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Benjamin (Basalyga) of Pittsburgh

36 bytes added, 17:00, July 3, 2007
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Life: add link
After the return of Metr. Platon to the United States in 1923, Fr. Benjamin became for awhile his personal secretary. Thereafter, Fr. Benjamin again served at a number of parishes, including: Alpha, New Jersey; New York City; Wilmington, Delaware; Berlin, New Hampshire; and Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
On [[September 9]], 1933, [[Hieromonk]] Benjamin was elected bishop by the [[Holy Synod]] of Bishops of the [[Metropolia]], and on [[September 10]], he was consecrated to the episcopate at the [[Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral]] in New York City, thus becoming the first bishop of the Orthodox Church born in America. He was then assigned as Bishop of Pittsburgh and West Virginia. In 1938, Bp. Benjamin was sent as a delegate from the Metropolia to the All-Russian Sobor of the Church outside of Russia at a Sremski-Karlovtsy, Yugoslavia. In 1946, having been raised to the dignity of Archbishop, Abp. Benjamin was assigned to lead the Church in Japan, which had been placed under the protection of the American Metropolia after the Japanese surrender in World War II. In this position he led the [[Church of Japan]] in its recovery from the devastation from the war. In 1953, he was succeeded by [[Ireney (Bekish) of New York|Bp. Ireney]] and returned to his Pittsburgh diocese. On [[October 22]], 1961, during the celebration of his fiftieth anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Abp. Benjamin ordained the monk [[Theodosius (Lazor) of Washington|Theodosius (Lazar) ]] to the priesthood. Fr. Theodosius would in time succeed to his see as Bishop of Pittsburgh.
Abp. Benjamin died on [[November 15]], 1963 in New York City during the sessions of the Eleventh [[All-American Sobor]]. He was buried at the cemetery of St. Tikhon's Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania.
years=1953-1963|
after=Amvrossy}}
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== Sources==