| American World Patriarchates | |
| Abbreviation: | AWP |
| Type: | Eastern Christian |
| Main Classification: | Independent Eastern Orthodox |
| Scripture: | Septuagint, New Testament |
| Theology: | Orthodox theology, Palamism, Hesychasm, Clerical marriage, Catholic theology |
| Polity: | Episcopal |
| Leader Title: | Apostolic Administrator |
| Leader Name: | Disputed |
| Liturgy: | Byzantine and Western |
| Founder: | Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski |
| Founded Date: | 1967 |
| Founded Place: | New York, N.Y., United States |
| Branched From: | American Orthodox Catholic Church |
| Congregations: | 60+ |
| Members: | 54,457+ |
American World Patriarchates, also known as the American World Patriarchs (AWP), is an independent Eastern Orthodox church established by Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski in 1967.[1] The members of the American World Patriarchates both claim to be Orthodox and Catholic.[2]
Byelorussian priest Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski was consecrated as bishop of Laconia, New Hampshire and the states of New England within the American Orthodox Catholic Church. He was also enthroned as an archbishop by the Old Orthodox Catholic Patriarchate of America; when Ryzy-Ryski established the American World Patriarchates, he organized the church as loosely-structured; he elevated other independent sacramental bishops to the patriarchate.[3] Through Ryzy-Ryski's American World Patriarchates, those patriarchs he elevated were neither required to recognize his authority, nor come under his episcopal jurisdiction.
In 1972, Ryzy-Ryski was excommunicated from the American Orthodox Catholic Church by Walter Myron Propheta. Following this excommunication, the American World Patriarchates expanded throughout Canada, Hungary, West Germany, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Haiti, Santo Domingo, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, El Salvador, Nigeria, the West Indies, Norway, Sweden, Formosa, and Ukraine. During his leadership, the Peoples University of the Americas and Cathedral of Learning of the American World Patriarchates were founded; by 1975, the Cathedral of Learning was barred from conferring diplomas after granting more than 400 degrees without authority from the New York Board of Regents.[4]
In 1978, after the death of Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski, the leadership of the American World Patriarchates was succeeded by his brother, Emigidius J. Ryzy. He functioned as apostolic administrator.
In 1997, the American World Patriarchates reported 19,457 members, 17 congregations, and 54 priests in the United States. They also claimed 1 congregation and 3 priests in Canada. In the same report, the American World Patriarchates claimed 1 congregation in Belarus with 35,000 members.
In 2015, Emigidius J. Ryzy died,[5] and one group within the American World Patriarchates claimed that his designated successor refused to administrate over the church.[6]