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On [[November 12]], 2008, after financial scandals, the OCA's All-American Council and Holy Synod elected [[auxiliary bishop]] [[Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington and New York|Jonah (Paffhausen)]] as its new metropolitan. He was formally installed on [[December 28]], 2008 at the primate's [[cathedral]] St. [[St. Nicholas Cathedral (Washington, D.C.)|Nicholas Cathedral]] in Washington, D.C..
In The OCA today consists of 14 dioceses on the territory of Canada, the United States, there are 12 dioceses and Mexico with 623 parishes, missions, and institutions (456 of which are parishes). The ethnic Of the dioceses extend into Canada, which also has one 3 are non-territorially organized along ethnic archdioceselines. Altogether there are 91 Canadian parishes. The OCA has a Mexican Exarchate with nine parishes and missions, and there are five parishes in South America. In addition, there are two These [[Parishes in Australia (OCA)Ethnic diocese|parishes in Australiaethnic dioceses]] under include communities in both the OCA's canonical protection, one in Queensland United States and one in New South WalesCanada.
Since November In September of 20052008, when after the release of a list of accusations were brought forward scathing report by Protodeacon Eric Wheeleran official investigative committee, the former treasurer of the OCAprimate, its administration has been the subject of allegations of financial misconductMetr. Internal investigations, audits, and other actions have since then been enacted in an attempt to address the allegations, including the firing and [[depositionTheodosius (Lazor) of Washington|Theodosius (Lazor)]] of the OCA chancellor, the former Protopresbyter [[Robert S. Kondratick]]. The was disciplined[http://www.ocanewsoca.org/ OCA Newsnews/1631] website, a privately operated site with no connection to the administration, has been publishing reports and editorials on the scandal since January of 2006then current primate, including allegations of division within the OCA's holy synodMetr. In August 2007, the [[Diocese Herman (Swaiko) of the Midwest Washington and New York|Herman (OCASwaiko)|Diocese of the Midwest]], which contributes to was retired by the OCA more funds than any other OCA diocese, began withholding its assessments to the central administrationHoly Synod.[http://www.midwestdioceseoca.org/news_070814_1.htmlnews/1632]
In September of On [[November 12]], 2008, after financial scandals, the release OCA's All-American Council and Holy Synod elected [[auxiliary bishop]] [[Jonah (Paffhausen) of a scathing report by an official investigative committeeWashington and New York|Jonah (Paffhausen)]] as its new metropolitan. He was formally installed on [[December 28]], 2008 at the former primate's [[cathedral]] St. [[St. Nicholas Cathedral (Washington, MetrD.C.)|Nicholas Cathedral]] in Washington, D.C.. On [[November 13]], 2012, the OCA's current [[Theodosius primate]], the Most Blessed [[Tikhon (LazorMollard) of Washington|Theodosius Tikhon (LazorMollard)]], was disciplinedelected at the 17th [http://www[All-American Council]].oca.org/news/1631 ===Diocesan structure===*[[Diocese of Alaska (OCA)|Diocese of Alaska]]*[[Albanian Archdiocese (OCA)|Albanian Archdiocese]]*[[Bulgarian Diocese (OCA)|Bulgarian Diocese]]*[[Archdiocese of Canada (OCA)|Archdiocese of Canada]]*[[Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania (OCA)|Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania]]*[[Diocese of Mexico (OCA)|Diocese of Mexico]] and *[[Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|Diocese of the current primate, Metr. Midwest]]*[[Herman Diocese of New England (SwaikoOCA) |Diocese of New England]]*[[Diocese of Washington New York and New Jersey (OCA)|Diocese of New Yorkand New Jersey]]*[[Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (OCA)|Herman Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America]]*[[Diocese of the South (SwaikoOCA)|Diocese of the South]] was retired by the Holy Synod.*[[http://wwwDiocese of Washington (OCA)|Archdiocese of Washington, D.ocaC.org/news/1632]]*[[Diocese of the West (OCA)|Diocese of the West]]*[[Diocese of Western Pennsylvania (OCA)|Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania]]
* Right Reverend [[Seraphim (Sigrist) of Sendai|Seraphim (Sigrist)]], Bishop of Sendai and Eastern Japan
bishops
The '''Orthodox Church in America''' (OCA) is an [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] church with parishes mainly in the United States and Canada (though it has some had a few parishes in Australia and elsewhere). The OCA was formerly known as the '''Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in America''', or more informally, the '''Metropolia'''. Previous to that, it was the North American Diocese of the [[Church of Russia]]. The OCA's autocephaly is not currently recognized by most of the other autocephalous Orthodox churches.
{{church|
independence=1970 ("temporary self-government" in 1924)|
recognition=1970 by [[Church of Russia]] |
primate=[[Jonah Tikhon (PaffhausenMollard) of Washington|Jonah Tikhon (PaffhausenMollard)]]|
hq=[[Chancery office of the Orthodox Church in America|Syosset, New York]]|
territory=United States and Canada|
possessions=USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia|
language=English, [[Church Slavonic]], Spanish|
music=[[Russian Chant]], [[Byzantine Chant]] (in some ethnic dioceses)|
== The OCA today ==
[[Image:OCA chancery.jpg|right|350px|thumb|[[Chancery office of the Orthodox Church in America|The OCA chancery, Oyster Bay Cove (Syosset), New York]]]]
There are three ethnically defined dioceses in the OCA: the The Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Boston (13 parishes<small>[http://oca.org/DIRlists.parish.diocese.asp?diocese=OCA-AL&x=24&y=12&SID=9&CLASS=P&TYPE=DIOCESE]</small>), the Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese of Toledo (20 parishes21 communities<small>[http://ocawww.bdoca.org/DIRlistsParishes.parish.diocese.asp?diocese=OCA-BU&x=24&y=13&SID=9&CLASS=P&TYPE=DIOCESEhtml]</small>) , and the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate in America (102 parishes100 communities<small>[http://ocawww.roea.org/DIRlists.parishdirectories.diocese.asp?diocese=OCA-RO&x=31&y=15&SID=9&CLASS=P&TYPE=DIOCESEhtml]</small>). These dioceses' geographic territory overlaps with the other dioceses of the OCA and they have under their care parishes with those ethnic associations, although all are home to multiethnic parishes and the Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese also includes Romanian-language communities. These dioceses are the result of smaller ethnic [[jurisdiction]]s joining the OCA at some point in its history, usually after having broken from other bodiesdue to the politics of the Cold War era.
The OCA also has 28 monastic communities<small>[http://oca.org/DIRmonastics.asp?SID=9]</small>, six of which fall under the direct jurisdiction of the Metropolitan (i.e., are [[stavropigial]]). The largest of these monasteries are [[New Skete (Cambridge, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Monastery (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]].
There are three [[seminary|seminaries]] operated by the OCA: [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)|St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary]] (founded 1937), [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary]] (founded 1938), and [[St. Herman's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Kodiak, Alaska)|St. Herman's Orthodox Theological Seminary]] (founded 1973). All three educate seminarians from multiple Orthodox jurisdictions, including those outside North America.
The OCA is a member of the [[Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America]] that has superseded the [[Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas]] (SCOBA). Since November of 2005, when a list of accusations were brought forward by Protodeacon Eric Wheeler, the former treasurer of the OCA, its administration has been the subject of allegations of financial misconduct. Internal investigations, audits, and other actions have since then been enacted in an attempt to address the allegations, including the firing and [[deposition]] of the OCA [[chancellor]], the former Protopresbyter [[Robert S. Kondratick]]. The [http://www.ocanews.org/ OCA News] website, a privately operated site with no connection to the administration, has been publishing reports and editorials on the scandal since January of 2006, including allegations of division within the OCA's holy synod. In August 2007, the [[Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|Diocese of the Midwest]], which contributes to the OCA more funds than any other OCA diocese, began withholding its assessments to the central administration.[http://www.midwestdiocese.org/news_070814_1.html]
===Growth and membership figures===
==Episcopacy==
===Diocesan bishops===
* Most Blessed [[Jonah Tikhon (PaffhausenMollard) of Washington|Jonah Tikhon (PaffhausenMollard)]], Archbishop of [[Diocese of Washington (OCA)|Washington]], Metropolitan of All America and Canada, ''Locum Tenens'' of the [[Bulgarian Diocese (OCA)|Bulgarian Diocese]], ''Locum Tenens'' of the Diocese of the [[Diocese of the South Midwest (OCA)|South]], ''Locum Tenens'' of the Diocese of [[Diocese of New York and New Jersey (OCA)|New York and New JerseyMidwest]].* Most Reverend [[Nathaniel (Popp) of Detroit|Nathaniel (Popp)]], Archbishop of Detroit and the [[Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (OCA)|Romanian Episcopate]]* Most Reverend [[Job (Osacky) of Chicago|Job (Osacky)]], Archbishop of Chicago and the [[Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|Midwest]]* Most Reverend [[Seraphim (Storheim) of Ottawa|Seraphim (Storheim)]], Archbishop of Ottawa and [[Archdiocese of Canada (OCA)|Canada]]. * Right Reverend [[Nikon (Liolin) of Boston|Nikon (Liolin)]], Bishop of Boston, [[Diocese of New England (OCA)|New England]] and the [[Albanian Archdiocese (OCA)|Albanian Archdiocese]]* Right Reverend [[Tikhon (Mollard) , ''Locum Tenens'' of Philadelphia|Tikhon (Mollard)]], Bishop the Diocese of Philadelphia and the [[Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania the South (OCA)|Eastern PennsylvaniaSouth]]
* Right Reverend [[Benjamin (Peterson) of San Francisco|Benjamin (Peterson)]], Bishop of San Francisco and the [[Diocese of the West (OCA)|Diocese of the West]], ''Locum Tenens'' of the Diocese of [[Diocese of Alaska (OCA)|Alaska]]
* Right Reverend [[Alejo (Pacheco y Vera) of Mexico City|Alejo (Pacheco-Vera)]], Bishop of Mexico City and [[Exarchate of Mexico (OCA)|Exarch of Mexico]]
* Right Reverend [[Melchizedek Melchisedek (Pleska) of Pittsburgh|Melchizedek Melchisedek (Pleska)]], Bishop of Pittsburgh and [[Diocese of Western Pennsylvania (OCA)|Western Pennsylvania]], ''Locum Tenens'' of the Diocese of [[Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania (OCA)|Eastern Pennsylvania]].* Right Reverend [[Michael (Dahulich) of New York|Michael (Dahulich)]], Bishop of [[Diocese of New York and New Jersey (OCA)|New York, and New Jersey]].* Right Reverend [[Matthias (Moriak) of Chicago|Matthias (Moriak)]], Bishop of Chicago and the [[Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|Midwest]] (on Leave of Absence)* Right Reverend [[Alexander (Golitzin)]], Bishop of Toledo and the [[Bulgarian Diocese (OCA)|Bulgarian Diocese]].
===Auxiliary bishops===
* Right Reverend [[Irineu (Duvlea) of Dearborn Heights|Irineu (Duvlea)]], Bishop of Dearborn Heights and Auxiliary to Archbishop [[Nathaniel (Popp) of Detroit|Nathaniel of Detroit]].* ''Archimandrite Right Reverend [[Mark (Maymon) of Baltimore|Mark (Maymon)]], Bishop of Baltimore, Administrator of the [[Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania (OCA)|Diocese Eastern Pennsylvania]], Synodal Liaison for Departments and Commissions of the Orthodox Church in America.* Right Reverend [[Irénée (Rochon)|Irénée (Rochon)]], Bishop-elect of Quebéc City and Auxiliary to Archbishop [[Seraphim (Storheim) , Administrator of the Archdiocese of Ottawa]]''Canada.
===Retired bishops===
* Most Blessed [[Herman (Swaiko) of Washington and New York|Herman (Swaiko)]], Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada
* Most Blessed [[Theodosius (Lazor) of Washington|Theodosius (Lazor)]], Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada
* Most Reverend Blessed [[Dmitri Jonah (RoysterPaffhausen) of DallasWashington|Dmitri Jonah (RoysterPaffhausen)]], former Archbishop of Dallas and the [[Diocese of the South Washington (OCA)|SouthWashington]], Metropolitan of All America and Canada
* Most Reverend [[Lazar (Puhalo) of Ottawa|Lazar (Puhalo)]], Archbishop of Ottawa
* Most Reverend [[Seraphim (Storheim) of Ottawa|Seraphim (Storheim)]], Archbishop of Ottawa and [[Archdiocese of Canada (OCA)|Canada]]
* Right Reverend [[Seraphim (Sigrist) of Sendai|Seraphim (Sigrist)]], Bishop of Sendai and Eastern Japan
* Right Reverend [[Mark (Forsberg) of Boston|Mark (Forsberg)]], Bishop of Boston
* Right Reverend [[Tikhon (Fitzgerald) of San Francisco and Los Angeles|Tikhon (Fitzgerald)]], Bishop of San Francisco, Los Angeles and the [[Diocese of the West (OCA)|Diocese of the West]]
* Right Reverend [[Varlaam (Novakshonoff) of Vancouver|Varlaam (Novakshonoff)]], Bishop of Vancouver
* Right Reverend [[Nikolai (Soraich) of Sitka|Nikolai (Soraich)]], Bishop of Sitka and [[Diocese of Alaska (OCA)|Alaska]]
===Reposed bishops===
* Most Reverend [[Kyrill (Yonchev) of Pittsburgh|Kyrill (Yonchev)]], Archbishop of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania and the [[Bulgarian Diocese (OCA)|Bulgarian Diocese]]
* Most Reverend [[Peter (L'Huillier) of New York|Peter (L'Huillier)]], Archbishop of New York and New Jersey
* Most Reverend [[Dmitri (Royster) of Dallas|Dmitri (Royster)]], Archbishop of Dallas and the [[Diocese of the South (OCA)|South]]
* Most Reverend [[Job (Osacky) of Chicago|Job (Osacky)]], Archbishop of Chicago and the [[Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|Midwest]]
* Most Reverend [[Gregory (Afonsky) of Sitka|Gregory (Afonsky)]], Archbishop of Sitka and Alaska
(see also: [[Bishops of the Russian Metropolia in North America]])
** ''Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada'' (2002-2005)
** ''Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada'' (2005-2008)
* Metropolitan [[Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington and New York|Jonah (Paffhausen)]] ** ''Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada'' (2008-2009)** ''Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada'' (2009-2012)* Metropolitan [[Tikhon (Mollard) of Washington|Tikhon (Mollard)]], ''Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada'' (2012-present)
==Reference==
* ''Orthodox America 1794-1976 Development of the Orthodox Church in America'', C. J. Tarasar, Gen. Ed. 1975, The Orthodox Church in America, Syosett, New York
<rss>http://www.oca.org/newsrss.xml|short|max=6</rss>
== External links ==
* [http://www.oca.org/ Orthodox Church in America] (Official Website of the OCA])
** [http://www.oca.org/Docs.asp?ID=157&SID=12 The Road to Autocephaly 1963-1970] Talk given by Dr. Constantine H. Kallaur
** [http://www.oca.org/DOCtomos.asp?SID=12 The Tomos of Autocephaly] Signed in the city of Moscow, [[April 10]], 1970, by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the members its Holy Synod.
** [http://www.oca.org/DOCindex-statute.asp?SID=12 The Statute of the Orthodox Church in America]
** [http://oca.org/HSprimatialelections.asp?SID=7 Primatial Elections in the OCA]
* [http://dioceseofalaska.org/ Diocese of Alaska] (Official Website)* [http://www.bdoca.org/ Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese of Toledo] (Official Website)* [http://www.archdiocese.ca/ Archdiocese of Canada] (Official Website)* [http://doepa.org/ Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania] (Official Website)* [http://ocamexico.org/ Diocese of Mexico] (Official Website)* [http://domoca.org/ Diocese of the Midwest] (Official Website)* [http://www.dneoca.org/ Diocese of New England] (Official Website)* [http://www.nynjoca.org/ Diocese of New York and New Jersey] (Official Website)* [http://www.ocadwpa.org/ Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania] (Official Website)* [http://www.roea.org/ Romanian Orthodox Episcopate in America] (Official Website)* [http://www.dosoca.org/ Diocese of the South] (Official Website)* [http://wdcoca.org/ Archdiocese of Washington] (Official Website)* [http://www.dowoca.org/ Diocese of the West] (Official Website)* [http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg-us.aspx?eccpageID=27&IndexView=toc Eastern Christian Churches: OCA] by Ronald Roberson, a Roman Catholic priest and scholar
* [http://www.ocanews.org/ OCANews.org: Orthodox Christians for Accountability], a website critical of the OCA's administration
[[Category:Jurisdictions|OCA]]
[[fr:Église en Amérique]]
[[ro:Biserica Ortodoxă din America]]
[[ru:Американская православная церковь]]
