Vladislav Ryzy-Ryski
Vladislav, or Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski (April 26, 1925 – March 1, 1978), was a Belarusian socio-cultural and religious figure, and founder of the American World Patriarchates.[1][2] He was also the founder and head of the Belarusian Orthodox National Church or Belarusian Orthodox Church Abroad, and the Orthodox Catholic Autocephalous Church in the USA.[3][4] The original incarnation of his Belarusian church has several claimant successors, including: the Byelorussian Orthodox Catholic Church of St. Apostle Andrew in both the Eastern and Western Rite, and the Belarusian Slavic Orthodox Church (IOBE-AOCC).[5]
Biography
Vladislav Ryzy-Ryski was born in the Vilna region of Belarus to Belarusian Catholic parents.[6] He was educated at the University of Paris.[7]
In World War II, he served with anti-communist Belarusian revolutionaries, who were trained by the Nazi German military.[4]: 2–3
In 1965, he was consecrated as bishop within a continuation to the American Orthodox Catholic Church,[8] and enthroned as archbishop within the Old Orthodox Catholic Patriarchate of America.[9]
In 1967 Ryzy-Ryski began a new mission in the Bronx, New York; he called this the American World Patriarchates and its goal was to create an international hierarchy of bishops,[5] with none required to come under his apostolic administration or under his authority.[3] He became known as Patriarch Uladyslau I.[7] During his leadership over the American World Patriarchates, the People's University of the Americas was founded in 1968.[6]
By 1972, Ryzy-Ryski was excommunicated from the American Orthodox Catholic Church by Walter Myron Propheta after having established the American World Patriarchates.[8][10] By the time of his excommunication, there were at least 17 patriarchates established through the American World Patriarchates.[3]
In 1978, Ryzy-Ryski died at the age of 53, and the Belarusian Orthodox National Church and American World Patriarchates were succeeded by Adam Biletsky and Emigidius J. Ryzy.[1][3]
References
- 1 2 Persson, Bertil (1990). Independent Bishops: An International Directory. Apogee Books. p. 354. ISBN 9781558883079.
Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski was born on April 26, 1925, and became a Byelorussian priest [...] Ryzy-Ryski died on March 1, 1978 at the age of 53.
- ↑ Melton, J. Gordon (2018-12-07). Religious Bodies in the U.S.: A Dictionary. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-52353-4.
- 1 2 3 4 "Иерархия церквей | Американский Всемирный Патриархат". hierarchy.religare.ru. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- 1 2 +Teofano, Juan Manuel Garayalde (2022-01-01). "HISTORY OF THE BELARUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ABROAD".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - 1 2 "The American World Patriarchates". The Abbey-Principality of San Luigi. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Рыжы-Рыскі Ўладзіслаў · Slounik.org". slounik.org (in Belarusian). Retrieved 2025-03-10.
- 1 2 "Patriarchate". The Abbey-Principality of San Luigi. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- 1 2 Walker, James K. (2007-04-01). The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality: Includes Hundreds of Definitions of*Sects, cults, and Occult Organizations *Alternative Spiritual Beliefs *Christian Denominations *Leaders, Teachings, and Practices. Harvest House Publishers. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-7369-2011-7.
- ↑ Lewis, James R. (2001). The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions. Prometheus Books. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-61592-738-8.
- ↑ "Памёр беларус, які ўзначальваў Сусветны Амерыканскі Патрыярхат". Krynica. Archived from the original on 2019-08-20. Retrieved 2025-03-10.