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

Metr. Nicholas was born Richard Smisko on [[February 23]], 1936and was raised in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. <!--big jump here--more early infoAfter completing his secondary schooling, he attended Youngstown State University and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown before studying at Christ the Savior Seminary in Johnstown, anyone?-->Pennsylvania. He continued his theological studies at the Patriarchal Theological Seminary in Istanbul.

His service as an Orthodox clergyman [[clergy]]man began in the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA|Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America]] where he rose to the hierarchy. He was elected a [[bishop]] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America by the Holy [[Synod]] of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]]. He was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated ]] on [[March 13]], 1983 , in St. Mary's Church, Allentown, Pennsylvania, as titular bishop of Amissos. 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, Bp. John (Martin) of Nyssa of the ACROD, and Bp. Philotheos of Meloa.

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 UOC Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America was nominated as their candidate to be the bishop of the [[diocese]]. After receiving his candidacynomination, the [[Holy Synod ]] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected 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 has 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.

title=Bishop (UOC of A)Amissos|years=?1983-19852011|after=?|&mdash;}}

title=Bishop Primate of Amissos<br>[[ACROD]]|years=1985-present2011|after=&mdash;[[Gregory (Tatsis) of Nyssa|Gregory (Tatsis)]]}}

==External linksSource==*[http://wwwwww2.acrodsharonherald.orgcom/localnews/recentnews/mn0104/ A short ACROD biographyln042101h.html Carpatho-Russian churchman talks to Christian Associates] ==External link==*[http://orthodoxresearchinstitutewww.acrod.org/resourcesmetropolitan/hierarchs/constantinople/current2.htm#nicholas_metr ListingACROD Memorial site] at the Orthodox Research Institute