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[[Image:Arb. Dmitri 2.JPG|right|frame|Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas and the South]]
His Eminence the Most Reverend [[Archbishop]] '''Dmitri (Royster) of Dallas and the South''' is the ruling [[bishop]] of the [[OCA]]'s [[Diocese of the South (OCA)|Diocese of the South]]. He also serves as the OCA's exarch of Mexico. His [[consecration of a bishop|consecration to the episcopate]] was is regarded by many as the first of a convert in America.
==Life==
In 1954, he was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[priest]]hood within the [[Orthodox Church in America|Metropolia]]. After his ordination, Fr. Dmitri founded St. Seraphim Church in Dallas. He continued his missionary activities among the Mexican-Americans. In 1965, he was contacted by Bishop [[Jose (Cortes y Olmos) of Mexico City|Jose (Cortes y Olmos)]] of the Mexican National Church who with his flock had become interested in becoming Orthodox. Dmitri presented their situation to the [[Holy Synod]] of the Metropolia. After many visits and exchanges, Bp. Dmitri presented his report recommending acceptance of the Mexican group into the Orthodox Church. After consideration, in February 1972, the Holy Synod, now of the Orthodox Church in America, accepted the Mexican group with formation of an exarchate in Mexico, with Bp. Dmitri as exarch.
During 1966, Fr. Dmitri attended [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Seminary]] in New York while concurrently teaching Spanish at Fordham University. In 1969, [[Archimandrite]] Dmitri was elected to the episcopate. Then on [[June 22]], he was [[Consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Bishop of Berkeley as [[auxiliary bishop|auxiliary]] to Abp. [[John (Shahovskoy) of San Francisco]]. The consecration of Bp. Dmitri was is regarded by some historians as the first consecration of a [[convert]] to the episcopate in America(though [[Ignatius (Nichols) of Washington|Ignatius (Nichols)]] was consecrated in 1932 but subsequently left the Church). In 1970, Bp. Dmitri was assigned as Bishop of Washington, auxiliary to Metropolitan [[Ireney (Bekish) of New York|Ireney]]. On [[October 19]], 1971, Bp. Dmitri was elected Bishop of Hartford and New England while continuing as the exarch of Mexico.
With the formation of the [[Diocese]] of Dallas and the South, Bp. Dmitri was elected its first ruling bishop in the 1970s and was charged with the development of the diocese, which at the time consisted of a few churches in Florida and Texas and several missions. In the 1980s, Bp. Dmitri was elevated to the rank of archbishop. Under his leadership the Diocese of the South has grown to approximately 60 [[parish]]es and missions (as of 2005), and is one of the most vibrant dioceses of the OCA.
