View source for Alexander (Pihach)

[[File:AlexanderPihachArchhim.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Archimandrite Alexander (Pihach)]]
[[Archimandrite]] '''Alexander (Pihach)''' is a [[priest]] of the [[Orthodox Church in America]] appointed in 2012 as Dean of [[St. Catherine the Great Martyr Church (Moscow)|St. Catherine  the Great Martyr Church]] in Moscow, Russia, the [[Metochion|representation church]] of the OCA to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Life==
Dennis Alexander Pihach was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada on [[June 27]], 1952 in an Orthodox Christian family with two brothers. Dennis entered St. Andrew’s College in Winnipeg, Manatoba, Canada from which he graduated in 1973 before continuing his education in Sociology and Slavic Studies and graduated from the University of Saskatchewan. After his graduation he entered in employment with Social Services.

In 1986, Dennis was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[priest]]hood in the [[Archdiocese of Canada]] of the Orthodox Church in America and assigned to plant a mission in Yorkton, Saskatchewan while continuing his employment with Youth Addictions Services. The mission is now the Church of St. Mark. In 1996, Father Dennis was elected Dean of the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Deanery and appointed [[Chancellor]] of the Archdiocese of Canada. Two years later, he was assigned Rector of St. Herman of Alaska Sobor in Edmonton, Alberta.

On [[July 11]], 2009, Father Dennis was [[tonsure]]d to [[monasticism|monastic]] orders with the name Alexander and elevated to the dignity of [[Igumen]] of St. Elias Skete in Dickie Bush, Alberta. On [[September 1]], 2009, Father Alexander was appointed Interim Dean of Annunciation Cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario. In May 2011, he was elevated to the dignity of Archimandrite and returned to St. Herman Sobor on a full time basis. On [[October 16]], 2012, Archim. Alexander took on the duties of acting Dean of the [[St. Catherine the Great Martyr Church (Moscow)|Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields]] in Moscow, Russia.

On [[November 14]], 2012, the [[Holy Synod]] of the Orthodox Church in America approved the appointment of Archim. Alexander as Dean of the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields in Moscow, Russia, and Representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchate. On [[November 30]], 2012, His Holiness, Patriarch [[Kyrill (Gundyayev) of Moscow|Kyrill of Moscow]] and All Russia was formally advised of the appointment by His Beatitude, Metropolitan [[Tikhon (Mollard) of Washington|Tikhon]] of the Orthodox Church in America. 

==Sources==
*[http://oca.org/news/headline-news/archimandrite-alexander-pihach-appointed-dean-moscows-st.-catherine-church   OCA: Archimandrite Alexander (Pihach) appointed Dean of Moscow’s St. Catherine Church, OCA Representative to Patriarchate]
*[http://www.archdiocese.ca/orthodox/articles/archimandrite-alexander-pihach-appointed-dean-moscow’s-st-catherine-church-oca   Archimandrite Alexander (Pihach) appointed Dean of Moscow’s St. Catherine Church, OCA Representative to Patriarchate]
*[http://ocapodvorie.org/en/clergy/aleksandr-pihach/   OCA Podvorie: Archimandrite Alexander (Pihach)]

[[Category: Monastics]]
[[Category: Clergy]]