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'''Aftimios Ofiesh''' (1880-1966, né Abdullah Aftimios Ofiesh, names sometimes spelled variously as "Oftimios," "Ofeish," or "Ofiesch") was an early 20th century Orthodox [[bishop]] in America, serving as the immediate successor to St. [[Raphael of Brooklyn]] under the auspices of the [[Church of Russia]]. He held the title ''Bishop of Brooklyn'' from 1917 until April of 1933, when he married, thus [[deposition|deposing]] himself from the episcopacy. Some will say that he He is perhaps best known in our day as being the source of numerous lines of succession of ''[[episcopi vagantes]]'' because of the acts of Ignatius Nichols "after he walked away from the Church without the required letter. Nichols was an auxiliary bishop under Abp. Aftimios. Abp. Ofiesh and led the [[American Orthodox Catholic Church]] from 1927 until his death for most of its existence. He died in 1966.   

In 1927, Aftimios was commissioned by the Russian [[diocese]] in America to form an English -speaking "[[American Orthodox Catholic Church]]," which continues today as the same Church, despite Aftimios' leadership and vision, only lasted for six years. During the early years this time, however, Aftimios consecrated three bishops for his new jurisdiction, [[Sophronios (Beshara) of Los Angeles]], [[Joseph (Zuk) of New Jersey|Joseph (Zuk)]] for the Ukrainians[http://www.apostle1.com/aoc-history1.htm], and [[Ignatius (Nichols) of Washington|Ignatius (William Albert) Nichols]] in September of 1932 as his auxiliary bishop of Washington.[http://theocacna.org/ignatius.htm] Additionally, in 1931 the [[Society of Clerks Secular of St. Basil]], a [[Western Rite]] group, was established under the auspices of this dioceseand subsequently led by Nichols.[http://www.geocities.com/theocacnainc/ssb.htm] 

Reports vary at this point as to what happened regarding Aftimios' episcopacy. According to the parish records of St. Mary's, he "was retired" and lived in nearby Kingston until his death in 1966. With the withdrawal of support for the American Orthodox Catholic Church, it continud to be ignored by the other orthodox jurisdictions. According to the book ''Orthodox Christians in North America (1794-1994)'', however, Aftimios "resigned his episcopacy and married."[http://www.oca.org/MVorthchristiansnamerica.asp?SID=1&Chap=CH5] One of the groups which now traces itself to Aftimios characterizes the situation differently: "We are now not under our own and do not have a patriarch as head of this Church since the ethnic patriarchal orthodox bodies all turned their backs on this Church and use the marriage of Abp. Aftimios as the excuse for their actions. They fail to explain why theyreason, although most had already refused to recognize this Church and its authority in the New World for the 6 years prior to the marriage. "[http://www.theocacna.org/whoweare.htm]

Whatever the case, relations between the small jurisdiction created by Aftimios and the mainstream Orthodox Church were not regularized before or after following his marriage. Since he was no called before a tribunal all claims of aand ''de facto'' deposition from the episcopacy or any related "punishment" as groundless. 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),contrary to the canons and many in the independent movement 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. The , as well, which is a continual stumbling block to their unity with the mainstream Church is their questionable lines, as well as the fact 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. He was declared a Martyr by the Synod of his Church.

years=1927-19661933|after=[[Sophronios (Beshara) of Los Angeles|Sophronios (Beshara)]]}}

===Groups claiming  succession from Aftimios Ofiesh===

*[http://www.geocities.com/theocacna/ American Orthodox Catholic Church], a.k.a. "The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America (THEOCACNA) "American Orthodox Patriarchate" (other websites: [http://www.theocacna.org/ theocacna.org],[http://www.theocacna.us/ theocacna.us])by the North American Holy Synod. This is the original 1927 Church that Abp. Ofiesh incorporated in 1928.