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His Holiness Bishop Rutherford I Ralphovich Johnson-Roma-Rus' is the Bishop, Papa-Catholicos, and Imperator of Rome-Ruthenia, Supreme Pontiff of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church. He is an accomplished leader, educator, and clergyman with more than a quarter-century of international diplomatic and executive experience. Bishop Rutherford focuses on empowering others to build transformational collaborations while improving the quality of lives. By his office, the Bishop is the ceremonial head of the Pontifical Walsingham Guard. He is 266th in succession from St. Peter the Apostle as Prince of the Romans, 74th Grand Duke and titular Korol of Ruthenia, 142nd in Gallican-Antioch succession from St. Peter, 169th in Greco-Russian succession from St. Andrew the First-Called, 145th in Armenian succession from Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew, and 116th in Syrian-Antioch succession from St. Thomas the Apostle. Although he neither controls nor seeks to control political territory, the Church he leads is a sovereign state unto itself. The P.I. Household is the ecclesiastical heir to the Russian House of Rurikovich and its branch of Romanovich, and the Spanish-Italian House of Ivrea. 



Bishop Rutherford I as a child in the courtyard of
the Church of the Annunciation in Nazarath.


At the Armenian altar in the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem.


Bishop Rutherford during a winter ascent of Mt. Washington

Bishop Rutherford was an equestrian combined trainer and
also a founding member of the Georgia Tech Equestrian Club and Team.

  As a seasoned chief executive and compassionate clergyman, His Holiness is noted for his positive, metric-driven, people-centered approach that leads teams to exceed expectations, and for his unique personal ability to build donor relationships. For example, he regularly builds, mentors, and leads teams that provide invited expert policy advice to the United Nations General Assembly and Economic and Social Council regarding some of the most pressing humanitarian, economic, sustainability, and social issues the world faces today. Being a representative of an ancient ethnic-religious dynasty, he has also written and spoken extensively about the history of his church and family heritage. He also served as an Observer at a G20 Summit.



As Bishop of an ancient apostolic church and traditional culture, Rutherford leads many Christians around the world. His influence goes beyond just the United Roman-Ruthenian Church, reaching individuals across denominational lines.  


  Throughout his service to others, Bishop Rutherford continues to prioritize authentic diversity, equity, and inclusion, fostering a sense of belonging for everyone. Characteristically versatile, he is experienced in government, diplomatic, and academic settings, turning challenges into opportunities.



With Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, Vatican Prefect
of the Dicastery for the Clergy, then Bishop of Daejeon


Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Col. John Endicott,
Bishop Rutherford, and Ambassador Kelly


With the Bishop of Lexington (later Bishop of Harrisburg)


With U.S. President George H.W. Bush.
Bishop Rutherford's office remains steadfastly non-politically affiliated while actively engaging with political leaders in the spirit of charity as part of the Church's diplomacy to promote positive change in society. 


With the Argentinean Ambassador (above) and
South African Ambassador (below)


With former South Korean Prime Minister
Lee Hyun Jae


At the G20 Seoul Summit, 2010


  Bishop Rutherford’s approach adapts to the circumstances and needs of the organization and others to achieve maximum team effectiveness and optimal benefit to stakeholders. His leadership has brought several organizations to global prominence. As an educator, he works to bring the best out of his students, preparing them for success beyond the classroom.



The United Roman-Ruthenian Church serves people around the world,
regardless of race, nationality, or religious affiliation.



With Turkish riot police at Ankara University, Turkey.


Cultural exchange in Inner Mongolia.


Left: Bishop Rutherford, television reporter Dan Rather,  and Daniel Bennett, President of the Explorers Club, New York.
Right: With James Fowler, of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom


Bishop Rutherford with Fred Rogers on the set of
"Mr. Rogers Neighborhood" at WQED television station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

   Bishop Rutherford is also a behavioural scientist, specialising in behavioural and psychological economics. His diverse training and education includes degrees from Harvard University Extension School, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, as well as from Pontifical Georgian College, the principal seminary of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church. Having lived and worked around the world, he maintains a global outlook and a human focus.



  A popular international speaker, consultant, and author, His Holiness’s academic research interests include environmental and social sustainability, behavioral economics, and the economics of culture and religion. Bishop Rutherford is a retired high-altitude alpine mountaineer and is a qualified mariner with additional certifications in navigation and maritime search and rescue. H.H. is married to Hanna Alexandrovna.   



Bishop Rutherford, then as a younger layman, with the Right Reverend Bishop James Pollard Clark,
who started him in priestly formation. Bishop Clark was a graduate of Yale University
and the University of the South. His diverse international group of friends and acquaintances
included Franz, Duke of Bavaria, Empress Zita of Austria-Hungary, and
Archduke Otto, Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary.


Some principal Apostolic predecessors of Bishop Rutherford.
Top L-R: Archbishop Aftimios (Russian Orthodox), Mar Julius (Syrian-Malankara Orthodox),
Patriarch Mar Ignatius Peter III of Antioch, Metropolitan Alexander I (African Orthodox Church)
Centre L-R: Bishop Edwin Caudill (Anglican Diocese of the Southwest),
Mar Athanasius (Greek Melkite Catholic Church), Archbishop Carfora (Old Roman Catholic Church),
Cardinal Barberini (Roman Catholic Church).
Bottom L-R: Patriarch Sergei of Moscow (Russian Orthodox),
Metropolitan Makariy of Moscow (Russian Orthodox), Mar Antonius Joseph I (Melkite Catholic),
Cardinal Cardinal Arcoverde de   Albuquerque-Calvacanti,
Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Roman Catholic Church).


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Ecclesiastical Titles of the Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia


Bishop Rutherford I and Hanna Alexandrovna


Equestrian, High-altitude mountaineering, and Sailing


STATO PONTIFICIO IMPERIALE DI ROMA-RUTENIA
UNITED ROMAN-RUTHENIAN CHURCH


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