HOLY SYNOD OF BISHOPS GRANTS METROPOLITAN THEODOSIUS' REQUEST TO RETIRE

www.oca.org ^ | April 3, 2002

[FormerLib]

SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] -- On Tuesday, April 2, 2002, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Theodosius, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, shared with members of the Holy Synod of Bishops his desire to retire from the office of Metropolitan of All America and Canada in July 2002.

The announcement came on the second day of the spring session of the Holy Synod of Bishops, held at the OCA Chancery.

"You are intimately aware that these past two years have been particularly difficult for me as I have faced increasing health problems," Metropolitan Theodosius told the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops in reference to his declining health. "I have found that my physical condition is once again deteriorating to such an extent that, given my limited physical abilities, I find myself unable to respond to the demands of my office in the manner which the Church needs and deserves of its Primate."

Metropolitan Theodosius added that increasing demands placed upon him "have only served to be the cause of even greater inner anxiety and personal concerns."

"Please be assured that this request has not been made quickly but only after consultation with medical professionals, much prayer for guidance and with an awareness of your love for me and your concern for the welfare of the Church," Metropolitan Theodosius concluded. "It is my hope that you will accept my petition and that my retirement will come into effect after the convening of the first session of the 13th All-American Council."

According to the Very Rev. John Matusiak, OCA Communications Director, "Metropolitan Theodosius continues to suffer the residual effects of strokes he had suffered in late 2000 and early 2001. Despite a four-month medical leave of absence from May 1 until September 1, 2001, which he took at the recommendation of his physicians, he found the ever-increasing burdens of his office too demanding."

The members of the Holy Synod of Bishops granted Metropolitan Theodosius' request by issuing a Synodal Resolution on April 2, 2002, the text of which reads as follows:

"Having heard the request of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Theodosius that, in light of his failing health, he be granted retirement from the office of Metropolitan of All America and Canada and be granted the status of Retired Hierarch of the Orthodox Church in America; and that this retirement occur during the 13th All-American Council to be held in Orlando, Florida, the members of the Holy Synod unanimously resolved:

"a.] To grant His Beatitude's request to retire from the office of Metropolitan of All America and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America;

"b.] To grant him the status of Retired Hierarch, effective following the first session of the 13th All-American Council to be held in Orlando, Florida July 21, 2002; and

"c.] To express to His Beatitude, Metropolitan Theodosius, their fraternal love and gratitude for his primatial service and archpastoral labors."

In conjunction with the decision to grant Metropolitan Theodosius' request, Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick, OCA Chancellor, announced that the procedure by which a new Metropolitan is elected is being prepared and will be reviewed and finalized at a special session of the Holy Synod of Bishops which will be held at St. Tikhon?s Monastery on May 24, 2002. Further information on the forthcoming election will be sent to all parishes, as well as published in a forthcoming issue of The Orthodox Church newspaper and on the OCA website at www.oca.org.

[FormerLib]

I realize that this won't be of interest to all Freepers but it will be of interest to many.

[FormerLib]

Orthodox ping

[wideawake]

God Bless to His Beatitude. I hope this truly holy man's body is healthier than he thinks - his successor will probably have need of his wise advice.

[FormerLib]

Thank you for your kind words, sir.

[eleni121]

As a Greek Orthodox, I am interested in knowing the differences between the OCA and the Greek Orthodox faith as practiced in the US. Is there a question of ecumenism dividing the faiths? Any info appreciated.

[The_Reader_David]

There is no difference in faith between the local Orthodox churches--despite the fact that only Moscow and Bulgaria recognize Moscow's grant of autocephaly to the OCA (formerly the Metropolia), the OCA is in full communion with the remaining ancient Patriarchates (Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem) and all the national Orthodox Churches.

The main practical differences are that the OCA usually offers its services in English rather than Slavonic or Greek, and generally follows the Slavic rather than the Greek typicon. Most OCA parishes are, like the Church of Greece and the Patriarchate of Constantinople, New Calendar, though some, including those in Alaska, have retained the Old Calendar.

[crazykatz]

The OCA is a "descendant" of the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA, as I understand it. The OCA is part of the Standing Council of Orthodox Bishops in America. The Greeks, Antiochians, Serbians and so forth are all members of this group.

The OCA is recognised as part of worldwide Orthodoxy....and follows Eucumenical Patriarch, just as do the Greeks, Serbs, Russians and so forth.

The OCA has about 1+ million members, I think. Their services are all in English but their tones and music are Russian, in origin.

[crazykatz]

I believe the Romanian Orthodox Church in America is now under the authority of the OCA.

[ArrogantBustard]

Perhaps you could enlighten us dreadful schismatic Latin speaking practitioners of Romish Popery (or is that Popish Romanism) as to the significance of this event? thanks.

AB

[FormerLib]

The significance is simply that a well-respected servant of God has reached the point where his health prevents him from serving in his current capacity. Metropolitan Theodosius has served as the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America for almost a quarter of a century. His leadership will be missed but we will pray that he will be around in other capacities for sometime to come.

Many years!