about us
Who we are, how we began, and what makes us different.
Who we are, how we began, and what makes us different.
About the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission
The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission is a welcoming and sacramental Christian community rooted in the ancient faith of the early Church. We offer valid sacraments, reverent worship, and pastoral care to those seeking a deeper connection with Christ — especially those who have felt overlooked or excluded elsewhere.
We are Catholic, but not Roman.
Apostolic, but not rigid.
Structured, but never exclusive.
We are not Protestant, but we honour the Reformation’s call to renewal.
We are not Anglican, though we share a love of liturgy and pastoral tradition.
We are Old Catholic — drawing from the richness of the Church’s first thousand years, with freedom of conscience and openness at the core.
At the heart of everything we do is our simple but powerful motto:
Christ at the Centre. Everyone at the Table.
Our Team
Those who guide,
support, and serve
The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission is still small, but grounded in faithful care and valid apostolic oversight. Our leadership reflects both pastoral presence and sacramental legitimacy — guided by a commitment to Christ-centred ministry, openness, and shared responsibility. As we grow, we look forward to welcoming others into this journey.
Archbishop Svetoslav Vassilev
Episcopal Oversight – Bulgarian Old Catholic Church
Fr Ashley R. Deutschmann
Mission Rector and Priest
Our Connection to the Bulgarian Old Catholic Church
The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission operates independently while receiving sacramental care from Archbishop Svetoslav of the Bulgarian Old Catholic Church (BOCC), a legally registered religious institution based in Sofia (UIC 177269719).
The BOCC holds valid apostolic succession and provides episcopal oversight to our Mission — ensuring that our sacraments are recognised and celebrated within the historic continuity of the Church.
This connection provides us with:
- Apostolic legitimacy
- Formally recognised framework under Bulgarian law
- Episcopal blessing and guidance from Archbishop Svetoslav Vassilev
At the same time, the BOCC respects our language, culture, and pastoral context, allowing us the freedom to serve our communities in the way that best reflects the Gospel.
Sacramental care with local pastoral freedom
About our Leadership and Oversight
The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission is currently led by a single priest under the sacramental oversight of the Bulgarian Old Catholic Church. This model offers the best of both worlds: rootedness in valid apostolic succession, and the flexibility to respond directly to the needs of our community.
Archbishop Svetoslav Vassilev provides episcopal oversight, ensuring apostolic continuity and sacramental legitimacy. Fr Ashley R. Deutschmann serves as the Mission’s Rector and pastoral leader, entrusted with day-to-day ministry and local governance.
As a small and emerging community, we keep our structure simple, transparent, and focused on the essentials: Christ at the centre, and everyone welcome at the Table.
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Together, we seek to offer a faithful Catholic witness — ancient in roots, open in spirit, and centred always on Christ.
Our Vision
Christ at the Centre.
Everyone at the Table.
At the heart of our Mission is a simple but profound belief: the Church is called to be a place of grace, not exclusion — a Table, not a gate. We draw deeply from the ancient rhythms of Christian worship, but we do so with hearts open to the Spirit’s movement today.
We don’t claim to have all the answers. We are not building an empire or performing a show. We are simply striving to offer a space where prayer is honest, worship is reverent, and everyone is received with dignity.
Whether you join us online, through prayer, or in fellowship someday — know that there is a place for you here.
Explore More
Continue your journey with us
- Our Beliefs
- Visit our Downloads page for our Statutes and Governance Document, and our Ecclesiology and Doctrine Document, and more.
- Apostolic Succession
- Worship With Us
- Contact Us
- Learn about the Bulgarian Old Catholic Church here.
