The Old Rite Brethren have their origins in a handful of families in Russia who converted to the "Old Believers" Russian Orthodox Church during the time of St. Pope Pius X. The Old Rite Brethren follow the Old Believers/Russian Orthodox Church liturgy.

The Old Rite Brethren are part of the Russian Orthodox Church in Communion with Rome (Old Rite Orthodox Church); its priests are in communion with the Holy See (especially as it existed during the time of Pope St. Pius X). Although in communion with the Holy See, the Old Rite is not a Latin Rite. Being part of the Russian Orthodox Church in Communion with Rome, the Old Rite Brethren are already recognized as a legitimate rite within the overall Catholic Church, being given such status by Pope St. Pius X.

Our doctrines are not different, but rather our heritage, cultural and liturgical practices differ from those who practice the Latin rite. We are fully Orthodox, subscribing to the ancient church of the East, and fully Catholic, being in communion with the Holy See since the time of St. Pope Pius X.

The Old Rite uses the Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church Calendar. Some of our priests who have been granted bi-ritual faculties by the bishop, use a combination of the Old Rite Calendar and the Roman extraordinary calendar. The laity is encouraged to use the Old Orthodox Prayer Book. The Church also uses the Horologion on a regular basis. You can obtain these from a store maintained by the Church of the Nativity (Russian Orthodox Old Rite, unaffiliated) in Erie, Pennsylvania.

The Church received three bishops into communion on August 15, 2020, which include Bishop Aleksandar, Bishop Michael Ambrose and Bishop Isaiah. The new bishops come to us from the Autocephalous Serbian Orthodox Church of North America in Phildelphia, Pennsylvania. Bishop Aleksandar was appointed as Archbishop. Rev. Fr. Charles Allen (Hieromonk Karlo) was appointed as Bishop on Sept. 1, 2020 and serves the Old Rite Eparchy of the Southern United States. Other appointments are pending at this time. The Archdiocese is located in Philadelphia, PA. With the Serbian Church's recent communion with the Old Rite Church, they bring with them eight additional priests, Saint Sava Monastery, Saints Cyril and Methodius Acadamy (Wallkill, NY), and the S.S. S.O. Seminary (Albany, NY). On January 13, 2021, the National Association of Serbian Catholics in Albany was renamed "National Association of Serbian Orthodox Catholics."

The Russian Orthodox Church in Communion with Rome (Old Rite) welcomes spiritual dialogue with other jurisdictions (Orthodox, Catholic), if properly ordered. At this time we are not affiliated with any other Old Rite, Old Ritualist, or Old Believers Churches.