Holy Synod of Bishops gathers for Fall Session, elects Priestmonk Matthias [Moriak] to fill vacant Midwest See

Orthodox Church in America

11/16/2010

SYOSSET, NY [OCA] — During the opening session of the fall meeting of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, which opened at the Chancery here on Tuesday morning, November 16, 2010, Priestmonk Matthias [Moriak] was canonically elected to the vacant See of Chicago and the Midwest.

Following a lengthy search process, Father Matthias was nominated from a slate of three candidates by delegates at a special Assembly of the Midwest Diocese convened at Saint Mary Cathedral, Minneapolis, MN on Wednesday, October 6, 2010. His name was then submitted to the Holy Synod for canonical election. He is currently under the omophorion of His Grace, Bishop Michael of New York, and serves Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery, Otego, NY. A full biography will be posted later today on www.oca.org.

In addition to the address of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, and reports by the Church’s officers — Archpriest Alexander Garklavs, Chancellor; Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, Secretary; and Melanie Ringa, Treasurer — the Holy Synod’s agenda includes a variety of items concerning external affairs, financial and legal matters, OCA departmental ministries, 2011 priorities, the Strategic Plan, the All-American Council, and related issues.

On Thursday, November 18, the Feast of Saint Tikhon of Moscow, the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at the Chancery’s Saint Sergius of Radonezh Chapel. The session will conclude later that afternoon.

Additional news will be posted on www.oca.org as it becomes available.

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