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The '''Orthodox Church in America''' (OCA) is an [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] church with parishes mainly in the United States and Canada (though it 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.
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..
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]
In September of 2008, after the release of a scathing report by an official investigative committee, the former primate, Metr. [[Theodosius (Lazor) of Washington|Theodosius (Lazor)]], was disciplined[http://www.oca.org/news/1631] and the then current primate, Metr. [[Herman (Swaiko) of Washington and New York|Herman (Swaiko)]] was retired by the Holy Synod.[http://www.oca.org/news/1632]
* 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]]
→Episcopacy
{{church|
name=Orthodox Church in America[[Image:OCA 1.jpg|center|The Orthodox Church in America]]|
founder=Ss. [[Herman of Alaska]], [[Innocent of Alaska]], [[Alexis of Wilkes-Barre]]|
independence=1970 ("temporary self-government" in 1924)|
recognition=1970 by [[Church of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]] |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|
website=[http://www.oca.org/ Orthodox Church in America]
}}
The '''Orthodox Church in America''' (OCA) is an [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] Church with parishes mainly in the United States and Canada (though with a few parishes also in Mexico, and until 2011 in Australia as well). The OCA traces its history to the Russian Orthodox missionary efforts in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, which began in 1794. Originally an Alaskan diocese of the [[Church of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]], it expanded to the contiguous United States (the "lower 48") from 1860 onwards. By the early 20th century, it had parishes throughout the United States and Canada, mostly serving immigrant communities from Orthodox countries and Native Alaskan (Yupik and Aleut) villages.
Orthodox life in America was severely disrupted by the Russian Revolution of 1917, leading the Russian Orthodox diocese to splinter into a number of separate jurisdictions organized mostly on ethnic grounds. The remaining core of the old diocese organized itself into a ''de facto'' self-governing Church in 1924, following the instructions of Patriarch [[Tikhon of Moscow]] who had directed all Russian Orthodox churches outside of Russia to govern themselves autonomously until regular communication could be resumed. This ''de facto'' self-governing Church in North America officially called itself the '''Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in America''', and was informally known as the '''Metropolia'''.
In 1970, after having re-established communication with the Russian Orthodox Church, the American ''Metropolia'' received a ''[[tomos]]'' of [[autocephaly]] from Moscow, and changed its name to the '''Orthodox Church in America'''. Since then, the OCA has sought to cultivate an American identity, such as by promoting the use of local languages in the liturgy (mostly English, but also French, Spanish, Yupik and Aleut) and encouraging the veneration of [[List of American Orthodox saints|American saints]]. The OCA is in [[full communion]] with all of the other autocephalous Orthodox Churches, but its administrative status is disputed. Some other Churches recognize the OCA as autocephalous, but most regard it as a ''de jure'' part of the Russian Orthodox Church (although self-governing in practice).
By number of parishes, the OCA is the largest Orthodox jurisdiction in North America. By number of members, it is second after the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America|Greek Archdiocese]].
== History ==
''Main ArticleSee Also: [[History of the OCAOrthodoxy in America]]''
The OCA began with the missionary work of the [[Church of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]] in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands by eight Orthodox monks who arrived in Alaska in 1794. They were part of the centuries-old missionary heritage of the Russian Orthodox Church that brought the Orthodox Church, by the monks Hourg and Barsanuphii, to the Mongol peoples. And monk St Stephen of Perm (1340-96) who would in turn journey beyond Kazan, across the Ural mountain, into the forests of Siberia to bring Orthodoxy to the pagan Zyrians. And the Russian monks who brought the Church even more eastward, eventually establishing a network of missions across Siberia and along the entire Pacific Rim: in China (1686), Alaska (1794), Japan (1861), and Korea (1898).
From that point until the restoration of relations with Moscow in the 1960s, the Metropolia entered twice into union with the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] (see [[ROCOR and OCA]]), finally breaking with the latter body in 1946. Additionally, in 1927, the bishops of the Metropolia attempted to create an autocephalous body known as the [[American Orthodox Catholic Church]], which failed after only six years.
In the early 1960s, the Metropolia (as it was then known) resumed communication with the Patriarch of Moscow, and in 1970 full communion was restored. At that time, the Patriarch of Moscow officially granted the OCA [[autocephaly]], or self-governing administrative status. The OCA's autocephaly is not currently recognized by all autocephalous Orthodox Churches, including the [[Church of Constantinople]]. Churches that do recognize its autocephaly are mainly those in former Communist lands (most of which had thus come under the influence of the Church of Russia), including the [[Church of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]], the [[Church of Bulgaria]], the [[Church of Poland]], the [[Church of Georgia]], and the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]]. According to apologists for supporters of OCA autocephaly, it is common for recognition of autocephaly to be granted belatedly; however opponents regard the grant as not being within the purview of Moscow's [[presbeia|prerogatives]] (see [[Byzantine response to OCA autocephaly]]). From 2005 to 2008, the administration of the OCA was the subject of allegations of financial misconduct. In November 2005, a list of accusations were brought forward by Protodeacon Eric Wheeler, the former treasurer of the OCA. 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. From January 2006 until 2011, reports and editorials on the scandal were published by the [http://www.ocanews.org/ OCA News] website, a privately operated site with no connection to the administration. Some of the reports included allegations of division within the OCA's Holy Synod. In August 2007, the [[Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|Diocese of the Midwest]], which at the time contributed more funds to the OCA than any other diocese, began withholding its assessments to the central administration.[http://www.midwestdiocese.org/news_070814_1.html] In September 2008, after the release of a scathing report by an official investigative committee, the former primate, Metropolitan [[Theodosius (Lazor) of Washington|Theodosius]], was disciplined,[http://www.oca.org/news/1631] and the then current primate, Metropolitan [[Herman (Swaiko) of Washington and New York|Herman]], was retired by the Holy Synod.[http://www.oca.org/news/1632] On [[November 12]], 2008, after the financial scandals, the OCA's All-American Council and Holy Synod elected [[auxiliary bishop]] [[Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington and New York|Jonah]] as its new metropolitan. He was formally installed on [[December 28]], 2008 at the primate's [[cathedral]], [[St. Nicholas Cathedral (Washington, D.C.)|St. Nicholas Cathedral]] in Washington, D.C. On [[November 13]], 2012, the OCA's current metropolitan, the Most Blessed [[Tikhon (Mollard) of Washington|Tikhon]], was elected at the 17th [[All-American Council]].
== 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]]]]
[[File:Holy synod logo.png|thumb]]
The OCA today consists of 14 dioceses on the territory of Canada, the United States, and Mexico with 623 parishes, missions, and institutions (456 of which are parishes). Of the dioceses 3 are non-territorially organized along ethnic lines. These [[Ethnic diocese|ethnic dioceses]] include communities in both the United States and Canada.
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).
===Diocesan structure===
According to Fr. Jonathan Ivanoff, who is on the administrative committee of the OCA's Department of Evangelization and the board of directors of the [[Orthodox Christian Mission Center]], the OCA's American contintental membership (i.e., not including Alaska, Canada, or the ethnic dioceses) "has been declining between 6 and 9% for nearly 20 years. The OCA's Census population in 1994 was 29,775; in 2004 it stood at 27,169."[http://www.oca.org/PDF/Evangelization/2004.Parish-Revitalization-notes.pdf] Despite these sobering figures, however, the OCA's dioceses of the West and South, as well as many parishes in other dioceses, have reported steady growth.
A 2010 United States Census of Religious Bodies, of which Alexei Krindatch, a statistician who has done extensive work on Orthodox churches and congregations, is part, estimated that in the United States there are approximately 85,000 people who consider themselves adherents to the OCA, of which about 40% (approximately 34,000) are actually regular church attendees. [http://www.hartfordinstitute.org/research/2010-USOrthodox-Census.pdf] (See also [[Demographics]])
==Name==
According to the 1970 ''[[Tomos]] of Autocephaly'' granted by the [[Russian Orthodox Church|Church of Russia]], the name of this church body was originally ''The Autocephalous Orthodox Church in America''.[http://www.oca.org/DOCtomos.asp?SID=12] According to the Statute of the Orthodox Church in America, adopted by the Second All-American Council in October 1971, the usage is ''The Orthodox Church in America'' at the beginning of sentences[http://oca.org/DOCstatute.asp?SID=12&ID=1] and ''the Orthodox Church in America'' in the middle of sentences[http://www.oca.org/DOCstatute.asp?SID=12&ID=4], thus seeming to imply that the capitalization of ''the'' in the name is not vital.
==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 [[Diocese of New England (OCA)|New England]] and the [[Albanian Archdiocese (OCA)|Albanian Archdiocese]].
* Most Reverend [[Nathaniel (Popp) of Detroit|Nathaniel (Popp)]], Archbishop of Detroit and the [[Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (OCA)|Romanian Episcopate]]
* Most Reverend [[Seraphim Benjamin (StorheimPeterson) of OttawaSan Francisco|Seraphim Benjamin (StorheimPeterson)]], Archbishop of Ottawa San Francisco and [[Archdiocese of Canada (OCA)|Canada]] (''suspended'')* Right Reverend [[Nikon (Liolin) of Boston|Nikon (Liolin)]], Bishop of Boston, [[Diocese of New England (OCA)|New England]] and the [[Albanian Archdiocese West (OCA)|Albanian Archdiocese]], ''Locum Tenens'' of the Diocese of the [[Diocese of the South (OCA)|SouthWest]]* Right Most Reverend [[Tikhon Mark (MollardMaymon) of Philadelphia|Tikhon Mark (MollardMaymon)]], Bishop Archbishop of Philadelphia and [[Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania (OCA)|Eastern Pennsylvania]], ''Locum Tenens'' of the Diocese of the [[Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|Midwest]]* 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 Most Reverend [[Alejo (Pacheco y Vera) of Mexico City|Alejo (Pacheco-Vera)]], Bishop Archbishop of Mexico City and [[Exarchate Diocese of Mexico (OCA)|Exarch of Mexico]]* Right Most Reverend [[Melchisedek (Pleska) of Pittsburgh|Melchisedek (Pleska)]], Bishop Archbishop of Pittsburgh and [[Diocese of Western Pennsylvania (OCA)|Western Pennsylvania]]* Right Most Reverend [[Irénée (Rochon)|Irénée (Rochon)]], Archbishop of Ottawa and the [[Archdiocese of Canada]]* Most Reverend [[Michael (Dahulich) of New York|Michael (Dahulich)]], Bishop Archbishop of [[Diocese of New York and New Jersey (OCA)|New York, and New Jersey]]* Right Most Reverend [[Matthias Alexander (MoriakGolitzin) ]], Archbishop of Dallas, [[Diocese of Chicago|Matthias the South (MoriakOCA)|the South]], Bishop of Chicago and the [[Bulgarian Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|MidwestBulgarian Diocese]]* Right Most Reverend [[Alexander Paul (GolitzinGassios)]], Bishop Archbishop of Toledo Chicago and the [[Bulgarian Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|Bulgarian Diocesethe Midwest]]
===Auxiliary bishops===
* Right Reverend [[Irineu Daniel (DuvleaBrum) of Dearborn HeightsSanta Rosa|Irineu Daniel (DuvleaBrum)]], Bishop of Dearborn Heights and Auxiliary Santa Rosa, auxiliary to Archbishop [[Nathaniel (Popp) the Diocese of Detroit|Nathaniel of Detroit]].San Francisco and the West* Right Reverend [[Mark Alexis (MaymonTrader) of BaltimoreBethesda|Mark Alexis (MaymonTrader)]], Bishop of Baltimore and Auxiliary Bethesda, auxiliary to the Metropolitan for [[Stavropegial]] Institutions. ''[[Locum Tenens]]'' of [[Jonah (Paffhausen) Diocese of WashingtonSitka|Jonah of WashingtonSitka and Alaska]].* Right Reverend [[Irénée Andrei (RochonHoarște)of Cleveland|Irénée Andrei (RochonHoarște)]], Bishop of Quebéc City and Auxiliary Cleveland, auxiliary to Archbishop [[Seraphim (Storheim) of Ottawa|Seraphim of Ottawa]], ''Locum Tenens'' of the Archdiocese Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Canada.America
===Retired bishops===
* Most Blessed [[Herman (Swaiko) of Washington and New York|Herman (Swaiko)]], former Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada* Most Blessed [[Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington|Jonah (Paffhausen)]], former Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada* Most Reverend [[Lazar (Puhalo) of Ottawa|Lazar (Puhalo)]], former Archbishop of Ottawa* Right Reverend [[Seraphim (Sigrist) of Sendai|Seraphim (Sigrist)]], former Bishop of Sendai and Eastern Japan* Right Reverend [[Tikhon (Fitzgerald) of San Francisco and Los Angeles|Tikhon (Fitzgerald)]], former Bishop of San Francisco, Los Angeles and the West* Right Reverend [[Nikolai (Soraich) of Sitka|Nikolai (Soraich)]], former Bishop of Sitka and Alaska* Right Reverend [[Matthias (Moriak) of Chicago|Matthias (Moriak)]], former Bishop of Chicago and the Midwest ===Reposed bishops===''This list only includes those reposed bishops who have articles on OrthodoxWiki.''* Right Reverend [[David (Mahaffey) of Sitka|David (Mahaffey)]], Bishop of Sitka and Alaska
* Most Blessed [[Theodosius (Lazor) of Washington|Theodosius (Lazor)]], Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada
* Most Right Reverend [[Lazar Varlaam (PuhaloNovakshonoff) of OttawaVancouver|Lazar Varlaam (PuhaloNovakshonoff)]], Archbishop Bishop of OttawaVancouver* Right Most Reverend [[Seraphim Nikon (SigristLiolin) of SendaiBoston|Seraphim Nikon (SigristLiolin)]], Bishop of Sendai Boston, New England and Eastern Japanthe Albanian Archdiocese
* Right Reverend [[Mark (Forsberg) of Boston|Mark (Forsberg)]], Bishop of Boston
* 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
* Most Reverend [[Basil (Rodzianko) of San Francisco|Basil (Rodzianko)]], Bishop of San Francisco''For bishops prior to 1970, see also: '' [[Bishops of the Russian Metropolia in North America]])
== List of primates and ruling bishops==
* Metropolitan [[Theophilus (Pashkovsky) of San Francisco|Theophilus (Pashkovsky)]] ''Archbishop of San Francisco, Metropolitan of All America and Canada'' (1934-50)
* Metropolitan [[Leonty (Turkevich) of New York|Leonty (Turkevich)]] ''Archbishop of New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada'' (1950-65)
* Metropolitan [[Ireney (Bekish) of New York|Ireney (Bekish)]] ''Archbishop of New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada'' (1965-77) . In the latter part of his tenure assisted by Archbishop [[Sylvester (Haruns) of Montreal|Sylvester (Haruns)]] , ''Archbishop of Montreal and Canada, Temporary Administrator of the Orthodox Church in America'' (1974-77)
* Metropolitan [[Theodosius (Lazor) of Washington|Theodosius (Lazor)]]
** ''Archbishop of New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada'' (1977-80)
* 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 1794–1976 Development of the Orthodox Church in America'', C. J. Tarasar, Gen. Ed. 1975, The Orthodox Church in America, Syosett, New York
==See also==
* [http://wdcoca.org/ Archdiocese of Washington] (Official Website)
* [http://www.dowoca.org/ Diocese of the West] (Official Website)
* [http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg-usdefault.aspx?eccpageIDID=27&IndexViewpagetypeID=toc Eastern Christian Churches: OCA] 9&sitecode=HQ&pageno=1 Article by Ronald Roberson, a Roman Catholic priest and scholaron the OCA] on the CNEWA web site
* [http://www.ocanews.org/ OCANews.org: Orthodox Christians for Accountability], a website critical of the OCA's administration
[[Category:Jurisdictions|OCA]]
