Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington

Metr. Jonah at his election as metropolitan

His Beatitude, the Most Blessed Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington and New York is the primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). He was elected on November 12, 2008, and is scheduled to be formally installed on December 28, 2008, in Washington, D.C. Metr. Jonah is also the first convert to the Orthodox faith to be elected as the OCA's primate.

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. 1989: Began Ph.D. at Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley.

Interrupted studies to spend a year in Russia. Worked for Russkiy Palomnik at the Publishing Department of the Moscow Patriarchate. Was introduced to the Russian Church, especially the 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, receiving 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.

November 12: Election as Metropolitan of the OCA.

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	Succeeded by: —
Preceded by: Herman (Swaiko)	Metropolitan of the OCA 2008-present	Succeeded by: —

Help with box

Sources

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

External links

• Official biography, from the OCA website
• Consecration of Bishop Jonah (photographs)

Written works

• Writings and Talks, from St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco Monastery
• Five Good Reasons NOT to Join a Monastery
• Perspectives on Orthodoxy in America (editorials from Divine Ascent)
• The Eternal Liturgy: Worship in the Orthodox Tradition, from re:generation Quarterly

Audio recordings

• "The Path to Prayer," a five-part lecture from February of 2008: Part 1, Part 2: "Do Not React," Q&A, Part 3: "Do Not Resent", Part 4: "Keep Inner Stillness", Part 5: "Keep Inner Stillness" (cont'd), Q&A
• Primacy and Ecclesiology (from a meeting of the Fellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius)
• From Psychology to Spirituality (CD set)