Holy Synod of Bishops confirms Archpriest Alexander Rentel as OCA Chancellor
During their Fall Session at the Chancery October 23-26, 2018, the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops confirmed the nomination by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon of Archpriest Alexander Rentel as Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America.
Father Alexander, whose appointment was made in accordance with Article VI Section 2 of the Statute of the Orthodox Church in America and endorsed by the Metropolitan Council at a special meeting on Thursday, October 18, succeeds Archpriest John Jillions, who has served as Chancellor since 2011 and who was recently appointed Rector of Holy Ghost Church, Bridgeport, CT. Father John will continue as Chancellor through December 31, while Father Alexander will assume his duties on January 1, 2019.
A faithful priest of the Orthodox Church in America for 17 years, Father Alexander brings a wealth of experience to his new position as a well-known professor, liturgist, pastor and confessor. His pastoral ministry has been offered within the context of Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary [SVOTS], Yonkers, NY, where he has worked for over 16 years as a professor, and for 10 has served as the seminary’s Ecclesiarch. As Ecclesiarch, he has overseen the life of the school’s Three Hierarchs Chapel, the liturgical training of seminarians, and the ordination process. The latter ministry is a key component of the Chancellor’s responsibilities, along with assisting the Metropolitan in the areas of theological training and parish assignments.
Currently, Father Alexander is the seminary’s Assistant Professor of Canon Law. He has been a member of the Holy Synod of Bishop’s Commission on Canons and Statues. His experience with the Statute Revision Commission has given him an extraordinary familiarity with the current—and past—Statutes. In his 16 years as a professor at the seminary, he has taught a wide variety of subjects, including liturgical theology, Church history, and Biblical Greek.
Father Alexander’s knowledge and experience of canon law are not only academic, but practical. On many occasions, he has provided canonical guidance and opinions to the Holy Synod on a variety of subjects, and he has been called upon to consult in this area by Orthodox Churches around the world. Having worked closely with all of the bishops of the Holy Synod, collectively and individually, he is intimately familiar with the general functioning of the Holy Synod. He is widely known and respected by the many seminarians who have studied under him.
Father Alexander is married to Nancy Rentel (SVS MDiv 1995), who works in Higher Education in New York City. Together they have three children.