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Since On [[November of 2005, when a list of accusations were brought forward by Protodeacon Eric Wheeler12]], the former treasurer of the OCA2008, its administration has been after the subject of allegations of financial misconduct. Internal investigations, auditsscandals, and other actions have since then been enacted in an attempt to address the allegations, including the firing OCA's All-American Council and Holy Synod elected [[depositionauxiliary bishop]] of the OCA [[chancellorJonah (Paffhausen) of Washington and New York|Jonah]], the former Protopresbyter as its new metropolitan. He was formally installed on [[Robert S. KondratickDecember 28]]. The [http://www.ocanews.org/ OCA News] website, a privately operated site with no connection to the administration, has been publishing reports and editorials on the scandal since January of 2006, including allegations of division within 2008 at the OCAprimate's holy synod. In August 2007[[cathedral]], the [[Diocese of the Midwest St. Nicholas Cathedral (OCAWashington, D.C.)|Diocese of the MidwestSt. Nicholas Cathedral]]in Washington, which contributes to the OCA more funds than any other OCA diocese, began withholding its assessments to the central administrationD.[http://www.midwestdiocese.org/news_070814_1C.html]
In September of 2008, after the release of a scathing report by an official investigative committee, the former primate, Metr. [[Theodosius (Lazor) of Washington|Theodosius (Lazor)]], was disciplined[http://www.oca.org/news/1631] and the then current primate, Metr. [[Herman (Swaiko) of Washington and New York|Herman (Swaiko)]] was retired by the Holy Synod.[http://www.oca.org/news/1632] On [[November 12]], 2008, after financial scandals, the OCA's All-American Council and Holy Synod elected [[auxiliary bishop]] [[Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington and New York|Jonah (Paffhausen)]] as its new metropolitan. He was formally installed on [[December 28]], 2008 at the primate's [[cathedral]] St. [[St. Nicholas Cathedral (Washington, D.C.)|Nicholas Cathedral]] in Washington, D.C.. On [[November 13]], 2012, the OCA's current [[primate]]metropolitan, the Most Blessed [[Tikhon (Mollard) of Washington|Tikhon (Mollard)]] , was elected at the 17th [[All-American Council]].
* Right Reverend [[Tikhon (Fitzgerald) of San Francisco and Los Angeles|Tikhon (Fitzgerald)]], Bishop of San Francisco, Los Angeles and the [[Diocese of the West (OCA)|Diocese of the West]]* Right Reverend [[Varlaam (Novakshonoff) of Vancouver|Varlaam (Novakshonoff)]], Bishop of Vancouver* Right Reverend [[Nikolai (Soraich) of Sitka|Nikolai (Soraich)]], Bishop of Sitka and [[Diocese of Alaska (OCA)|Alaska]]* Right Reverend [[Matthias (Moriak) of Chicago|Matthias (Moriak)]], Bishop of Chicago and the [[Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|Midwest]] ===Reposed bishops===* Most Reverend [[Kyrill (Yonchev) of Pittsburgh|Kyrill (Yonchev)]], Archbishop of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania and the [[Bulgarian Diocese (OCA)|Bulgarian Diocese]]
→Episcopacy
website=[http://www.oca.org/ Orthodox Church in America]
}}
The '''Orthodox Church in America''' (OCA) is an [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] Church with parishes mainly in the United States and Canada (though with a few parishes also in Mexico, and until 2011 in Australia as well). The OCA traces its history to the Russian Orthodox missionary efforts in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, which began in 1794. Originally an Alaskan diocese of the [[Church of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]], it expanded to the contiguous United States (the "lower 48") from 1860 onwards. By the early 20th century, it had parishes throughout the United States (and some in Canada), mostly serving immigrant communities from Orthodox countriesand Native Alaskan (Yupik and Aleut) villages.
Orthodox life in America was severely disrupted by the Russian Revolution of 1917, leading the Russian Orthodox diocese to splinter into a number of separate jurisdictions organized mostly on ethnic grounds. The remaining core of the old diocese organized itself into a ''de facto'' self-governing Church in 1924, following the instructions of Patriarch [[Tikhon of Moscow]] who had directed all Russian Orthodox churches outside of Russia to govern themselves autonomously until regular communication could be resumed. This ''de facto'' self-governing Church in North America officially called itself the '''Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in America''', and was informally known as the '''Metropolia'''.
From that point until the restoration of relations with Moscow in the 1960s, the Metropolia entered twice into union with the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] (see [[ROCOR and OCA]]), finally breaking with the latter body in 1946. Additionally, in 1927, the bishops of the Metropolia attempted to create an autocephalous body known as the [[American Orthodox Catholic Church]], which failed after only six years.
In the early 1960s, the Metropolia (as it was then known) resumed communication with the Patriarch of Moscow, and in 1970 full communion was restored. At that time, the Patriarch of Moscow officially granted the OCA [[autocephaly]], or self-governing administrative status. The OCA's autocephaly is not currently recognized by all autocephalous Orthodox Churches, including the [[Church of Constantinople]]. Churches that do recognize its autocephaly are mainly those in former Communist lands (most of which had thus come under the influence of the Church of Russia), including the [[Church of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]], the [[Church of Bulgaria]], the [[Church of Poland]], the [[Church of Georgia]], and the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]]. According to apologists for supporters of OCA autocephaly, it is common for recognition of autocephaly to be granted belatedly; however opponents regard the grant as not being within the purview of Moscow's [[presbeia|prerogatives]] (see [[Byzantine response to OCA autocephaly]]).
From 2005 to 2008, the administration of the OCA was the subject of allegations of financial misconduct. In November 2005, a list of accusations were brought forward by Protodeacon Eric Wheeler, the former treasurer of the OCA. Internal investigations, audits, and other actions have since then been enacted in an attempt to address the allegations, including the firing and [[deposition]] of the OCA [[chancellor]], the former Protopresbyter Robert S. Kondratick. From January 2006 until 2011, reports and editorials on the scandal were published by the [http://www.ocanews.org/ OCA News] website, a privately operated site with no connection to the administration. Some of the reports included allegations of division within the OCA's Holy Synod. In August 2007, the [[Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|Diocese of the Midwest]], which at the time contributed more funds to the OCA than any other diocese, began withholding its assessments to the central administration.[http://www.midwestdiocese.org/news_070814_1.html] In September 2008, after the release of a scathing report by an official investigative committee, the former primate, Metropolitan [[Theodosius (Lazor) of Washington|Theodosius]], was disciplined,[http://www.oca.org/news/1631] and the then current primate, Metropolitan [[Herman (Swaiko) of Washington and New York|Herman]], was retired by the Holy Synod.[http://www.oca.org/news/1632]
== The OCA today ==
==Episcopacy==
===Diocesan bishops===
* Most Blessed [[Tikhon (Mollard) of Washington|Tikhon (Mollard)]], Archbishop of [[Diocese of Washington (OCA)|Washington]], Metropolitan of All America and Canada. ''[[Locum Tenens]]'' of [[Diocese of New England (OCA)|New England]] and the [[Albanian Archdiocese (OCA)|Albanian Archdiocese]].* Most Reverend [[Nathaniel (Popp) of Detroit|Nathaniel (Popp)]], Archbishop of Detroit and the [[Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (OCA)|Romanian Episcopate]]. * Right Most Reverend [[Nikon Benjamin (LiolinPeterson) of BostonSan Francisco|Nikon Benjamin (LiolinPeterson)]], Bishop Archbishop of Boston, San Francisco and [[Diocese of New England the West (OCA)|New England]] and the [[Albanian Archdiocese (OCA)|Albanian ArchdioceseWest]].* Right Most Reverend [[Benjamin Mark (PetersonMaymon) of San FranciscoPhiladelphia|Benjamin Mark (PetersonMaymon)]], Bishop Archbishop of San Francisco Philadelphia and the [[Diocese of the West Eastern Pennsylvania (OCA)|Diocese of the WestEastern Pennsylvania]].* Right Most Reverend [[Alejo (Pacheco y Vera) of Mexico City|Alejo (Pacheco-Vera)]], Bishop Archbishop of Mexico City and [[Exarchate Diocese of Mexico (OCA)|Exarch of Mexico]]* Right Most Reverend [[Melchisedek (Pleska) of Pittsburgh|Melchisedek (Pleska)]], Bishop Archbishop of Pittsburgh and [[Diocese of Western Pennsylvania (OCA)|Western Pennsylvania]]* Most Reverend [[Irénée (Rochon)|Irénée (Rochon)]], ''Locum Tenens'' Archbishop of Ottawa and the Diocese of [[Diocese Archdiocese of Eastern Pennsylvania (OCA)|Eastern PennsylvaniaCanada]].* Right Most Reverend [[Michael (Dahulich) of New York|Michael (Dahulich)]], Bishop Archbishop of [[Diocese of New York and New Jersey (OCA)|New York, and New Jersey]].* Right Most Reverend [[Alexander (Golitzin)]], Bishop Archbishop of Toledo and the [[Bulgarian Diocese (OCA)|Bulgarian Diocese]] and the Dallas, [[Diocese of the South (OCA)|Diocese of the South]].* Right Reverend [[David (Mahaffey) of Sitka|David (Mahaffey)]], Bishop of Sitka and the [[Bulgarian Diocese of Alaska (OCA)|Bulgarian Diocese of Alaska]].* Right Reverent Most Reverend [[Paul (Gassios)]], Bishop Archbishop of Chicago and the [[Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|Diocese of the Midwest]].* Right Reverend [[Irénée (Rochon)|Irénée (Rochon)]], Bishop of Canada.* Most Reverend [[Mark (Maymon) of Philadelphia|Mark (Maymon)]], Archbishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania.
===Auxiliary bishops===
* Right Reverend [[Irineu Daniel (DuvleaBrum) of Dearborn HeightsSanta Rosa|Irineu Daniel (DuvleaBrum)]], Bishop of Dearborn Heights Santa Rosa, auxiliary to the Diocese of San Francisco and Auxiliary to Archbishop the West* Right Reverend [[Nathaniel Alexis (PoppTrader) of DetroitBethesda|Nathaniel Alexis (Trader)]], Bishop of Bethesda, auxiliary to the Metropolitan for [[Stavropegial]] Institutions. ''[[Locum Tenens]]'' of [[Diocese of DetroitSitka|Sitka and Alaska]].* Right Reverend [[Daniel Andrei (BrumHoarște) of Santa RosaCleveland|Daniel Andrei (BrumHoarște)]], Bishop of Santa RosaCleveland, auxiliary to the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America
===Retired bishops===
* Most Blessed [[Herman (Swaiko) of Washington and New York|Herman (Swaiko)]], former Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada* Most Blessed [[Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington|Jonah (Paffhausen)]], former Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada* Most Reverend [[Lazar (Puhalo) of Ottawa|Lazar (Puhalo)]], former Archbishop of Ottawa* Right Reverend [[Seraphim (Sigrist) of Sendai|Seraphim (Sigrist)]], former Bishop of Sendai and Eastern Japan* Right Reverend [[Tikhon (Fitzgerald) of San Francisco and Los Angeles|Tikhon (Fitzgerald)]], former Bishop of San Francisco, Los Angeles and the West* Right Reverend [[Nikolai (Soraich) of Sitka|Nikolai (Soraich)]], former Bishop of Sitka and Alaska* Right Reverend [[Matthias (Moriak) of Chicago|Matthias (Moriak)]], former Bishop of Chicago and the Midwest ===Reposed bishops===''This list only includes those reposed bishops who have articles on OrthodoxWiki.''* Right Reverend [[David (Mahaffey) of Sitka|David (Mahaffey)]], Bishop of Sitka and Alaska
* Most Blessed [[Theodosius (Lazor) of Washington|Theodosius (Lazor)]], Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada
* Most Blessed Right Reverend [[Jonah Varlaam (PaffhausenNovakshonoff) of WashingtonVancouver|Jonah Varlaam (PaffhausenNovakshonoff)]], former Archbishop of [[Diocese Bishop of Washington (OCA)|Washington]], Metropolitan of All America and CanadaVancouver* Most Reverend [[Lazar Nikon (PuhaloLiolin) of OttawaBoston|Lazar Nikon (PuhaloLiolin)]], Archbishop of Ottawa* Most Reverend [[Seraphim (Storheim) Bishop of Ottawa|Seraphim (Storheim)]]Boston, Archbishop of Ottawa New England and [[the Albanian Archdiocese of Canada (OCA)|Canada]] * Right Reverend [[Seraphim (Sigrist) of Sendai|Seraphim (Sigrist)]], Bishop of Sendai and Eastern Japan
* Right Reverend [[Mark (Forsberg) of Boston|Mark (Forsberg)]], Bishop of Boston
* Most Reverend [[Peter (L'Huillier) of New York|Peter (L'Huillier)]], Archbishop of New York and New Jersey
* Most Reverend [[Dmitri (Royster) of Dallas|Dmitri (Royster)]], Archbishop of Dallas and the [[Diocese of the South (OCA)|South]]* Most Reverend [[Job (Osacky) of Chicago|Job (Osacky)]], Archbishop of Chicago and the [[Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)|Midwest]]
* Most Reverend [[Gregory (Afonsky) of Sitka|Gregory (Afonsky)]], Archbishop of Sitka and Alaska
* Most Reverend [[Basil (Rodzianko) of San Francisco|Basil (Rodzianko)]], Bishop of San Francisco]](''For bishops prior to 1970, see also: '' [[Bishops of the Russian Metropolia in North America]])
== List of primates and ruling bishops==
* Metropolitan [[Theophilus (Pashkovsky) of San Francisco|Theophilus (Pashkovsky)]] ''Archbishop of San Francisco, Metropolitan of All America and Canada'' (1934-50)
* Metropolitan [[Leonty (Turkevich) of New York|Leonty (Turkevich)]] ''Archbishop of New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada'' (1950-65)
* Metropolitan [[Ireney (Bekish) of New York|Ireney (Bekish)]] ''Archbishop of New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada'' (1965-77) . In the latter part of his tenure assisted by Archbishop [[Sylvester (Haruns) of Montreal|Sylvester (Haruns)]] , ''Archbishop of Montreal and Canada, Temporary Administrator of the Orthodox Church in America'' (1974-77)
* Metropolitan [[Theodosius (Lazor) of Washington|Theodosius (Lazor)]]
** ''Archbishop of New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada'' (1977-80)
