New York, July 31, 2020
Holy Trinity OCA Cathedral in Boston. Photo: wikipedia.org
On September 1, His Eminence Archbishop Nikon of Boston and New England of the Orthodox Church in America reposed in the Lord. Since then, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of America and All Canada has been administering the diocese.
In a letter dated July 24, Met. Tikhon announced that the process for nominating and electing a new bishop of New England is now underway.
Every parishioner in good standing in the diocese can identify one possible candidate for possible nomination through August 31, 2020. Candidates must be celibate or widowed, must “satisfy all the requirements of the Sacred Canons pertaining to the highest of all ecclesiastical offices,” and must be conversant in English. It is preferable that the candidate hold a graduate degree in Orthodox theology. If the candidate is not already a monastic, he must at least take vows to become a riassophore monk before being consecrated as bishop.
The Search Committee will then examine the nominations and select three candidates, who will then be vetted by the Holy Synod. The candidates will then meet with the Diocesan Council, which will decide which candidate to forward to the Special Diocesan Assembly, which will officially nominate a candidate.
Read Met. Tikhon’s full letter on the site of the New England Diocese of the OCA.
