Candidates Named for Episcopal Nominations in Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese

The Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America has released a list of seven candidates for nomination as new archdiocesan auxiliary bishops at this summer's upcoming Archdiocesan Convention in Chicago. The Convention is to nominate two of the seven for election as auxiliary bishops. More here. Hat tip to Byzantine Texas for posting this first!

It's not entirely clear who is electing the new auxiliary bishops. The link above states that the "Archdiocesan Synod" will elect them, but given that a synod normally consists of ruling hierarchs it is not apparent how a collection of hierarchs including one ruling metropolitan and several auxiliary bishops can elect new bishops without someone from outside the Archdiocese joining them.

In the biographies themselves the emphasis placed on the languages known by the applicants is interesting, as is the presence of not one, but three clergy who have been priests for less than ten years. Length of pastoral service certainly isn't an absolute indicator of whether someone would make a good bishop or not, but one would think that it would certainly be a help...