Calvin Robinson has landed – again – this time with the Orthodox

Orthodox offshoot gives him simplex priestly faculties

By Mary Ann Mueller

VOL Special Correspondent

www.virtueonline.org

May 17, 2025

Within a day of losing the Reformed Episcopal Church’s permission to minister under its episcopal covering, Calvin Robinson was offered safe haven by the Old Dominion Eparchy in Florida. Just in time for his Sunday service.

On May 15 Robinson was presented with a Certificate of Incardination signed and dated by Bishop Nectarios Victory, Auxiliary Bishop of the Western Rite of the Old Dominion Eparchy in the Diocese of Florida.

He has apparently been accepted as a simplex priest, meaning he does not have full priestly faculties to exercise his ministry. The Capuchin Solanus Casey was a noted simplex Catholic priest who is headed to sainthood.

The Certificate of Incardination states that by this act you are authorized to: (1) Represent the Orthodox Church faithfully and in union with the tradition of the Fathers; (2) Baptize the faithful in the Holy and Undivided Trinity; (3) Celebrate the Holy Eucharist, offering the Sacrifice of the Altar for the people of God in your care; (4) Join in Holy Matrimony those who are properly prepared and known to you as genuinely united in Christian love; (5) Anoint the sick, bringing comfort of Christ's healing mercy; and (6) Bury the faithful departed, commending them to the Lord in the hope of Resurrection through the Rites of Christian burial.

In the list of authorizations there is no mention of preaching the Gospel nor pronouncing absolution through Confession.

A simplex priest does not have the authority to preach or hear confessions usually because he doesn't have the required seminary education.

Calvin Robinson does not have a classic seminary education. He has a degree in computer games design and programming from the University of Westminster, then while initially pursuing ordination in the Church of England, he studied two years at St. Stephen’s House at Oxford. 

St. Stephen's offers two 2-year courses of theological studies leading to a certificate diploma in theology but not an earned theological degree. The two diploma courses are: Common Awards Diploma in Theology, Ministry and Mission which is designed for two-year candidates who do not hold a degree in theology; and the University of Oxford Postgraduate Diploma in Theology and Religion, which is designed for those who have an earned degree in a subject other than theology, and for whom an intensive academic theological programme is particularly suitable.

It is also very difficult to determine what branch of Orthodoxy the Eparchy of the Old Dominion actually is. The Orthodox are a very fragmented part of the universal Church.

An Internet search defines the Old Dominion Eparchy as referring to “the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, specifically the Greek Orthodox Church in the United States. While the terms ‘Old Dominion’ and ‘Eparchy’ are not directly related, they are used together to describe a specific portion of the Eastern Orthodox Church in the United States.”

The Old Dominion Eparchy website does not reveal a physical location for its chancellery offices, nor contact telephone number, but it has available only a fill-in email contact form.

However, digging into legal documents shows that “The Eparchy of the Old Dominion is a recognized 501c3 Church by the Internal Revenue Service, (IRS) of the U.S. Government. It is incorporated in the State of Nebraska.”

It also has listed three provinces – Eastern, Central, and Western USA – containing the dioceses of Leesburg (Virginia), Norwich (Connecticut), and Florida.

“The Eparchy of the Old Dominion is an integral part of The Holy Synod of the Americas,” it explains on its website. “His Eminence, The Eparch of the Old Dominion, Archbishop +Seraphim is a member of the Holy Synod.”

The Holy Synod of the Americans is described as a canonical synod of Orthodox bishops formed on July 6, 2012 when five unspecified Orthodox bishops entered into communion with each other to form The Holy Synod of the Americas which geographically encompasses the Western Hemisphere.

The Old Dominion Eparchy is a part of that Western Hemisphere Orthodox communion.

The stated purpose of the Holy Synod is to “develop Western Rite Orthodoxy in the Americas.”

The next question is who exactly is Bishop Nectarios Victory who granted a Certificate of Incardination to Calvin Robinson? He turns out to be Steve Victory, who identifies himself as the senior pastor at Epiphany Celebration Anglican Church in Eustis, Florida.

However, his credentials seem to be on shaky ground because in February of this year the Orthodox Anglican Church announced the “Removal of Priestly Faculties of Fr. Steve Victory.”

Bishop Nectarios has done a little church hopping himself. He’s been part of the United Episcopal Church of North America (UECNA) and the Anglican Province of Christ the King (APCK) before hopping into the Orthodox Anglican Church (OAC).

From 2011-2013 he was rector at the Anglican Church of Saint Charles, King and Martyr (APCK) in Huntsville Alabama. He has been rector at Epiphany since 2018.

Steve Victory is also listed as the representative for the Orthodox Anglican Church with the Department of Defense for the Armed Forces Chaplains Board. Bishopette Ann Ritonia is listed for the Episcopal Church; and Bishop Derek Jones is listed for ACNA.

In issuing the Certificate of Incardination to Calvin Robinson Bishop Steve Victory said on Facebook: “Calvin Robinson, I support your ministry. Rest easy in the Western-Rite. Continue the Latin Mass.”

Emma Kenworthy posted: “Steve Victory is balm to the soul – after seeing the distasteful, shocking words of those who have dismissed Calvin Robinson.”

Chris Jones questioned the size of Bishop Victory's jurisdiction: “Steve Victory this looks like one of those denominations that has exactly 3 people in it.”

The bishop replied: “Looks can be deceiving. [In] Formal discussions and filial relationship with the EP (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople). Full communion should happen soon. In other words, please keep your comments to yourself when they have nothing to do with the topic at hand. Our brother, Fr. Calvin Robinson is going through a hard enough time without us adding snark to an already delicate situation. You should focus your comments on supporting him.”

With connecting with the Orthodox Calvin Robinson has made his sixth denominational move: (1) The Church of England; (2) The Free Church of England; (3) the Nordic Catholic Church (4) the Anglican Catholic Church (5) the Reformed Episcopal Church/ACNA; and (6) the Old Dominion Eparchy - Orthodox.

Mary Ann Mueller is a journalist living in Texas. She is a regular contributor to VirtueOnline.