Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington
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.
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.
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 |
Succeeded by: — |
Sources
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Categories > People > Clergy > Bishops > Bishops by city > Bishops of Washington
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