Difference between revisions of "Diocese of Sitka"

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[[Image:Alaska.png|thumb|right|Visual representation of the Diocese of Alaska]]
 
[[Image:Alaska.png|thumb|right|Visual representation of the Diocese of Alaska]]
  
The '''Diocese of Alaska (OCA)'''—in full, the '''Russian Orthodox Diocese of Alaska'''—is a [[diocese]] of the [[Orthodox Church in America]]. It is currently under the administration of Metropolitan [[Herman (Swaiko) of Washington and New York]], assisted by Bishop [[Benjamin (Peterson) of San Francisco]].  Its territory includes the American state of Alaska.
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The '''Diocese of Alaska (OCA)'''—in full, the '''Russian Orthodox Diocese of Alaska'''—is a [[diocese]] of the [[Orthodox Church in America]]. It is currently under the administration of [[Bishop]] [[David (Mahaffey) of Sitka]].  Its territory includes the American state of [[Alaska]].
  
The diocese has, since 2007, been struggling with a crisis regarding the leadership of its bishop, including allegations of abuse against both the bishop and the diocesan chancellor, Archimandrite [[Isidore (Brittain)]].  His Grace, the Right Reverend [[Nikolai (Soraich) of Sitka and Anchorage|Nikolai (Soraich)]], the diocesan bishop, was placed on a leave of absence beginning March 4, 2008, which was rescinded shortly thereafter and then reinstated on April 17, 2008, become voluntarily permanent in May of 2008.
 
  
 
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__TOC__
 
{{orthodoxyinamerica}}
 
{{orthodoxyinamerica}}
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==History==
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The territory of what is now the Diocese of [[Alaska]] was the beginning of the presence of Orthodox Christianity in the Western Hemisphere when Russian [[monk]]s arrived as [[missionary|missionaries]] to preach the [[Gospel]] of [[Jesus Christ]] to the indigenous peoples in the 1790s. This mission expanded into the formation of a series of dioceses and [[vicar]] [[see]]s that became the Archdiocese of the Aleutian Islands and North America during the first decade of the twentieth century with the territory of Alaska served by an assistant/vicar bishop.
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With the establishment of the diocese of the Aleutian Islands and North America, the position of an auxiliary/vicar [[bishop]] was established for Alaska, first held by Bishop Innocent (Pustynsky). When the [[Church of Russia]] granted autocephaly to the [[Metropolia]], the successor organization to the Archdiocese of the Aleutian Islands and North America, the territory of Alaska was organized as a [[diocese]] of of the new [[Orthodox Church in America]], with a diocesan bishop.
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==Recent Struggles==
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Beginning in 2007, the diocese was forced to deal with a crisis regarding the leadership of its [[bishop]], including allegations of abuse against both the bishop and the diocesan [[chancellor]], Archimandrite Isidore (Brittain).  His Grace, the Right Reverend [[Nikolai (Soraich) of Sitka|Nikolai (Soraich)]], the diocesan bishop, was placed on a leave of absence beginning [[March 4]], 2008, which was rescinded shortly thereafter and then reinstated on [[April 17]], 2008.  The leave became voluntarily permanent in May 2008, followed by his official retirement.
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== Diocesan bishops ==
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; Alaska Vicariate of the North American Diocese
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* [[Innocent (Pustynsky) of Alaska|Innocent (Pustynsky)]] (1904 - 1909)
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* [[Alexander (Nemolovsky) of Brussels|Alexander (Nemolovsky)]] (1909 - 1916)
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* [[Philip (Stavitsky) of Alaska|Philip (Stavitsky)]] (1916 - 1917)
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* [[Anthony (Dashkevich) of Alaska|Anthony (Dashkevich)]] (1921-1922)
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* [[Amphilochius (Vakulsky) of Alaska|Amphilochius (Vakulsky)]] (1923 - 1931)
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* [[Antoninus (Pokrovsky) of Alaska|Antoninus (Pokrovsky)]] (1931 - 1934)
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; Diocese of Alaska
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* [[Alexis (Panteleyev) of Omsk|Alexis (Panteleev)]] (1934 - 1944)
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* [[John (Zlobin) of Alaska|John (Zlobin)]] (1945-1952)
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* [[Amvrossy (Merejko) of Pittsburgh|Ambrose (Merejko)]]  1955-1967
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* Theodosius (Lazor) (1967 - 1970)
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; OCA
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* [[Theodosius (Lazor) of Washington|Theodosius (Lazor)]] (1970 - 1972)
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* [[Gregory (Afonsky) of Sitka|Gregory (Afonsky)]] (1973-1995)
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* [[Nikolai (Soraich) of Sitka|Nicholas (Soraich)]] (2002-2008)
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* [[David (Mahaffey) of Sitka|David (Mahaffey)]] (2013-present)
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<!-- ==Diocesan Council==
 
<!-- ==Diocesan Council==
  
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==Metropolitan Council Representatives== -->
 
==Metropolitan Council Representatives== -->
 
==Publications==
 
*The North Star - Quarterly Diocesan Publication
 
  
 
==Institutions==
 
==Institutions==
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*Protecting Veil of the Theotokos Community in Anchorage, AK
 
*Protecting Veil of the Theotokos Community in Anchorage, AK
 
*St. Yakov Center for Orthodox Christian Learning in Soldatna, AK
 
*St. Yakov Center for Orthodox Christian Learning in Soldatna, AK
*Russian Orthodox Museum in Anchorage, AK
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*[http://www.russianorthodoxmuseum.org Russian Orthodox Museum] in Anchorage, AK
 
*[http://www.rossialaska.org ROSSIA Inc.] - Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska Inc.
 
*[http://www.rossialaska.org ROSSIA Inc.] - Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska Inc.
  
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*Unalaska Deanery
 
*Unalaska Deanery
  
==Ruling bishops==
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==Publications==
*[[Nikolai (Soraich) of Sitka and Anchorage]] 2002-on leave 2008
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*[http://www.oca.org/DOC-PUB-NS.asp?SearchYear=&SID=34 The North Star] - Quarterly Diocesan Publication
*[[Gregory (Afonsky) of Sitka]] 1973-1995
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
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*[http://www.cnewa.org/mag-article-bodypg-us.aspx?articleID=3247 CNEWA One Magazine, 2006, Vol 32:6 (November) - Orthodox Alaska]
 
*[http://www.cnewa.org/mag-article-bodypg-us.aspx?articleID=3247 CNEWA One Magazine, 2006, Vol 32:6 (November) - Orthodox Alaska]
 
*[http://www.ocanews.org/ OCA News] (includes information on the crisis in the diocese)
 
*[http://www.ocanews.org/ OCA News] (includes information on the crisis in the diocese)
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*[http://www.oca.org/news/2272 Title to Historic Church Lands Returned to Alaska]
  
[[Category:Dioceses]]
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[[Category:Dioceses|Alaska]]
 
[[Category:OCA Dioceses|Alaska]]
 
[[Category:OCA Dioceses|Alaska]]
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[[fr:Diocèse orthodoxe russe d'Alaska]]

Revision as of 15:27, July 1, 2016

Visual representation of the Diocese of Alaska

The Diocese of Alaska (OCA)—in full, the Russian Orthodox Diocese of Alaska—is a diocese of the Orthodox Church in America. It is currently under the administration of Bishop David (Mahaffey) of Sitka. Its territory includes the American state of Alaska.


This article forms part of the series
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History

The territory of what is now the Diocese of Alaska was the beginning of the presence of Orthodox Christianity in the Western Hemisphere when Russian monks arrived as missionaries to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the indigenous peoples in the 1790s. This mission expanded into the formation of a series of dioceses and vicar sees that became the Archdiocese of the Aleutian Islands and North America during the first decade of the twentieth century with the territory of Alaska served by an assistant/vicar bishop.

With the establishment of the diocese of the Aleutian Islands and North America, the position of an auxiliary/vicar bishop was established for Alaska, first held by Bishop Innocent (Pustynsky). When the Church of Russia granted autocephaly to the Metropolia, the successor organization to the Archdiocese of the Aleutian Islands and North America, the territory of Alaska was organized as a diocese of of the new Orthodox Church in America, with a diocesan bishop.

Recent Struggles

Beginning in 2007, the diocese was forced to deal with a crisis regarding the leadership of its bishop, including allegations of abuse against both the bishop and the diocesan chancellor, Archimandrite Isidore (Brittain). His Grace, the Right Reverend Nikolai (Soraich), the diocesan bishop, was placed on a leave of absence beginning March 4, 2008, which was rescinded shortly thereafter and then reinstated on April 17, 2008. The leave became voluntarily permanent in May 2008, followed by his official retirement.

Diocesan bishops

Alaska Vicariate of the North American Diocese
Diocese of Alaska
OCA


Institutions

  • Ss. Sergius and Herman of Valaam Chapel in Spruce Island, AK
  • St. Herman's Seminary in Kodiak, AK
  • Outreach Alaska based in Wichita, KS
  • Protecting Veil of the Theotokos Community in Anchorage, AK
  • St. Yakov Center for Orthodox Christian Learning in Soldatna, AK
  • Russian Orthodox Museum in Anchorage, AK
  • ROSSIA Inc. - Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska Inc.

Deaneries

  • Alaska Missionary Deanery
  • Anchorage Missionary Deanery
  • Bethel Deanery
  • Dillingham Deanery
  • Kenai Deanery
  • Kodiak Deanery
  • Russian Mission Deanery
  • Sitka Deanery
  • Unalaska Deanery

Publications

External links