Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington

His Grace, the Right Reverend Bishop Jonah (Paffhausen) of Fort Worth is an auxiliary bishop in the OCA's Diocese of the South. He also serves as the Chancellor of the Diocese of the South.

Biographical Timeline

1959: James Paffhausen was born in Chicago, Illinois. Baptized into the Episcopal Church.

Family later moved to La Jolla, California (near San Diego).

1978: Received into the Orthodox Church at Our Lady of Kazan Church (under the Moscow Patriarchate) during his studies at University of California San Diego.

Later transferred to University of California, Santa Cruz. Instrumental in establishing an Orthodox Christian Fellowship at the university.

Graduated from UCSC, went to study at St. Vladimir's Seminary.

1985: Graduated with Master of Divinity from St. Vladimir's Seminary. 1988: Graduated with Master of Theology in Dogmatics.

Spent a year in Russia, introduced to monastic life.

Found a spiritual father, Archimandrite Pankratiy (abbot of Valaam Monastery). Joined Valaam Monastery

Elder Kyrill (Archim. Pankratiy's spiritual father), of Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, blessed James to become a priestmonk.

1994: Ordained to diaconate and priesthood. 1995: Tonsured to monastic rank at St. Tikhon's Monastery, South Canaan, Pennsylvania, received the name Jonah.

Hmk Jonah returned to California, served a number of missions, then given the obedience to establish a monastery

1996: Hmk Jonah founded monastery under the patronage of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco at Point Reyes Station, California.

Built monastic community to over 15 members.

Also worked to establish missions in Merced, Sonora, Chico, Eureka, Redding, Susanville among others in California, and in Kona, HI.

Oversaw move to Manton, Northern California.

2008: Fr. Jonah elevated to Archimandrite, given obedience to leave monastery and take on responsibility of Auxiliary Bishop for Diocese of South and diocesan chancellor. Endorsed by the Diocesan Council in the summer.

September 4: Elected at extraordinary meeting of the OCA Holy Synod.

November 1: Archimandrite Jonah consecrated Bishop of Fort Worth at St. Seraphim Cathedral, Dallas, Texas, at the hands of Abp Dmitri (locum tenens of the Metropolitan See), Bp Tikhon, Bp Benjamin and Bp Alejo.

Succession box: Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington
Preceded by: founding abbot	Abbot of the Monastery of St John of San Francisco 1996-2008	Succeeded by: Meletios (Webber)
Preceded by: unknown	Bishop of Fort Worth 2008-present	Succeeded by: —

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Source

• "Archimandrite Jonah (Paffhausen) consecrated Bishop of Fort Worth and Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of the South", OCA News & Events