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His Eminence, the Most Reverend Metropolitan '''Nicholas (Smisko)of Amissos''' is was the Metropolitan ruling bishop of the [[American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese]] (ACROD) as a [[titular bishop|titular]] [[metropolitan]] of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]]. Metropolitan Nicholas is He reposed on the titular metropolitan [[Sunday of AmissosOrthodoxy]], [[March 13]], 2011.

==MetropolitanLife==His Eminence Metr. Nicholas was born Richard Smisko on [[February 23]], 1936and was raised in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. After completing his secondary schooling, he attended Youngstown State University and was elected to be a [[bishop]] of the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America]] by Holy and Sacred Synod University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown before studying at Christ the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He was consecrated on March 13, 1983 Savior Seminary in St. Mary's Church, AllentownJohnstown, Pennsylvania. The consecration service was preformed by [[Iakovos (Coucouzis) of America|Archbishop Iakovos]] of He continued his theological studies at the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]], Metropolitan [[Andrew (Kuschak) of Evkarpia]] of the UOC of America, Bishop John (Martin) of Nyssa of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese, and Bishop Philotheos of MeloaPatriarchal Theological Seminary in Istanbul.

On September 30, 1984, Bishop John (Martin) died unexpectedly and ACROD His service as an Orthodox [[clergy]]man began in the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA|Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America]] where he rose to the hierarchy. He was without elected a diocesan [[bishop. In 1985, ]] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America by the Holy and Sacred [[Synod ]] of the [[Ecumenical Patriarch elected His GracePatriarchate]]. He was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] on March 13, 1983, in St. Mary's Church, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Bishop Nicholas as Ruling Bishop titular bishop of ACRODAmissos. His Grace was enthroned on April 19 he was enthroned by The consecrating hierarchs were [[Iakovos (Coucouzis) of America|Archbishop Iakovos]] of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]], Metr. Andrew (Kuschak) of Evkarpia of the UOC of America, at Christ Bp. John (Martin) of Nyssa of the Saviour Cathedral in JohnstownACROD, and Bp. Philotheos of Meloa.

In 1997 he Following the sudden death of Bp. [[John (Martin) of Nyssa|John Martin]] on [[September 30]], 1984, the administrator of the [[diocese]], mitred [[priest]] Fr. Peter E. Molchany, and the diocesan board of trustees convened a Special Council-Sobor to nominate a candidate for [[ruling bishop]] of the diocese. At the Special Council, held on [[November 26]], 1984, Bp. Nicholas of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America was elected Metropolitan by nominated as their candidate to be the bishop of the [[diocese]]. After receiving his nomination, the [[Holy and Sacred Synod ]] of the Ecumenical Patriarchateelected Bp. Nicholas as Ruling Bishop of ACROD on [[March 20]], 1985.

He was [[Enthronement|enthroned]] on [[April 19]], 1985 by Abp. Iakovos of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]] at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. In 1997, he was elevated to [[metropolitan]] by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. During his episcopacy, Metr. Nicholas has been active in relationships with other Orthodox jurisdictions and in particular with the brethren in the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]], the homelands of many Carpatho-Russians in the United States. He revamped the diocesan [[Christ the Saviour Seminary (Johnstown, Pennsylvania)|seminary]], encouraged starting new [[parish]]es, and publication of services books containing music in Carpatho-Russian plain chant.  Metr. Nicholas reposed on March 13, 2011 after waging a courageous battle with cancer. After a funeral service at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Johnstown, Pennsylvania on [[March 16]], he was buried in the cemetery of St. John [[parish]] in Perth Amboy, New Jersey on [[March 21]], 2001.  {{start box}}{{succession|before=?|title=Bishop of Amissos|years=1983-2011|after=—}}{{succession|before=[[John (Martin) of Nyssa|John (Martin)]]|title=Primate of [[ACROD]]|years=1985-2011|after=[[Gregory (Tatsis) of Nyssa|Gregory (Tatsis)]]}}{{end box}} ==Source==*[http://www2.sharonherald.com/localnews/recentnews/0104/ln042101h.html Carpatho-Russian churchman talks to Christian Associates]  ==External Linklink==*[http://www.acrod.org/mnmetropolitan/ACROD Memorial site]