OCA Diocese of Dallas Assembly to Nominate Bishop Postponed

Archbishop Nikon (Liolin) of Boston, locum tenens of the Diocese of Dallas and the South of the American Orthodox Church (OCA), has postponed the special diocesan assembly scheduled for later this month to nominate the next Bishop of Dallas. The most popular candidate currently under consideration in the Diocese, Archimandrite Gerasim (Eliel), is slated for a second vetting by the Holy Synod of the OCA due to the change in the composition of its membership since his fist vetting in 2009. More here.

Bishops Maxim, Nikolai Concelebrate in Reno

As part of his pastoral visit to the Serbian Orthodox mission in Reno, Nevada, this past weekend Bishop Maxim (Vasilijevic) of Alhambra concelebrated the Sunday Liturgy with the controversial Bishop Nikolai (Soraich), who served as Bishop of Sitka and Alaska prior to his forced retirement by the Holy Synod of the American Orthodox Church. Archimandrite Gerasim (Eliel) also concelebrated at the services along with other clergy. More on this past weekend's services and events can be found here.

New Candidate Considered for Diocese of Sitka

It appears that the Diocese of Sitka and Alaska of the American Orthodox Church will nominate Archimandrite Juvenaly (Repass), a monk of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk's Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania, currently serving at St. Herman's Theological Seminary in Kodiak, Alaska, for election as Bishop of Sitka. The candidate formerly under consideration for the vacant Sitka cathedra, Archimandrite Gerasim (Eliel), appears to be out of the running due to his desire to finish his studies at St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York. Fr. Juvenaly was previously a candidate for nomination for election to the cathedra of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. More here.

OCA Diocese of Dallas to Nominate New Bishop

Bishop Nikon (Liolin) of Boston, locum tenens of the Diocese of Dallas and Southeastern America of the American Orthodox Church (OCA), has called on the Diocese to prepare for a special diocesan assembly this spring or summer to nominate a candidate for election by the Holy Synod to the diocesan cathedra, which has been vacant since the retirement of Archbishop Dmitri (Royster) in early 2009.

The candidates under consideration by the Diocese's search committee include Bishop Mark (Maymon) of Baltimore, who currently serves as the Diocese's administrator; Archimandrite Alexander (Golitzin), who is also being considered by the Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese of North America; Archimandrite Gerasim (Eliel), who is expected to be nominated for the vacant Sitka cathedra this August; Archpriest Paul Gassios, also currently under consideration by the Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese; and Archpriest David Mahaffey.

More here.

Fr. Gerasim Leads Chicago Lenten Seminar

Archimandrite Gerasim (Eliel), former abbot of St. Herman's Monastery in Platina, California, led a Lenten seminar at the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection in Libertyville, Illinois, earlier this week. Fr. Gerasim, currently a student at St. Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood, New York, is widely expected to be the next Bishop of Sitka. More here.

New Bishop of Sitka to be Consecrated in 2011?

Forgive me for overlooking this until now, but it appears that the close of the 16th All-American Council this coming summer will be shortly followed by the consecration in Sitka of a new bishop for the American Orthodox Church's Diocese of Alaska. More here. That's all that's been said for the time being, but presumably Archimandrite Gerasim (Eliel), currently a student at St. Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood, New York, and previously abbot of St. Herman of Alaska's Monastery in Platina, California, will be the one being consecrated in Sitka. Provided, of course, that the consecration is still on the calendar when the current confusion is resolved.