08/16/2025
Blessed Tidings!!
It has been fair to long my siblings, but I have weathered the trials and tribulations of the last year and I am prepared to begin public ministry once again! Life has settled into a new sense of normalcy, in both my secular and spiritual life.
The storms have passed, God Be Praised!
With that in mind, there have been some other updates and changes that have gone on behind the scenes in the last year that I wanted to discuss.
The biggest change being that I have been fully consecrated to the Apostolic-Gnostic Episcopacy. Bishop Serio Melo of The Western Liberal Catholic church laid his hands upon me and bestowed upon me Apostolic succession and the episcopal grace. Taking the Religious Names of Mar Saturninos and Tau Silvanus. (Tau being the traditional title for Gnostic Bishops, and Mar being the traditional title of bishops descended from the Syriac tradition.) Bishop Melo has been a strong brother and confidant of mine for a long time, and I will be eternally grateful for all of his fraternal advice and instruction.
The other big change is that I made the decision to disaffiliate myself, and by extension this parish and ministry from The Gnostic Catholic Union and be fully independent. The separation was amiable, and I wish nothing but the best for My Brother and Sister clergy of the Union and their affiliated bodies.
With that in mind, I have started a new self-governing and independent ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
The American Gnostic Church, Eparchy of Florida.
(An Eparchy is similar to a diocese, but the term 'Eparchy' is more common in eastern Christian traditions)
It is under the auspices of the AGC-EFL that Saint Valentinus will continue to operate going forward.
This is more 'behind the scenes housekeeping' sort of stuff. But i did want to discuss it.
With the launching of the AGC-EFL and the replacement of St. V under its ecclesiastical auspices. A cosmetic face-lift was in order! I re-designed my own personal coat of arms, as well as making a coat of arms for the Eparchy. The Eparchy's coat of arms will also serve as the parish's Facebook profile picture as well.
Now that I have us caught up to the present. Now let's discuss the future!
In my time away, I have moved to a new house and have a new private chapel I will be streaming services from.
I am also currently looking for a physical location that would be generous enough to allow us to use their space for in-person services. I am looking forward to sharing such joyous news once it happens!
A new calendar of liturgy will be posted in the coming days. I am also going to start working on a dedicated website for the parish as well!
God Bless us on this new chapter!
Pax Pleroma!
+His Excellency, Right Reverend Emory Raines
In Ecclesia:
His Lordship, Tau Silvanus
His Eminence, Mar Saturninos
