Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Persenburg

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Persenburg (Latin: Archidioecesis Persenburgensis) is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Karnia-Ruthenia and directly subject to the Holy See, not part of any ecclesiastical province. Erected as the de jure Archdiocese of Persenburg on 28 April 2017, the archepiscopal see resides in the cathedral of St. Stephen in Persenburg. The Archbishopric is considered sede vacante, destined to the Catholic Church so that, in the advent of an independence, it would be assumed by the Church of Rome and represents the faith of the Ruthenian people. The current de jure bishop and inaugural holder is Joseph of Assis, appointed in 2017. The archdiocese's mother church and thus seat of its archbishop is the Cathedral of Saint Stephen King of Hungary, the patron saint of both Hungary and Karnia-Ruthenia, also a saint venerated by the Imperial Family.

History
Previously, Persenburg was subject of the Archdiocese of São Paulo, erected by Pope Benedict XIV on 6 December 1745, on vast territory split off from the then Diocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro. On 1939, the parish of Saint Stephen King of Hungary, the first Hungarian church of South Hemisphere was erected and was inserted in the ecclesiastical region of Lapa, in the episcopal region of Leopoldina. On 28 April 2017, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Persenburg was proclaimed by Oscar I and established as sede vacante immediately udner the auspices of the Holy See in order to, in the advent of an independence, to be assumed by the Catholic Church and represent the faith of the people of the Empire. The inaugural holder is Joseph of Assis, appointed in 2017.

Parish
There are only one parish church, the Saint Stephen King of Hungary Church, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Stephen King of Hungary. The church has its last restoration from 2017 until 2018, with its facades and interior renovated for its Eighty Years Celebration on 2019. It is the largest church and the tallest building in Persenburg, and the first event of the Imperial Court there was the baptism of Hereditary Prince Allan of Mortenfeudt in 2017.

Patrons
The principal patron of the Archdiocese is King Saint Stephen of Hungary, also a patron of Hungary, the Empire and the Imperial Family. Additional patron is Saint Rita of Cascia.

Military Ordinariate
On 28 March 2019, Oscar I created the office of the Apostolic Field Vicar of the Imperial and Royal Armed Forces of Karnia-Ruthenia, a post to be held by the Archbishop of Persenburg. The Episcopal seat is located at the Cathedral of St. Stephen King of Hungary in Persenburg, Karnia-Ruthenia. It was founded on the same ground of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Persenburg, to be a 'de jure' military ordinariate, considered sede vacante, destined to the Catholic Church to, in the advent of independence, be assumed by the Church of Rome. The Apostolic Field Vicar was a post created to have its holder appointed by the Emperor-King and confirmed by the Holy See. He is entitled to spiritual jurisdiction over the Imperial and Royal Armed Forces during times of war and peacetime.