[[Image:Leonty.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich) of New York]]His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan '''Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich) of New York''' succeeded [[Theophilus (Pashkovsky) of San Francisco|Metr. Theophilus]] as [[Metropolitan]] of the [[OCA|North American Diocese of the Church in Russia]] upon his death. Metr. Leonty brought extensive experience since the early years of the North American mission. This experience proved to be most valuable as he guided the American [[Diocese]]. Under his leadership the first ‘Statutes' were enacted that regularized the organization of hierarchy and [[parish]]es of the diocese, and the core was established of a permanent central church administration. As Fr. [[Alexander Schmemann]] noted at the time of Metr. Leonty's death "… the church was equipped with a coherent administrative structure, with institutions making it possible for her to grow and to develop." (p231, Tarasar)