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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 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 formerly known as 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''', or more and was informally, known as the '''Metropolia'''. Previous  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 thatthe '''Orthodox Church in America'''. Since then, it was the North OCA has sought to cultivate an American Diocese 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 [[Church List of RussiaAmerican Orthodox saints|Russian Orthodox ChurchAmerican 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]].

''Main Article: [[History of the OCA]]'' <br> ''See Also: [[Orthodoxy in America]]''

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]]). 

Since From 2005 to 2008, the administration of the OCA was the subject of allegations of financial misconduct. In 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 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, has been publishing . Some of the reports and editorials on the scandal since January of 2006, including included allegations of division within the OCA's holy synodHoly Synod. In August 2007, the [[Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|Diocese of the Midwest]], which contributes at the time contributed more funds 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 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]

In September of On [[November 12]], 2008, after the release of a scathing report by an official investigative committeefinancial scandals, the former primate, Metr. OCA's All-American Council and Holy Synod elected [[auxiliary bishop]] [[Theodosius Jonah (LazorPaffhausen) of Washingtonand New York|Theodosius (Lazor)Jonah]], as its new metropolitan. He was disciplinedformally installed on [[http://www.oca.org/news/1631December 28]] and , 2008 at the then current primate's [[cathedral]], Metr. [[Herman St. Nicholas Cathedral (SwaikoWashington, D.C.) of Washington and New York|Herman (Swaiko)St. Nicholas Cathedral]] was retired by the Holy Synodin Washington, D.[http://wwwC.oca.org/news/1632]

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.. On [[November 13]], 2012, the OCA's current [[primate]]metropolitan, the Most Blessed [[Tikhon (Mollard) of Washington|Tikhon (Mollard)]] , was elected at the 17th [[All-American Council]].

* Most Blessed [[Tikhon (Mollard) of Washington|Tikhon (Mollard)]], 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]]. * Right Most Reverend [[Nikon Benjamin (LiolinPeterson) of BostonSan Francisco|Nikon Benjamin (LiolinPeterson)]], Bishop Archbishop of Boston, San Francisco and [[Diocese of New England the West (OCA)|New England]] and the [[Albanian Archdiocese (OCA)|Albanian ArchdioceseWest]].* Right Most Reverend [[Benjamin Mark (PetersonMaymon) of San FranciscoPhiladelphia|Benjamin Mark (PetersonMaymon)]], Bishop Archbishop of San Francisco Philadelphia and the [[Diocese of the West Eastern Pennsylvania (OCA)|Diocese of the WestEastern Pennsylvania]].* 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]]* Most Reverend [[Irénée (Rochon)|Irénée (Rochon)]], ''Locum Tenens'' Archbishop of Ottawa and the Diocese of [[Diocese Archdiocese of Eastern Pennsylvania (OCA)|Eastern PennsylvaniaCanada]].* Right 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 [[Alexander (Golitzin)]], Bishop Archbishop of Toledo and the Dallas, [[Bulgarian Diocese of the South (OCA)|Bulgarian Diocesethe South]] and the [[Bulgarian Diocese of the South (OCA)|Bulgarian Diocese of the South]].* Right Reverend [[David (Mahaffey) of Sitka|David Daniel (MahaffeyBrum)]], Bishop of Sitka and the [[Diocese of Alaska (OCA)Santa Rosa|Diocese of Alaska]].* Right Reverent [[Paul Daniel (GassiosBrum)]], Bishop of Chicago and the [[Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|Diocese of the Midwest]].* Right Reverend [[Irénée Alexis (RochonTrader)of Bethesda|Irénée Alexis (RochonTrader)]], Bishop of Canada.* Most Reverend [[Mark (Maymon) Diocese of PhiladelphiaSitka|Mark (Maymon)Sitka and Alaska]], Archbishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania.

* Right Reverend [[Irineu Andrei (DuvleaHoarște) of Dearborn HeightsCleveland|Irineu Andrei (DuvleaHoarște)]], Bishop of Dearborn Heights and Auxiliary Cleveland, auxiliary to Archbishop [[Nathaniel (Popp) of Detroit|Nathaniel the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Detroit]].America* Right Reverend [[Daniel (Brum) of Santa Rosa|Daniel Gerasim (BrumEliel)]], Bishop of Santa RosaFort Worth, auxiliary to the Diocese of the South

* 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.''* Most Reverend [[Paul (Gassios)]], Archbishop of Chicago and [[Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|the Midwest]]* Right Reverend [[David (Mahaffey) of Sitka|David (Mahaffey)]], Bishop of Sitka and Alaska

* Most Blessed Right Reverend [[Jonah Varlaam (PaffhausenNovakshonoff) of WashingtonVancouver|Jonah Varlaam (PaffhausenNovakshonoff)]], former Archbishop of [[Diocese Bishop of Washington (OCA)|Washington]], Metropolitan of All America and CanadaVancouver* Most Reverend [[Lazar Nikon (PuhaloLiolin) of OttawaBoston|Lazar Nikon (PuhaloLiolin)]], Archbishop of Ottawa* Most Reverend [[Seraphim (Storheim) Bishop of Ottawa|Seraphim (Storheim)]]Boston, Archbishop of Ottawa New England and [[the Albanian Archdiocese of Canada (OCA)|Canada]] * Right Reverend [[Seraphim (Sigrist) of Sendai|Seraphim (Sigrist)]], Bishop of Sendai and Eastern Japan

* 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]]* Right Reverend [[Matthias (Moriak) of Chicago|Matthias (Moriak)]], Bishop of Chicago and the [[Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|Midwest]] ===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 [[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 [[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]])

* 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)