<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>ex23.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
<TEXT>

                                                                      Exhibit 23


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
                       ----------------------------------


We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in  the  Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (No. 2-80883) of Old Republic International Corporation of
our report dated April 11, 2003 relating to the financial  statements of the Old
Republic  International  Corporation Employees Savings and Stock Ownership Plan,
which appears in this Form 11-K (as filed on Form 10-K/A).


                                                 /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP


April 30, 2003
Chicago, Illinois

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>