Whatever the case, relations between the small jurisdiction created by Aftimios and the mainstream Orthodox Church were not regularized following his marriage and ''de facto'' deposition from the episcopacy. Since that time, numerous and still multiplying lines of succession of ''[[episcopi vagantes]]'' continue to persist which all trace their roots to Aftimios (mainly through Ignatius Nichols), many of whom regard him as a [[saint]].[http://www.romanorthodox.com/sanctuary/staftimios.html][http://www.byzantinecatholicchurch.org/saintoftimios.html] Some of those bishops are married men, as well, which is a continual stumbling block to their unity with the mainstream Church, which has for centuries maintained a celibate episcopacy.

Following his death in 1966 at age 85, Aftimios was buried in Maple Hill Cemetery across from St. Mary's Orthodox Cemetery in Wilkes-Barre. His widow Mariam subsequently wrote his biography, published in 1999.