Not to be confused with the much smaller Orthodox Church of America, the Orthodox Church in America is an autocephalous Church associated with the Eastern Orthodox Church in North America., with parishes, monasteries, schools, communities, and institutions in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Orthodoxy in America began in 1794, when a group of Orthodox monks and novices traveled from Russia to Kodiak Island in Alaska, which was then a Russian territory. These Russian missionaries were following up on the initial evangelization that had been started by Russian lay people in Alaska soon after its discovery in 1741. Soon afterward, the Church began baptizing native inhabitants, who were mostly Inuit and American Indian heritage. Notable missionaries in Alaska were Saint Herman of Alaska and Father John Veniaminov, a married priest who was consecrated as Bishop Innocent after the death of his wife, founding the first missionary diocese in Alaska, as well as the its first cathedral and seminary at Sitka, on the west coast. Before he was recalled to Moscow, Bishop Innocent had translated the Gospel of Saint Matthew, the text of the Divine Liturgy, and the Catechism into Aleutian. He was canonized in 1977. When Alaska was purchased by the United States in 1867, the Alaskan missionary diocese was moved to San Francisco, and later became the Russian Orthodox Church, Diocese of the Aleutian Islands and North America, and its missionary work in Canada and the eastern United States was expanded. In 1904, the Diocesan See was elevated to the rank of Archbishop, and moved to New York a year later. The Russian Orthodox Church had jurisdiction over all Orthodox Christians in the United States and Canada until 1914. During and after the Russian Revolution, funds from Russia sufficient to support the Archdiocese were no longer available, and the arrest of the Patriarch of Moscow by Soviet authorities in 1922, both contributed to the split that occurred within the Russian Church in America. There were some within the American Church who wanted to remain loyal to Moscow, while others refused to accept the authority of a Soviet-controlled Church. Those who asserted independence from Russia formed the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church. In 1946, a synod of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church was held, at which four bishops and several delegates opted to submit to the Patriarch of Moscow in return for recognition of their autonomy. However, Patriarch Alexis of Moscow made impossible demands that were rejected. In 1970, he agreed to allow them administrative autonomy, and the Church was renamed as the Orthodox Church in America. Non-Russian Orthodox Churches that had been formed within the United States were unwilling to unite with Moscow, and opted to remain outside the OCA, whose jurisdiction extends throughout the United States and Canada, with an exarchate in Mexico. Other parishes opted to remain directly under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Moscow, and outside the OCA; they were organized as the Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the United States and Canada, but some of these parishes have since joined with the OCA. The official name of the Orthodox Church in America is the Autocephalous Orthodox Church in America. The supreme authority of the OCA is the Holy Synod of Bishops, which is made up of all of the Church’s diocesan bishops. The primate of the OCA is the metropolitan, who also serves as the bishop of one of the Church’s dioceses. The diocese is the basic church body that comprises all of the parishes of a defined geographical area, and is governed by a diocesan bishop. The highest legislative and administrative authority within the Church is the All-American Council, comprised of all of the metropolitans, bishop and priests, as well as lay delegates, who discuss and vote on Church matters.
Recommended Resources
Affiliated with the Orthodox Church in America, the site is available in English and French. General information about the archdiocese is published, along with an introduction to the archbishop, the archdiocesan chancery, council, deans, and other officials. A history of Orthodoxy in Canada is presented, with contacts, Orthodox educational institutes, monasteries, and other missions and programs.
https://www.archdiocese.ca/
Department of Christian Education, Orthodox Church in America
The mission of the Department of Christian Education is the support of church school teachers, clergy, families, and others who are engaged in faith formation at every age level. Serving the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, the department offers web-based study units, workshops for church school teachers, training in the use of educational curriculum, articles on various educational topics, and the production of resources for parish use.
http://dce.oca.org/
The Diocese of Sitka & Alaska is based in Anchorage. Its site includes a history of Orthodoxy in North America, a parish directory, calendar of programs and events, assembly documents and reports, as well as Saint Herman pilgrimage schedules, a gallery of photographs, videos, and announcements. Other resources include registration forms, documents, other publications and contacts.
http://www.doaoca.org/
Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania
The Orthodox Church in America diocese for eastern Pennsylvania is highlighted, including its office locations, hours and contacts, a list of parishes, monasteries, and educational institutions. An introduction to the archbishop, a photo gallery, video, announcements and a calendar of programs of events are posted to the site. Access to various documents and other publications are included.
http://www.doepa.org/
The web site of the Orthodox Church in America's Diocese of New England is headquartered in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Administrative and organizational contacts are published to the site, along with a gallery of photographs, video, and a calendar of events. An interactive map and directory shows the locations of the Boston, Connecticut and Northern deaneries, diocesan parishes, and announcements.
http://www.dneoca.org/
With administrative offices in Dallas, Texas, the Orthodox Church in America diocese covers fourteen states within the United States, with clergy and monastics serving in seventy-eight parishes and missions, as well as three monastic communities. Diocesan directories, parish listings, and monastery locations are posted to the site, along with a calendar of Orthodox conferences, liturgical resources, financial reports, and links to other Orthodox sites.
http://www.dosoca.org/
Billing itself as the Canadian journal of Orthodox Christian thought and theology, the site is published by monks of the Monastery of All Saints of North America, situated east of Rosedale, British Columbia. The site features a history of the monastery, a daily journal, and several articles on topics related to Orthodoxy, spiritual and educational topics. Contact information is included.
http://www.orthodoxcanada.org/
The origins of the OCA are in the arrival of eight Orthodox missionaries in Kodiak, Alaska in 1794. A profile and history of the Orthodox Church and its work in the United States and North America are put forth, along with a description of Orthodox feasts, saints, fast days, and fast-free seasons of the church year, common prayers, and other resources, which include parish and clergy directories, documents and publications.
http://www.oca.org/
Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America
A diocese of the Orthodox Church in America, the diocesan offices are located in Jackson, Michigan, with other offices in Grass Lake. Although Romanian Orthodox parishes were in the US and Canada from the turn of the century, the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America was established as a diocese in 1929. Its history and canonical status are discussed, administrative contacts are posted, and other parish and clergy resources are included.
http://www.roea.org/
Saint Andrew Eastern Orthodox Church
Construction of St. Andrew began in 1967, and a history of the church is put forth. Affiliated with the Orthodox Church in America, driving directions, service schedules, weekly bulletins, and a calendar of events are posted, along with administrative and leadership contacts, weekly handouts, a gallery of photographs, and correspondence. General information about Orthodoxy is included.
http://www.standreweoc.org/
Saint Herman Theological Seminary
Situated in Kodiak, Alaska, St. Herman is named for its patron, the first recognized saint of North America. The seminary developed out of a parochial school that was founded at Unalaska in 1826. Its history, programs and purpose are defined, along with its admissions policies, a program and course catalog, faculty directory, and downloadable application. Photos, video, and other resources are included.
http://www.sthermanseminary.org/
Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary
St. Tikhon's is an institution of professional Orthodox Christian theological education, chartered by the Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and affiliated with the Orthodox Church in America. Its primary mission is to provide theological, liturgical, spiritual and moral foundation for Orthodox men. Its admissions policies, academic programs, and support services are discussed.
http://www.stots.edu/
Theological Seminary Established in 1938, the seminary prepares students for ministry as bishops, priests, deacons, lay leaders, and scholars in the Orthodox Church in America. A history of American Orthodoxy, the mission, vision and values of the institution are put forth, including its accreditations, commendations, and employment opportunities. It admissions policies and alumni programs are discussed.
https://www.svots.edu/
