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==Biography==
Metropolitan Herman [nee Joseph Swaiko] was born on [[February 1]], 1932, in Bairdford, Pennsylvania. He completed his primary and secondary education in the West Deer Township school system and enrolled in Robert Morris University. There, from which he graduated with an associate's degree in secretarial science. He subsequently served as company clerk in the Adjutant General's Corps of the United States Army, stationed in Labrador.
After his discharge from the army in 1959, he enrolled at [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)|Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary]], and graduated with a Diploma in 1963. In March 1964, he was [[ordination|ordained]] as a [[deacon]], and in April 1964 was ordained a [[priest]]. Subsequently, he served on the seminary's administrative staff and was an instructor of Church Slavonic. He also served as [[rector]] of churches in Dundaff and Union Dale, PA.
Herman was [[tonsure]]d as a [[monk]] on [[December 4]], 1970, and received the name Herman (in recognition of [[Herman of Alaska]], the first saint of the OCA). On [[October 17]], 1971, Herman was elevated to the rank of [[Igumen]] and was named Deputy [[Abbot]] of [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Monastery (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)|St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Orthodox Monastery]]. In October 1972, he was elected to the [[episcopate]] and was elevated to the rank of [[archimandrite]]. He was consecrated to the episcopacy on [[February 10]], 1973, as Bishop of Wilkes-Barre.
===Retirement===
The final years of Metr. Herman's tenure were marred by racked with financial and other scandals. In the autumn of 2005, the OCA administration was publicly accused of financial misconduct by its former treasurer, Protodeacon Eric Wheeler. On September 3, 2008, the Special Investigative Committee of the OCA released its 32 page report on this scandal. The report was presented to the Holy Synod and Metropolitan Council. The report "held the whole OCA administrative structure responsible for failure". It also recommended "discipline" for 5 individuals. Among them are the former Metropolitan Theodosius and the Metropolitan Herman. It recommended that the Metropolitan Herman resign, retire or be defrocked. Shortly before public release of the document, Metropolitan Herman requested medical leave of absence for nine months. The Metropolitan Council requested that the Holy Synod deny the Metropolitan's request for a leave of absence. On September 4, 2008 Metropolitan Herman voluntarily retired from his position as Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America.
A subsequent formal investigation, chaired by Bishop Nikon (Liolin) of Boston, examined St. Tikhon's Monastery, Seminary, and Bookstore, all of which were presided over by Met. Herman as bishop of Eastern Pennsylvania for several decades. Formally A 66 page report formally released to the public in March, 2010, it concluded that "Metropolitan Herman’s failure to properly exercise his fiduciary duty in supervising activities over which he had sole control led to the loss of or unaccountability for thousands of dollars of monastery money." The investigative committee recommended Met. Herman's removal from the vicinity of St. Tikhon's Monastery and Seminary: "Considering the great amount of monastery debt, the loss of thousands for dollars of monastery money through improper supervision... and the high loss of morale from these actions, the committee believes that Metropolitan Herman’s continued presence at the St. Tikhon’s complex is detrimental to the St. Tikhon’s community.”
