The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, meeting in its regular Spring 2026 Session under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, announces that it has accepted the request of His Eminence Archbishop Alexander to retire from his responsibilities as Archbishop of Dallas and the South.

His Eminence’s retirement from the Diocese of the South will take effect on July 23, 2026, upon the conclusion of the regular Diocesan Assembly of the Diocese. At that time, His Eminence will be relieved of his duties as diocesan bishop of the South. He will, however, continue to serve as the ruling bishop of the Bulgarian Diocese.

Archbishop Alexander has served the Church with distinction over many years of faithful ministry. Born in Burbank, California, in 1948, he was raised in the Orthodox faith and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Divinity from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. He continued his studies at the University of Oxford under Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) and spent time in monastic formation, including at Simonos Petras Monastery on Mount Athos.

He was consecrated to the episcopacy in 2012 as Bishop of Toledo and the Bulgarian Diocese, succeeding Archbishop Kyrill, and was later elected Archbishop of Dallas and the South in 2016, succeeding Archbishop Dmitri of blessed memory. In 2017, he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop. Throughout his episcopal ministry, His Eminence has been known for his theological depth, his commitment to the liturgical and spiritual life of the Church, and his faithful pastoral care of the clergy and faithful entrusted to him.

The Holy Synod expresses its profound gratitude to Archbishop Alexander for his years of devoted service to the Diocese of the South and to the Orthodox Church in America. The hierarchs assure His Eminence of their continued prayers as he is relieved of his responsibilities in the Diocese of the South while continuing his archpastoral ministry in the Bulgarian Diocese.

Further information regarding the administration of the Diocese of the South following His Eminence’s retirement will be provided in due course.

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America has begun its regular Spring 2026 Session under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon.

The hierarchs are gathered in Springfield, VA, where they will meet to address matters concerning pastoral care, administration, and the ongoing life of the Orthodox Church in America.

On Wednesday, April 29, the members of the Holy Synod will travel to Washington, DC, where they will gather at the Primatial Cathedral of Saint Nicholas for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. The Liturgy will be presided by His Grace Bishop Benedict of Hartford and New England. Local clergy and faithful are welcome to join the bishops for Liturgy.

Further information regarding the work of the Holy Synod will be shared in due course.

Christ is Risen! Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and the Diocese of the Midwest of the Orthodox Church in America are humbled and excited to announce a bold and creative partnership intended to form and train a select cohort of qualified men for the Priesthood in the Chicagoland area over the next three years.

Born of creative discussions between His Eminence Archbishop Michael, Rector of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, and His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, and undergirded by a multi-faceted Lilly Grant of nearly $1,000,000, the Chicago Program intends to grant an accredited Master of Divinity, the degree of preparation for ordained ministry.  The Cohort, who will follow the same program offered in residence at Saint Tikhon’s, will be taught by highly-qualified instructors local to the Diocese of the Midwest in classes combining synchronous online instruction and in-person intensives, making use of Diocesan-appointed and trained mentors for parish internships and liturgical formation.  The Cohort will spend additional intensive time in residence at St Tikhon’s each of the three years of the program.

The concept meets a demographic need not previously possible:  those long-established in the Orthodox Faith, who for reasons blessed by His Eminence, Archbishop Daniel himself, are not able to relocate to seminary for the customary three-year residential formation.  Both the Seminary and the Diocese of the Midwest note the following with clarity:  We remain absolutely committed to residential formation for ministry as the long-standing, gold standard of formation.  This special cohort is not open for applications.  It is an episcopally hand-selected group of married men, well-known to their communities, and long-serving in the Orthodox Tradition.  The Chicago Program is an effort to add additional clergy to the roster through creative, formal spiritual, theological, liturgical, and pastoral formation, at a time when our churches are bursting at the seams and more clergy are urgently needed.

This special program was blessed by the Holy Synod of Bishops at their Autumn 2025 meeting in Springfield, Virginia.  Presently, the leadership team, which includes Fr John Parker, Dean of St Tikhon’s; Fr Paul Witek, Academic Dean of St Tikhon’s; and Dn Timothy Heinbokel, Chicago Program Director; are working through the academic and practical specifics, as well as the accreditation details, which are pending.  With awaited approval from the ATS and pending participation in the relevant interstate distance education agreement (SARA), the program is anticipated to begin in Fall 2026, with the cohort graduating in Spring/Summer 2029.

For more information or to help provide much-needed scholarships for this unique effort, please write to us directly at dean@stots.edu, indicating “Chicago Program” in the subject line. 

Glory to God for all things!

Beginning on Holy Monday, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon celebrated the services of Holy Week, Pascha, and Bright Saturday at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, the Primatial Cathedral of the Orthodox Church in America, in Washington, DC.

Throughout the week, His Beatitude presided at the full cycle of services commemorating the saving Passion and Resurrection of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. Concelebrating with His Beatitude were Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America and Dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral; Priest David Bozeman, Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America and Associate Priest of the Cathedral; and Archpriest Valery Shemchuk, Associate Priest.

On Holy Thursday, prior to the celebration of the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, His Beatitude ordained Reader John Hartman to the subdiaconate.

On Great and Holy Friday, at the conclusion of Great Vespers, His Beatitude reminded the faithful:

“Today, we have already entered into that silence, not for the sake of an outward quiet, but so as to find the stillness of heart that will enable us to behold the present mystery not as a defeat but as a victory: the victory of light over darkness, of truth over falsehood, of life over death. (…) For just as the earth cannot remain dark when the created sun begins to shine upon it, so it is that even hell and death cannot withstand the uncreated Light and Life of Christ.”

Read the full text of His Beatitude’s homily

On Holy Saturday, before the Vesperal Divine Liturgy, the Cathedral community welcomed ten new faithful into the Orthodox Church through the Holy Mysteries of Baptism and Chrismation.

The services of Holy Week and Pascha were marked by prayerful and joyous participation, with hundreds of faithful and visitors gathering at the Primatial Cathedral, especially for the celebration of the Feast of Feasts.

Reflecting on the celebration of Pascha, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon noted, “In these holy days, we are reminded that the Resurrection of Christ is not simply an event of the past, but the very life of the Church. In the midst of the trials and uncertainties of our world, we proclaim with unwavering faith that Christ is risen, and in Him, life has already triumphed.”

On Bright Saturday, in accordance with the custom of the Archdiocese of Washington, His Beatitude presided at the celebration of Paschal Matins and the Divine Liturgy concelebrated by the clergy of the Archdiocese. Faithful from across the Archdiocese were in attendance, joining in the festal celebration. The liturgical responses were sung by the Archdiocesan Choir.

On Saturday, March 28, 2026, the Orthodox Church in America’s Office of Pastoral Life, through its Clergy Wives Ministry, hosted an online Lenten retreat for widows of reposed clergy. The Very Rev. Dr. Steven Voytovich presented on the theme, “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it,” reflecting on the life of the Mother of God through Scripture, the writings of the Church Fathers, the Church’s hymnography, and the liturgical services that proclaim the mystery of her life. He also invited participants to reflect on her dogmatic title, “Theotokos,” and on her maternal relationship to the Body of Christ.

Additionally, Father Steven led a group discussion with the widows, which focused on the significance of the Virgin Mary’s place in the Church as a fervent and dependable intercessor. At the conclusion of the retreat and discussion, Father Steven served an Akathist to the Virgin Mary for the widows gathered via Zoom.

Father Steven serves as Chancellor of the Diocese of New England (OCA), Director of the OCA’s Office of Institutional Chaplaincy and Rector of Holy Transfiguration Church in New Haven. He is a seasoned priest, educator, and pastoral leader with decades of experience in parish ministry, seminary formation, and institutional chaplaincy. He holds advanced degrees from Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and Fairfield University, including a Doctor of Ministry focused on Orthodox pastoral education.

By Matushka Deborah Belonick

Clergy wives across the Orthodox Church of America are deeply woven into the fabric of parish life. They participate in the liturgical rhythm of the Church, remain closely connected to the daily realities of their communities, and quietly serve in ways that often go unnoticed. Much of what they contribute happens behind the scenes—through steadiness, hospitality, discernment, adaptability, and faithfulness over time.

Yet meaningful connection with other clergy wives is often limited.

When connection does occur, it is usually incidental and episodic. Clergy wives may see one another at periodic national or diocesan events, at occasional deanery gatherings, or through chance reunions with friends from seminary days. These moments can be warm and encouraging, but they are brief. They rarely provide the time needed for deeper conversation, shared reflection, and mutual strengthening.

The Office of Pastoral Life wants to offer something different. Building on their clergy wives peer groups, they want to host gatherings that will create spaces for clergy wives and widows to connect not merely in passing, but with purpose. In these settings, relationships can form and mature. Conversations can move beyond surface exchange to thoughtful reflection on the realities of parish life, family life, and personal spiritual growth. Wisdom forged through lived experience can be shared freely, and burdens can be carried together.

Such purposeful gatherings cultivate genuine companionship and shared learning. They allow clergy wives to sharpen one another through conversation and attentive listening. Over time, this kind of relational depth strengthens not only each woman, but the entire clergy family.

Healthy clergy families contribute to flourishing parishes. When clergy wives are strengthened in their own faith, clarity, and resilience, what they bring to parish life becomes steadier and more life-giving. Strengthening clergy wives through intentional connection strengthens clergy families—and thriving clergy families contribute to flourishing parishes.

2026 OCA Clergy Wives Retreat Announced

This summer, for the first time, the Office of Pastoral Life will host an in-person Clergy Wives Retreat from July 27 to July 30 at the Antiochian Village in Bolivar, PA. Priests’ wives, deacons’ wives and clergy widows from across the Orthodox Church in America will gather for focused conversation, reflection, and fellowship in a setting designed specifically for them. Physician-psychiatrist educator, Orthodox Christian spiritual care executive coach, trainer and speaker, Dr. Ioana Popa will lead the retreat. She will invite participants to explore how to incorporate the theme of this year’s retreat, Come Away and Rest, into their lives beyond their three days at Antiochian Village so that rest might bear fruit in their hearts, marriages, and ministries, for years to come.

Parishes are asked to support travel and registration costs to enable the clergy wives and widows in their parish to attend. This shared commitment reflects an understanding that investing in clergy families is an investment in the long-term health of parish life.
Those who wish to further strengthen this effort are invited to consider a donation toward the cost of the retreat. Your gift of $650 will underwrite the full cost of room and board for three days of rest and connection for one clergy wife or widow. $500 will create a travel scholarship. No donation is too small. In building intentional spaces for connection, the Church takes a practical step toward sustaining those who quietly sustain so much.

To learn more or to sponsor a clergy wife in full or in part, visit our sponsorship menu.

Clergy wives and widows interested in attending the retreat who are not already in the Orthodox Church in America’s Clergy Wives Directory will need to add themselves prior to the launch of registration in late April. Click here to update or add your contact information in the directory.

Written by Archpriest Nicholas Solak.

The monastic brotherhood of the Monastery of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk has announced the 122nd annual Memorial Day Pilgrimage to take place from May 22 to May 25, 2026. 

Pilgrimage events include Memorial Day Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and a healing service to the Mother of God.

We invite all singers to come join the St. Tikhon’s Festival Choir for the weekend!  Our Festival Choir will enjoy two days of rehearsals and singing for the Memorial Day Hierarchical Liturgy Monday morning.  Full details and registration for the festival choir can be found here.

All are welcome to join us for this wonderful, celebratory pilgrimage weekend!

FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2026
4:00 PM Official Opening of the 122nd Pilgrimage Vespers & Matins –Monastery Church
All pilgrims are invited to dinner in the monastery dining hall.
7:00 PM Commencement Speaker at the Seminary Convocation Center

SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2026
9:00 AM Hierarchical Divine Liturgy – Monastery Church
A meal for all pilgrims in the monastery dining hall to follow.
1:00 PM 84th Commencement of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
4:00 PM Resurrection Vigil – Monastery Church
Dinner for all pilgrims in the monastery dining hall to follow.

SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2026
9:00 AM Hierarchical Divine Liturgy –Monastery Church
A meal for all pilgrims in the monastery dining hall to follow
4:30 PM Vespers and Matins – Monastery Church

MONDAY, MAY 25, 2026 – MEMORIAL DAY
7:30 AM Hours & early Divine Liturgy – All Saints Church
10:00 AM Hierarchical Divine Liturgy – Monastery Church
2:30 PM Healing service to the Mother of God – All Saints Church
4:30 PM Vespers and Matins and closing of Pilgrimage – Monastery Church
**Food vendors will be onsite all day Monday in the Bookstore parking lot.

The monastic brotherhood looks forward to welcoming everyone once again to St. Tikhon’s Monastery Memorial Pilgrimage.