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The '''Diocese of Alaska (OCA)'''—in full, the '''Russian Orthodox Diocese of Alaska'''—is a [[diocese]] of the [[Orthodox Church in America]]. It is currently under the administration of [[Bishop]] [[Benjamin (Peterson) of San Francisco]] as ''[[locum tenens]]''. Its territory includes the American state of [[Alaska]]. The diocese has, since 2007, been struggling with a crisis regarding the leadership of its [[bishop]], including allegations of abuse against both the bishop and the diocesan [[chancellor]], Archimandrite Isidore (Brittain). His Grace, the Right Reverend [[Nikolai (Soraich) of Sitka and Anchorage|Nikolai (Soraich)]], Bishop the diocesan bishop, was placed on a leave of Sitkaabsence beginning [[March 4]], Anchorage2008, which was rescinded shortly thereafter and Alaskathen reinstated on [[April 17]], 2008. Its territory includes the American state of AlaskaThe leave became voluntarily permanent in May 2008, followed by his official retirement.

==History==The territory of what is now the Diocese of [[Alaska]] was the beginning of the presence of Orthodox Christianity in the Western Hemisphere when Russian [[monk]]s arrived as [[missionary|missionaries]] to preach the [[Gospel]] of [[Jesus Christ]] to the indigenous peoples in the 1790s. This mission expanded into the formation of a series of dioceses and [[vicar]] [[see]]s that became the Archdiocese of the Aleutian Islands and North America during the first decade of the twentieth century with the territory of Alaska served by an assistant/vicar bishop. With the establishment of the diocese of the Aleutian Islands and North America, the position of an auxiliary/vicar [[bishop]] was established for Alaska, first held by Bishop Innocent (Pustynsky). When the [[Church of Russia]] granted autocephaly to the [[Metropolia]], the successor organization to the Archdiocese of the Aleutian Islands and North America, the territory of Alaska was organized as a [[diocese]] of of the new [[Orthodox Church in America]], with a diocesan bishop. ==Diocesan Councilbishops==*His Grace, Bishop Vacant 2008 - Present*[[Nikolai (Soraich) of Sitka|Nikolai(Soraich) of Sitka and Anchorage]], Chair2002-2008*Diane Chris[[Gregory (Afonsky) of Sitka]], Treasurer1973-1995*Anna Andrew, Secretary[[Theodosius (Lazor) of Washington|Theodosius (Lazor) of Sitka and Alaska (OCA)]] 1970 - 1972 ==Pre-diocesan bishops==*Theodosius (Lazor) of Sitka and Alaska 1967 - 1970*[[Amvrossy (Merejko) of Pittsburgh|Amvrossy (Merejko) of Alaska]] 1955-1967*[[John (Zlobin) of Alaska]] 1945-1952*[[Alexis (Panteleev) of Alaska]] 1934 and 1944*[[Antoninus (Pokrovsky) of Alaska]] 1931 - 1934*[[Amphilokhy (Vakulsky) of Alaska]] 1923 - 1931*Vacant 1917 - 1922*[[Philip (Stavitsky) of Alaska]] 1916 - 1917*[[Alexander (Nemolovsky) of Brussels|Alexander (Nemolovsky)]] of Sitka 1909 - 1916 *[[Innocent (Pustynsky) of Alaska]] 1904 - 1909 <!-- ==Diocesan Council==

==Metropolitan Council Representatives==*Archimandrite Isidore*Anna Andrew ==Publications==*The North Star - Quarterly Diocesan Publication->

*SSSs. Sergius and Herman of Valaam Chapel in Spruce Island, AK

*[http://www.russianorthodoxmuseum.org Russian Orthodox Museum ] in Anchorage, AK*[http://www.rossialaska.org ROSSIA Inc.] - Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska Inc.

==Publications==*[http://www.oca.org/DOC-PUB-NS.asp?SearchYear=&SID=34 The North Star] - Quarterly Diocesan Publication ==External linklinks==

[[Category:Dioceses|Alaska]]