Before Metropolitan Christopher was Metropolitan Christopher he was Father Vel and he was my priest from birth all the way up to high school. He was born and raised in Texas so to this day I always expect Serbian Orthodox priests to speak with a Texas drawl :-D
I never met Metr. Christopher, but I was received into the Orthodox Church under one of his priests, so he will always be my first bishop... I have met Bp. Longinus. I think he is one of the most remarkable men I have ever met. In our one conversation face to face, he was, not to mince words, clairvoyant.
Ah see!