The Anglocatholic Church

CELEBRANT HIS EXCELLENCY BISHOP DR. RAIVO KODANIK, ACOLYTE MR. PRIIT KÕRGE

By the decree of His Beatitude, The Most Reverend Lord Dr. Heigo Ritsbek, MA, MDiv, DMin, LittD, DD, Patriarch of the Anglocatholic Church, on Monday, March 18, 2024, four Prelates of The Anglocatholic Church were nominated as the Recipients of the highest honour of The Anglocatholic Church – The Order of Honour of The Patriarchate of Tallinn. Their names will be announced after the time of receiving the Medal will be decided with each one of them, God willing.

THE STATURE OF THE ORDER OF HONOUR OF THE PATRIARCHATE OF TALLINN

1. The Order of Honour of the Patriarchate of Tallinn (OHPT) is the highest Medal and the highest honour of the Anglocatholic Church.
   
2. OHPT is to be given to a person only one time in the life-time of the recipient. It is
   never to be given posthumously.
   
3. OHPT will be given to the persons who have shown the greatest integrity, honesty and
   loyalty to the Church of Christ.
   
4. OHPT is mostly given to the Bishops and clergy, but may also be given to lay people.
   
5. OHPT is only to be given by the decree of the Patriarch of the Anglocatholic Church.
   Individuals may nominate candidates for consideration by the Patriarch. However,
   they may not request this honour for themselves.
   
6. If the OHPT is awarded to non members of the Anglocatholic Church, the
   Patriarch may ask for a donation to the Patriarch Fund.
   
7. It is desirable that the OHPT be given personally by the Patriarch to members of
   the Anglocatholic Church, especially to the Bishops. In this case, the recipient is
   expected to pay all expenses of the Patriarch – travel, hotel, meals etc.
   
8. The Patriarch may delegate the giving of OHPT to some other dignitaries in the
   leadership of the Anglocatholic Church. In these cases the expenses of giving the
   OHPT are agreed between the delegated giver and the receiver.
   
9. The OHPT is to be worn over a cassock or with secular clothing, a suit or formal
   wear (Black or White tie). The OHPT is never to be worn with liturgical vestments.
   
10. Iis desirable the OHPT be awarded in an official ceremony by the Patriarch of the
    Anglocatholic Church (at an official banquet etc). It is to be understood that the Patriarch’s expenses are to be covered by the recipient.
    
11. The OHPT is to be given only to the Bishops of the Anglocatholic Church who are
    Members of the College of Bishops of the Anglocatholic Church.
    
12. All individual recipients of this award who are members of the Anglocatholic
    Church and leave the fellowship of the Church or are later deposed or
    excommunicated from the Anglocatholic Church have the obligation to return their
    OHPT to the Anglocatholic Church.
    
13. Any complaints concerning OHPT are to be resolved by the Holy Synod and the
    Patriarch of the Anglocatholic Church

God willing, we will establish the highest honor medal in the Anglocatholic Church.

Heigo Ritsbek (born on April 12, 1951, in Pärnu) is an Estonian church figure. His life journey has been marked by various roles and accomplishments:

• Methodist Church: Heigo Ritsbek served as a pastor in the Estonian Methodist Church. He held positions such as the secretary of the Estonian Methodist Church’s government and pastor of the Tallinn Methodist congregation.
• Emigration and Theological Studies: In February 1989, he emigrated to the United States with his family. There, he continued his theological studies and obtained a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree from the Methodist Asbury Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry in Theological Studies (DMin) degree from Boston University. His doctoral dissertation focused on the mission of Methodism in Estonia.
• Karismaatilise Episkopaalkirik (Charismatic Episcopal Church): Heigo Ritsbek joined the Charismatic Episcopal Church, where he served as a priest from 1996 to 2012. During this time, he was the head vicar of the Estonian Charismatic Episcopal Church and rector of the Harkujärve St. Stephen’s congregation.
• Becoming a Bishop: On August 25, 2012, he was consecrated as a bishop by Archbishop Dr. Kiiza S. Thomas in Kasese, Uganda, Africa.
• Founding the Anglo-Catholic Church: In 2016, Heigo Ritsbek co-founded the Anglo-Catholic Church with like-minded individuals. He currently serves as the worldwide patriarch and president of the Church’s Holy Trinity Anglo-Catholic School of Ministry.
• Teaching and Writing: Heigo Ritsbek has been an educator, teaching history, religious studies, social studies, and philosophy in various schools. He has also authored several works, including books on baptism, the Eucharist, and church history.
• Recognition and Outreach: He has preached and ministered to approximately 385,000 people across 27 countries through personal visits, radio, and TV broadcasts. His Christian message has reached a total of 1.7 million people. Additionally, he has visited 41 different countries in connection with his church work.

Heigo Ritsbek’s journey reflects a rich tapestry of faith, education, and service to others. 

Patriarch is second row first left, Bishop Raivo Kodanik second row right, Patriarch’s wife first row second from left, Patriarch’s sister first row first from left.

Today, March 9, 2024, His Beatitude Lord Dr. HEIGO RITSBEK, has been serving from God’s grace 45 years as Member of Clergy. Axios! Axios! Axios!

As of March 8, 2024 The Members of The College of Bishops of The Anglocatholic Church are: Patriarch Dr. HEIGO RITSBEK, Patriarch Coadjutor Dr. RAPHAEL MARIE VILLIERE, Primate EARL L. FRAZIER, Primate Dr. JAMES CHRISTIAN MACAIRE MIAFOUANANDI, Metropolitan Archbishop Dr. AUGUSTINE URUMBAYEV, Archbishop Emeritus Dr. DAVID SMITH, Bishop Emeritus PAUL JACOB BOARDMAN, Bishop Dr. RAIVO KODANIK, Bishop FLORENT MOUSSOLO, and Bishop ADRIANO AMATO. They are current 10 Members of the College of Bishops of The Anglocatholic Church.

God willing and allowing, The Anglocatholic Church plans to have its SECOND WORLDWIDE CONCLAVE OF THE COLLEGE OF BISHOPS OF THE ANGLOCATHOLIC CHURCH in Toronto, Canada in 2025.

On the photo Saint Bartholomeuw’s Church in Toronto, Canada. God willing we may have our Holy Masses the Chapel of this church in 2025