A Biography of Joseph René Vilatte.

Another Biography of Joseph René Vilatte.

Another Biography of Joseph René Vilatte.

A Chronological Biography of Joseph René Vilatte.

Album of Materials Relating to Joseph René Vilatte.

Photograph of Joseph René Vilatte.

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History of
One of the Denominations with Bishops
Claiming Apostolic Succession through Joseph René Vilatte.

History of
Another of the Denominations with Bishops
Claiming Apostolic Succession through Joseph René Vilatte.

In the name of the Essential, Eternal, Self-existing, Almighty God,
His servant, Ignatius Pater [sic] III,
Patriarch of the Apostolic See of Antioch and the East.

We, the humble servant of God, hereby allow the consecration by the Holy Ghost of the Priest Joseph Rene Vilatte, elected for Archepiscopal dignity, Archbishop Metropolitan, in the name of Mar Thimotheus, for the church of the Mother of God in Dyckesville,Wisconsin, United States, and other churches in the Archdiocese of America, viz, the churches adhering to the Orthodox Faith, in the name of the Father, Amen, of the Son,Amen, and of the Living Holy Ghost, Amen.

We stand up before God's majesty, and, raising up our hands towards His grace, pray that the Holy Ghost may descend upon him, as He did upon the Apostles at the time of the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom they were made Patriarchs[,] Bischops [sic] and Priests, and were authorised to bind and loose, as written by St. Matthew.

We, therefore, by virtue of our authority received from God, authorise him to bind and loose, and, elevating our voice, we offer thanks to God, and exclaim, "Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison." Again, we pray to God to grant him cheer of face before His throne of majesty, and that at all times for ever and ever.

Given on the seventeenth of Conoon Kadmayo, of the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and ninety one (corresponding to twenty-ninth of December, eighteen hundred and ninety-one), from the Patriarchal Palace of the monastery of Mardin.

(Seal) IGNATIUS PETER III

(Seal) Mar DIONYSIUS,

In the Name of the Essential, eternal, Self-existing, Almighty.
A.F.X. Alvarez,
Metropolitan under Antioch.

(Seal - Mar Athanasius) (Seal - Mar Gregorius) (Seal - Alvarez/Julius I)

This is to certify that the Rev. Joseph René Vilatte was duly raised to the Order of Monkhood: and in virtue of the special authority conferred upon us on the fifteenth of Konum Kolim by the Apostolical Edict of the Most Exalted Father and Head, His Holiness Moran Mar Ignatius Peter III., Patriarch of the Apostolic See of Antioch and of all the East, the said Monk, amidst solemn Mass, Prayers, and Services, was this day consecrated by the Holy Spirit, Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of America, in the meantime the Patriarial Bull and the hands of our weaknesses being laid on his head. As commanded in His Holiness' Edict, he was entitled Mar Timotheus; and we, together with the assembled faithful, exclaimed, as is usual, "Worthy, Worthy, Worthy, our Father Timotheus of the said Diocese."

This sublime gift bestowed upon him by God, through the precious intercession of His Holiness, legally authorises him to ordain monks, priests, deacons, etc., to consecrate churches, chancels, as well as baptismal and unctial oil, and to exercise with perfect efficiency all other spiritual functions appertaining to metropolitan dignity, subject to the Patriarch of Antioch.

We entrust to his care the general epistle from the Holy See addressed to the believers of the above said Archdiocese; also we have to add that His Holiness the Patriarch is prayed and expected to speedily dispatch the station, definitely describing its authority and jurisdiction.

Church of Our Lady of Good Death, Columbo, Ceylon, twenty-ninth day of May eighteen hundred and ninety-two (29 5 1892).

/Signed/ Mar Athanasius,
Bishop of Kottayam

/Signed/ Mar Gregorius,
Bishop of Niranam

/Signed/ A.F.X. Alvarez/Julius I.,
Archbishop-Metropolitan for the Archdiocese of Ceylon, Goa and the whole of India.