His Grace, the Right Reverend SERAPHIM (==Life==Abp. Seraphim was born Kenneth William Storheim) is the Ruling Bishop of the Orthodox Church in America's Edmonton, Alberta on [http://www.archdiocese.ca Archdiocese of Canada[January 25]], Secretary to the Holy Synod 1946, of BishopsNorwegian and Scottish parents, and Chair of the Church's Department of External Affairs. Bishop SERAPHIM also has the distinction of being the first Canadian to be consecrated to the episcopacy within was raised in the Orthodox ChurchLutheran church.

== Early Life ==Born Receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Alberta, Seraphim also studied at the Vancouver School of Theology in Edmonton on January 25Vancouver, 1946, Kenneth William Storheim came from a Norwegian British Columbia. A former Anglican [[rector]] and Scottish backgroundaccomplished musician, and he was raised in received into the Lutheran Orthodox Churchin 1978, accepting as his heavenly patron St. His personal studies [[Seraphim of Sarov]]. He then attended [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary]] in Crestwood, New York, where he graduated and zealous spiritual searching led him to Anglicanism and later to Orthodoxyreceived the Master of Theology degree in 1981.

He graduated from Bonnie Doone High School in Edmonton and took a general Bachelor of Arts at Prior to his consecration to the University of Albertaepiscopacy, contemplating a career in music. While there "the Lord backed him into a comer", and young Storheim went on to the Vancouver School of Theology. His stay in Vancouver brought him to Eminence lived at [[http://www.holyres.org Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox ChurchNew Valamo|New Valaam]where, among the local Russian parishioners, he met for the first time converts to Orthodoxy from a Canadian background. After a while he became acquainted with the clergy of the church: Archpriests Oleg Boldireff, Peter Kurzemnek, John Karateev, later with Bishop Joasaph and with some original parishioners, like Mr. Anatole Portnoff] monastery in Finland, the singer of the Church choir. The future bishop was delighted by the Orthodox Church services and Church music and became served as a frequent visitor here. In this church the "seed of true faith fell on good soil [[parish]] [[priest]] in his heart and communities throughout the plant grew and bore grain in abundance", but not before he went through a few more years of searching United States and contemplationCanada.

== Journey to Orthodoxy ==After his graduation from the Vancouver School He was consecrated [[auxiliary bishop]] of Theology, Kenneth was ordained into the Anglican priesthood in 1972. He served six years in Edmonton (1972-74) and in Ponoka1987, Alberta (1974-78). Throughout these years he and became more and more disillusioned with Anglicanism, which tended to change dramatically. During this time Fr. Kenneth deepened his ties with ruling bishop of the Orthodox Church whose presence was visible especially [[archdiocese]] in Alberta1990. Here he attended many Orthodox churches and met many Orthodox Christians both clergy and laymen and learned that He was elevated to the Orthodox Church was keeping rank of [[archbishop]] at the tradition Spring 2007 meeting of the Apostolic faith. Fr. Kenneth liked what he found in Orthodoxy and came to a firm conclusion by himself that he wanted to become Orthodox. Once having decided, he acted upon it quicklyOCA's Holy Synod.

== Theological Although often on the road visiting the many and Priestly Formation ==In August 1978far-flung communities of the Archdiocese, Kenneth Storheim was received into Holy Orthodoxy with as well as representing the name Seraphim at [http://www.sthermans.ca St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church] in EdmontonOCA internationally, accepting as his heavenly patron StAbp. Seraphim of Sarov. Then he was admitted into [http://www.svots.edu St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary] in New Yorkresidence is an hour south of Ottawa, near Johnstown, where he received the Masters degree in Theology. He was ordained to the Holy Deaconate by Archbishop Sylvester at the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan on October 28Archdiocesan Centre, 1979 and to the Holy Priesthood by Metropolitan Theodosius in the chapel of Three Saints at St. Vladimir's Seminary on November 21,1979. He graduated with the Master of Theology degree in 1981Fair Haven.

During On [[September 4]], 2008, following the two latter years in the Seminary, Fr. Seraphim lived as a monk retirement of Metropolitan Herman due to ill health (and spent several months at the New Valaamo Monastery in Finlandpending back surgery), to where he was invited by the late Archbishop Paul Holy Synod of Finland. While being tonsured monastic he took as his protector Stthe OCA named Abp. Seraphimthe administrator of the Metropolitan’s [[See]] and to assist His Eminence, [[Dmitri (Royster) of Dallas|Dmitri]] who was appointed the New Martyr of Constantinople''[[locum tenens]]''.

From In late September 2010 the Spring Lesser Synod meeting in Oyster Bay Cove, NY, heard a report that Canadian police were investigating a complaint of 1981 Frsexual misconduct against Archbishop Seraphim. This act was alleged to have taken place thirty years prior when Archbishop Seraphim served as was a traveling and supply priest in Alberta, North Carolina and Ontario until becoming Rector of Holy Trinity Sobor in Winnipeg . He was placed on December 1, 1984. In this particular year he also accompanied St. Vladimir's Seminarian Octet across the USA and Canada. Throughout his eight years as an Orthodox priest Father Seraphim served faithfully as a devoted pastor, caring for and loving his flock and giving his wisdom, knowledge and energy to the service three-month leave of absence as the Church investigation continued and to its people. Thus it happened only naturally that he became a candidate for the bishoprichis episcopal responsibilities were being managed by [[Irénée (Rochon)|Bishop Irenee]].

== First Canadian-Born Orthodox Bishop See also==In the meantime, the office of the Diocesan Bishop in Canada had been vacant since Archbishop Sylvester retired on July 1, 1981. The Diocesan Assembly held in Winnipeg in June of 1984 noted that while Metropolitan Theodosius, as the "Locum Tenens", was devoting as much time and effort to the Canadian flock as possible, the geographically vast * [[Archdiocese should have a Bishop of its own. This led to the following: in November of 1986 the Diocesan Council nominated Father Seraphim to the episcopate, in March 1987 the Holy Synod accepted the nomination and decided for him to be "Bishop of Edmonton", the auxiliary to the ruling Bishop of Canada. Thus, during the Great Lent Father Seraphim was tonsured to become a monk and on the Holy Pascha of 1987 the Hieromonk Seraphim was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite.(OCA)]]

On June 13, 1987, at the end of the Diocesan Assembly of the ==External Links==* [http://archdiocese.ca Archdiocese of Canada, Archimandrite Seraphim was consecrated Bishop in St] (Official Site)* [http://www.archdiocese.ca/e_bishop/archbishop.htm Official biography]* [http://www.archdiocese. Herman's Orthodox Church in Edmontonca/archivesbishops. Becoming the first Canadian born bishop to rule, later on, the Canadian Archdiocese htm List of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in AmericaCanada]* [http://oca. org/news/headline-news/holy-synod-renders-decision-concerning-archbishop-seraphim Decision of deposition of Archbishop Seraphim]

On the eve {{start box}}{{succession|title=Archbishop of the Consecration, Archimandrite Seraphim officially accepted his election as Bishop, affirmed his allegiance to the fundamental Orthodox doctrine and promised to faithfully serve the Church and his flock. Edmonton<br>([[OCA]])|before=Joasaph (Antoniuk)|years=1987-1990|after=?}}{{succession|title=Archbishop of Ottawa<br>([[OCA]])|before=[[Theodosius (Lazor) of Washington|Theodosius (Lazor)]]<br><b><i>locum tenens</i></b>|years=1990-2014|after=[[Irénée (Rochon) of Ottawa|Irénée (Rochon)]]}}{{end box}}

During the Divine Liturgy the [[Category:Bishops]][[Category:Bishops laid their hands on his head, held an open Bible over him and prayed that he would be "a leader of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a luminary to the world".Edmonton]] The Primate of the Church, Metropolitan Theodosius, vested the new Bishop, placing the saccos over him and giving him other ornaments of his new position in the Church. The [[Category:Bishops and the clergy, as well as the worshippers present in the church, shouted "Axios" (Greek for "he is worthy') as each article of the vestment was put on him.Ottawa]] At the end, the new Bishop took in his hands the dikirion and trikirion, the ceremonial candleholders used by Bishops and blessed with them those in the church. "Eis pola eti Despota" [[Category:20th- Many years Master! 21st- Sung the churchcentury bishops]][[Category: St. Vladimir's Seminary Graduates]][[Category:Converts to Orthodox Christianity]]It was an unforgettable event. The day was beautiful, sunny and warm, the service was magnificent, and we all, who were lucky enough [[Category:Converts to witness the ceremony of the consecration of the new Bishop, a ceremony which goes back to the early days of the Christian Church, were so tremendously happy to see our new Vladika with the dikirion and trikirion in his hands blessing us, his unworthy servants.  Bishop Seraphim has said that giving Orthodoxy a higher profile in Canadian society is one of his priorities. He is a tireless worker for Orthodox unity and the unity of the Archdiocese. He seeks to imbue the faithful with the spirit of the Gospel, missionary fervour, and is much beloved by the faithful of the Archdiocese.Christianity from Protestantism]]