelistic witness and mission of the Church in the Caribbean. To make matters worse, the title of “Patriarch of the West-Indies” unfortunately fell out of use in the year 1963 a.d., never making a serious mark upon the people of God as the All-Holy Spirit so intended for it to do so when impressed upon the heart of King Ferdinand the Catholic to seek after. It is by Godly leadership that the gospel is preached and the Church is established soundly. While men may have seen no need for this, God is not done with the Church of the Caribbean by far.
Heeding the apostolic calling from God our Father for the Caribbean spoken through the prophetic voice of King Ferdinand the Catholic, we the Holy Orthodox Catholic Church of Trinidad and Tobago are stepping up as the called and beloved friends and servants of
God with eyes of love and concern for the Christian development of the jurisdictions of the Caribbean-West Indies. Our Church has known from its beginning that, for the good of the unity of the Church, expansion must take place. With the command of God and the loving support of members of others in righteous communion, brothers in Christ, this our Church, for the good glory of God, following the leading of the All-Holy Ghost, shall plant, establish, and reignite the flame of the Patriarchate throughout the Caribbean, bringing a much needed unity to a much divided people.
Uncanonical ecclesiastical divisions still reign among men; the development among the local parts of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church must perpetually be founded on the firm ties of the one Faith and the love that the Lord Jesus Christ willed. Keeping this truth in mind, mutual cooperation by way of the uniting of the Synod of Prelates is the answer. All must come to acknowledge that the Canon of Scripture and the Apostolic Oral and Written Tradition spoke true and proper, calling for the unity of Christianity in all regions by having a united council of Bishops for its own region, with its own leading Primate (Canons of Saint Clement, Canon #34); the Caribbean is no different. The Apostolic Canons state clearly:
Canon XXXIV. (XXXV.)
"The Bishops of every nation must acknowledge him who is first among them and account him as their head, and do nothing of consequence without his consent; but each may do those things only which concern his own parish, and the country places which belong to it. But neither let him (who is the first) do anything without the consent of all; for so there will be unanimity, and God will be glorified through the Lord in the Holy Spirit."
Canon LVIII.
"If any Bishop or Presbyter neglects the clergy or the people, and does not instruct them in the way of godliness, let him be excommunicated, and if he persists in his negligence and idleness, let him be deposed."
Canon LIX.
"If any Bishop, Presbyter, or Deacon, when any of the clergy is in want, does not supply him with what he needs, let him be excommunicated; but if he persists, let him be deposed, as one who has killed his brother."
For this need, we must answer the call stated so long ago, echoing through time. We must instruct the people in the ways of godliness, as the region is indeed our own vineyard to tend to. Therefore, the independent and self-sustaining existence of the Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in Trinidad and Tobago shall canonically grow this day to extend over the rest of the Caribbean, according to the vision laid out in the original context of King Ferdinand the Catholic and the original Tomos of Autocephalous Status of this Church in 2015 a.d. Together with the Sacred Holy Synod of Prelates and all the Caribbean Bishops and Clergy joining the effort and uniting the Church, we stand in communion with one another. As a still-standing member of the Worldwide Communion of Catholic and Apostolic Churches, those who have signified their agreement in word and writing, we are a fully independent member of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, organized and led by His Beatitude and Eminence The Most Reverend ELIHU, who is canonically charged to serve the Lord Jesus Christ as “Metropolitan Archbishop of Port-of-Spain, Primate of Trinidad and Tobago, Senior Apostle and Patriarch of All the Caribbean-West Indies”. Of this Autocephalous Apostolic Church, we announce:
1. The new name of this Church body shall be known as The United Holy Caribbean Apostolic Church. Also as parallel to this are the names, “The Caribbean Patriarchate”, "the Patriarchate of the West-Indies";
2. By “autocephaly,” which is confirmed in this decision, it is understood that this The United Holy Caribbean Apostolic Church shall:
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a. be independent and self-governing with the right of electing her own Primate and all her bishops, without confirmation or the right of veto over such elections on the part of any other church organization or representative of the holy catholic and apostolic orthodox Church;
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b. firmly and inalterably preserve the divine dogmas and doctrines, being guided in her life by the Sacred Canon of Scripture and the Sacred Canon Laws of the Holy Apostolic Church of Christ and governed in accordance with her own Statutes as accepted, augmented or amended from time to time by her own highest legislative and executive organ, the Holy Synod of Prelates;
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c. maintain direct relations with all other Churches of true and like confession of faith, beginning with members of the Worldwide Communion of Catholic and Apostolic Churches, Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike, and other such entities;
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d. enjoy all the authority, privileges and rights usually inherent in the term “autocephaly” in the canonical tradition of the historic Church.
3. This Autocephalous Church shall have spiritual and canonical jurisdiction over the bishops, clerics and laymen of the countries of Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Grenada, Saint Thomas, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Barbados, Guyana, the Bahamas, Aruba, the Windward Islands, and all other portions of the Caribbean, as well as those who are presently part of the Churches of the United States of America under the care of our Bishops unless canonically released, or who shall later enter the Church; and over all parishes which now belong or later shall be accepted into the Church of the various surrounding Caribbean Islands, excepting the entire clergy, possessions and parishes.
4. As stated, before when our beloved Church was first forged, our Sister Churches in full communion with us shall not receive into their care any clerics without written release or any parishes except parishes from uncanonical ecclesiastical organizations within their sphere of influence; and shall not canonically permit clergy and parishes remaining in its care to enter any jurisdictions in the Caribbean but that of our own, the United Holy Caribbean Apostolic Church.
5. Our Church assures the parishes remaining in its care of its readiness to defend their status as rightful parishes, just as all others also defend their own.
Confirming the Autocephaly of this newly forged Church in the year of our acceptance of Apostolic Succession, we are blessed to be called as The United Holy Caribbean Apostolic Church, with the parallel name “The Caribbean Patriarchate”; we proclaim to our Sister Churches, and request all local Christian Churches of like faith and their Primates and their faithful children to acknowledge us as such and to include us in their Diptychs in accordance with the Canons of their Church, the traditions of the Fathers and ecclesiastical practice.
The United Holy Caribbean Apostolic Church should abide in and determine to build up brotherly love and special relations with all true and like-minded leaders of Christianity as well as with their pious flock.
With profound, sincere joy, we announce this to the Fullness of the Church and we do not cease thanking the All-Gracious Almighty God, who directs all in the world by His right hand for the good and the salvation of mankind, for the successful and final formation of Autocephaly, and we entreat the all-powerful blessing of God upon this, The United Holy Caribbean Apostolic Church.
May the Consubstantial and Life-creating and Undivided Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, acting on Their own wondrous providence, send down onto us the Arch-pastors, Pastors and Faithful Children of the United Holy Caribbean Apostolic Church who are sent, possessing Their heavenly, unfailing help, and may God bless with success all her future endeavors for the good of the Holy Church.
Being established unanimously on this, the twenty-seventh day of March in the year of our Lord two-thousand and nineteen, (March 27th, 2019 a.d.).
Voting Representatives of The United Holy Caribbean Apostolic Church - The
Caribbean Patriarchate:
The Most Reverend Lord Trevor ‘ELIHU’ Greene, J.C.D., Metropolitan Archbishop of
Port-of-Spain, Primate of Trinidad and Tobago, Senior Apostle and Patriarch of All The Caribbean-West Indies
The Very Reverend Father Jerome ‘EPHRAIM’ Chandler, Pastor of Saint Thomas the Apostle Church, Archpriest and Bishop-Elect of the Diocese of Arima, Trinidad and Tobago
The Reverend Sister Sherrese ‘PHOEBE’ Daggett, Deaconess of Highest Praise Ministries (Delaware, USA), under the Archdiocese of Port of Spain
The Sister Verdena Charla'yne Taylor, Elected-Deaconess of the Diocese of Arima