Introduction

Old Catholicism is a movement within the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church that upholds the full Catholic faith—including the sacraments and apostolic succession—while remaining independent of the Roman papacy. It offers a vision of Catholic Christianity rooted in the early undivided Church, governed locally, and open to all who seek grace, reverence, and spiritual depth.

We are not Roman Catholic. We are not Protestant.
We are Old Catholic—a tradition as ancient as the apostles, as grounded as the creeds, and as open as Christ’s table.

Where Did Old Catholicism Come From?

While Old Catholicism formally emerged in response to the First Vatican Council (1870), its roots can be traced back to the 18th century. In 1724, the Chapter of Utrecht consecrated a bishop without papal approval, asserting the rights of the local church. This act, though condemned by Rome, preserved apostolic succession and planted the seed for future autonomy. That Utrecht lineage eventually gave rise to national churches which later rejected papal infallibility and reasserted ancient Catholic governance.

These churches believed that:

• No single bishop, including the Bishop of Rome, could claim universal jurisdiction over the whole Church
• The faith of the early Church must be preserved without later innovations
• Church authority must be exercised in communion, not imposed from above

The movement gained international shape through the Union of Utrecht (1889)—a communion of churches holding to the faith of the early Church, the seven sacraments, and apostolic succession, while remaining locally governed and pastorally responsive.

Key Characteristics of the Old Catholic Tradition

Apostolic Succession

Old Catholic bishops stand in valid apostolic succession, passed through the laying on of hands from the apostles themselves. This succession has been maintained through valid episcopal consecrations shared with Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican bishops.

As a result, the sacraments—especially the Eucharist, Baptism, and Holy Orders—are valid and grace-filled, even in churches that are not in formal communion with Rome. This is confirmed by official theological dialogues and recognised in Catholic canon law.

Theology and Spirituality

Old Catholic theology emphasises the mystery of the sacraments, the authority of early Church tradition, and a pastoral, non-legalistic approach to moral theology. Scripture is read in community, guided by the early Fathers and the Creeds, rather than filtered through later scholastic frameworks.

Liturgy is central—not as performance, but as the sacred action of Christ among his people. We aim to be both intellectually grounded and spiritually alive.

The Seven Sacraments

We uphold and celebrate all seven historic sacraments of the Church:

• Baptism
• Eucharist
• Confirmation
• Reconciliation
• Anointing of the Sick
• Matrimony
• Holy Orders

These are not symbolic gestures, but real means of grace through which Christ continues to minister in His Church.

The Early Creeds and Councils

Old Catholicism affirms the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the doctrinal decisions of the first seven ecumenical councils of the Church. These form the unchanging foundation of our theology.

Local Governance (Synodality)

Old Catholic churches are governed synodally—by bishops, clergy, and laity working together. We reject the idea of universal jurisdiction or clerical centralism. Decisions are made through prayer, dialogue, and discernment in the Spirit.

Pastoral Freedom

Old Catholic churches apply the ancient faith with compassion and realism in today’s world. This includes:

• Welcoming all baptised Christians to receive the Eucharist
• Offering sacramental blessings to same-sex couples
• Ordaining married clergy
• Allowing space for conscience and pastoral discretion in moral decisions

While practices vary slightly between jurisdictions, Old Catholicism is marked by a desire to combine truth with grace, and faith with freedom.

How Are We Different from Other Churches?

Feature	Old Catholic	Roman Catholic	Anglican	Eastern Orthodox
Seven Sacraments	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Apostolic Succession	Yes	Yes	Yes (mostly)	Yes
Papal Infallibility	No	Yes	No	No
Centralised Governance	No	Yes	No	No
Inclusive Pastoral Practice	Often Yes	Variable	Variable	Generally No
Married Clergy	Yes	No (mostly)	Yes	Yes
Synodal Decision-Making	Yes	Limited	Yes	Yes
Women’s Ordination	Varies	No	Varies	No

Apostolic Succession and Sacramental Validity

Old Catholic bishops maintain historic apostolic succession, through lines shared with Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican bishops. These lines were passed through legitimate episcopal consecrations, ensuring the continuation of the Church’s sacramental and apostolic ministry.

Because of this:

• Our Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of Christ
• Our Ordinations are valid, with real spiritual authority
• Our Baptisms are universally recognised and need not be repeated

Recognition by the Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church affirms that churches maintaining valid apostolic succession and the Eucharist are “true particular Churches”, even when they are not in full communion with Rome.

As stated in Dominus Iesus (2000), §17:

“These Churches, although separated, have true sacraments and above all—by apostolic succession—the priesthood and the Eucharist.”
— Dominus Iesus, §17 – Vatican.va

This recognition is also reflected in Canon 844 §§2–3 of the Code of Canon Law (1983), which permits Catholics to receive sacraments from clergy in non-Roman churches with valid orders when necessary.
Read Canon 844

Clarification: Our Position Outside Utrecht

The Bulgarian Old Catholic Church (BOCC)—and its English-language mission—is not affiliated with the Union of Utrecht, though we share its historical and theological roots.

While the Union of Utrecht includes some of the best-known Old Catholic jurisdictions, the Bulgarian Old Catholic Church is part of a wider family of independent Old Catholic Churches worldwide. These jurisdictions retain valid apostolic succession, uphold the historic faith and sacraments, but choose to govern locally—often in response to pastoral need or theological freedom. We are not affiliated with Utrecht, but we affirm the same ancient foundations.

Why This Matters

The Old Catholic Churches have been pioneers in ecumenical dialogue. They were among the first to engage in full communion agreements with the Anglican Communion (Bonn Agreement, 1931) and have long collaborated with Orthodox and Lutheran churches. Old Catholicism seeks unity without domination—believing that visible communion is possible through shared faith and sacramental life, not uniform governance.

This ensures:

• Our clergy are not self-appointed
• Our sacraments are not symbolic
• Our faith is not a modern invention

We do what the Church has always done—in continuity with the apostles, guided by Scripture, shaped by the early Church, and open to the Spirit’s work in the present.

Read our full Statement of Faith – What We Believe for a concise expression of our apostolic and sacramental theology.

Learn more about Apostolic Succession, and how valid orders are preserved and exercised in our ministry.

Learn More About Old Catholicism

Explore the theological foundation, historical context, and ecclesial recognition of Old Catholic churches like ours:

1. What Is Old Catholicism?

A concise summary of our roots in the ancient Church and our independence from Rome
Read: Catholic Encyclopaedia – “Old Catholics”

2. Our Ecclesiology and Apostolic Identity

How we understand the Church, sacraments, and episcopal ministry
Read: Ecclesiology and Doctrine of the BOCC (PDF)

3. Recognition by the Roman Catholic Church

Dominus Iesus (2000) affirms that churches with apostolic succession and valid Eucharist are true particular churches
Read: Dominus Iesus, §17

4. Canon Law and Sacramental Sharing

Canon 844 of the Code of Canon Law permits sacramental sharing in churches with valid orders
Read: Canon 844 – Code of Canon Law

5. Ecumenical Dialogue and Historical Affirmation

Roman Catholic–Old Catholic dialogues affirm shared theology, sacramental integrity, and mutual recognition of apostolic succession.
Read: Church and Ecclesial Communion – International Roman Catholic–Old Catholic Dialogue Report (2009, Vatican)

6. Independent Academic Overviews

World Council of Churches – Old Catholic Church Family

Wikipedia – Old Catholic Church (introduction to Old Catholicism)

Anglican Centre Rome – Bonn Agreement Summary (Anglican–Old Catholic communion)