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{{orthodoxyinamerica}}
The '''Diocese of Washington''' was established in 1981 to place the seat of the ruling [[hierarch]] of the [[OCA|Orthodox Church in America]] in the national capital of the United States of America. The [[diocese]] was disestablished in 2005 when it was merged with the [[Diocese of New York and New Jersey (OCA)|Diocese of New York and New Jersey]] to form the [[Diocese of Washington and New York (OCA)|Diocese of Washington and New York]], and re-established in 2009.
==History==
In 1981 under the decision of the 6th [[All-American Council]], the Diocese of Washington was formed by splitting the territories of southern Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, and northern Virginia from the Diocese of New York and New Jersey. The purpose of establishing the new diocese was two fold: to establish the see of the ruling hierarch of the OCA in the national capital of the United States as is the norm in other Orthodox Churches, and to provide a smaller diocese for the ruling hierarch to administer, making it easier to attend the duties of leading the OCA as a whole.
[[Image:St Nicholas Wash DC1.jpg|thumb|left|200pxl|St. Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, DC, The [[Cathedra]] of the Ruling Hierarch of the OCA]]
In 2005 under the decision of the [[Holy Synod]], the diocese was re-united with the Diocese of New York and New Jersey following the retirement of Abp. [[Peter (L'Huillier) of New York|Peter]], who was the ruling hierarch of the New York/New Jersey diocese. In making the change, the name of the diocese was changed to the Diocese of Washington and New York, thus retaining the Washington as the seat of the united diocese. However, in 2009, the Holy Synod reversed this decision, returning to the diocesan structure existing from 1981-2005.
==Parishes==
==Bishops of Washington==
===Ruling bishops===
*[[Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington|Jonah of Washington]] 2009-*[[Herman (Swaiko) of Washington and New York|Herman of Washington]] 2002-2008
*[[Theodosius (Lazor) of Washington]] 1981-2002
===Previous bishops ===
