Archives Advisory Committee reports progress to Metropolitan Council

Archives Meeting

The Archives Advisory Committee of the Orthodox Church in America met at the Chancery here February 8-9, 2015 before offering a detailed presentation to members of the Metropolitan Council.

The Committee was established at the 2013 Spring Session of the Metropolitan Council to assess the housing needs of the OCA Archives.  [See related story.]  Composed of a diverse group of professionals who advise and assist the OCA Archivist on a voluntary basis, the Committee’s ongoing work includes the drafting of several documents, the identification of consultants and grant sources, and the compilation of a comprehensive inventory of Archival holdings.

After an opening Service of Prayer, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, noted that preserving the history documented in the Archives is a form of evangelization, inasmuch as they provide a record of how the faith has been lived by saints, bishops, clergy and faithful alike.  As such, the Archives are an integral missionary tool that must be carefully preserved.

Archpriests John Jillions and Eric G. Tosi, OCA Chancellor and Treasurer respectively, and Alexis Troubetzkoy, Committee chair, also addressed the gathering, after which Alexis Liberovsky, Archivist, and Matushka Tamara Skvir presented a copy of the comprehensive inventory of archival holdings in the Chancery.  Matthew Garklavs, a Committee consultant, and Mr. Liberovsky then related their findings concerning possible off-site storage facilities for some of the archival collections.

Melanie Ringa, OCA Treasurer, reported that the donor of the McGuire Family Charitable Remainder Trust for the construction of new facilities for the Archives had passed away recently, and that legal counsel would determine what specific expenditures for the Archives could be funded from the proceeds.

Gregory Shesko and Mr. Liberovsky reported on the recent visit of an environmental engineer to assess conditions in the Archives.  The Committee decided to solicit a formal proposal from the engineer for environmental and preservation assessments.  Dr. Jurretta Heckscher, a former federal grants officer, shared her extensive research on possible grants.  Committee members then developed an extensive list of projects that might qualify for grants, including

  • the digitization of film, video and audio recordings, due to their limited shelf life:
  • an equipment needs assessment and purchase; and
  • weatherproofing the present basement facility, per the recommendations of the engineer’s assessment.


Committee members met with Architect Joshua Frankel to discuss issues related to the possible construction of a new facility for the Archives.  In the fall of 2014, Mr. Frankel had visited the Archives to assess housing needs.  Several options for moving the Archives to other locations also were discussed.  In response to a report on possible interns to assist the Archivist, it was decided that these opportunities should be pursued.

Most Committee members were present as Mr. Troubetzkoy addressed the Metropolitan Council, at which time he appealed for their guidance, and that of the Holy Synod, with regard to the future housing of the Archives.  Committee members fielded questions on their work from Council members, who expressed their profound appreciation for all that has been accomplished to date.

Additional Committee members who attended the meeting included Archpriest John Erickson, Dr. Anatol Shmelev and Lisa Mikhalevsky, Metropolitan Council Liaison.