History of Diocese

In early 1986, a group of approximately thirty clergymen representing fifteen parishes and fifty-five monastics from two communities protested against the ecumenist policies of the Russian Church Abroad under the leadership of the newly-elected Metropolitan of New York, Vitaly, formerly Archbishop of Montreal, Quebec. These clergy or their representatives wrote and met with Metropolitan Vitaly on several occasions into the autumn of that year. When it became obvious that the theological concerns of these clergymen were being dismissed, in late fall 1986, the clergy and their parishes and monasteries formally left the Russian Church Abroad and formed the Church body known as The Holy Orthodox Church in North America (HOCNA). In 1988, HOCNA was incorporated, and two more parishes from the Russian Church Abroad joined HOCNA.

In August of 1988 in Athens, Greece, priestmonk Ephraim from the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Boston by Archbishop Auxentios of Athens, the first hierarch of the True Orthodox Church of Greece. (See HOCNA's Apostolic Succession chart.) Enthroned as HOCNA's first hierarch, Suffragan Bishop Ephraim was responsible for all ecclesiastical communities in North America (U.S.A. and Canada). For the first year, Bishop Ephraim was answerable to Archbishop Auxentios for all ecclesiastical matters, including obtaining authority for all ordinations. A year later, Archbishop Auxentios bestowed on Bishop Ephraim the authority to perform his own ordinations.

For three years, HOCNA had one diocese, the Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Boston (HOMB). Then, in January of 1991 in Athens, Greece, priestmonk Makarios from the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Toronto. He was now responsible for all ecclesiastical communities in Canada, and Bishop Ephraim was now responsible only for the ecclesiastical communities in the United States.

In January of 1993, approximately one year before the repose of Archbishop Auxentios, the Archbishop and the Holy Synod of the True Orthodox Church of Greece removed the suffragan status from the dioceses of Boston and Toronto and established them as Holy Metropolises fully administered (including ordinations) by their own ruling hierarchs, and Bishops Ephraim and Makarios were each given the title, Metropolitan.

In October of 1996, priestmonk Moses from the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Roslindale, auxiliary bishop to Metropolitan Ephraim.

In 2001, Bishop Moses was made a Metropolitan and was enthroned as the ruling bishop of a new diocese, the Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Seattle, which included all ecclesiastical communities of the Western United States. Metropolitan Ephraim continues to remain responsible for all other ecclesiastical communities in the United States and Guatemala.

In September of 2006, priestmonk Demetrius from the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Carlisle, auxiliary bishop to Metropolitan Ephraim.

Some Notable Dates in the Diocese

In 1988:

• Priestmonk Ephraim of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Boston, auxiliary bishop to Archbishop Auxentios of Athens, first hierarch of the True Orthodox Church of Greece.

In 1989:

• The diocese published the first issue of The True Vine.

In 1991:

• Father Nicodemos G. and his Diaconissa Lydia established St. Seraphim of Sarov Mission Parish in their home at Glen Allen, VA.
• Twenty-seven Orthodox Christians, including two priests and one deacon, were received into our diocese from the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

In 1993:

• Forty days after Mother Stephania's repose, Mother Seraphima was enthroned as Abbess of the Holy Nativity Convent, Brookline, MA.

In 1996:

• Priestmonk Moses from the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Roslindale, auxiliary bishop to Metropolitan Ephraim.

In 1997:

• The diocese published the first issue of The Faithful Steward.
• St. Xenia's camp held its first camp in Pennsylvania.

In 1998:

• St. Tatiana's Mission Parish, Woodside, NY, was established.

In 1999:

• Pillars of Orthodoxy Church, Carlisle, PA, dedicated its new temple.
• Convent of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple, Stanwood, WA, was established as a Metochion of the Holy Nativity Convent, Brookline, MA.
• The Holy Ascension Skete of Mt. Holly Springs, PA, was dedicated.
• St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco Memorial Chapel, Kennebunk, ME, was dedicated. The Chapel was in the home of Dr. Vassily M. and family.

In 2000:

• St. Philaret House, Roslindale, MA, opened its doors as the new Diocesan headquarters.
• Holy Ascension Orthodox Mission Parish, Carver, MA, was dedicated. It was in the home of Father George L. and Presbytera Sofia.
• The California monastery, “Saint Gregory of Sinai” was received into our diocese from the Orthodox Church in America.

In 2001:

• The Glorification of the holy Metropolitan Philaret, the new Confessor of New York, of blessed memory was held in Worcester, MA.
• St. Philaret of New York Mission Parish, Worcester, MA, was established. The Mission was in the home of Father Peter F. and Matuska Dionysia.
• Priestmonk Theodore began work on the Virtual Parish.

In 2003:

• St. Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Church, Glen Allen, VA, dedicated a new addition.

In 2004:

• Holy Ascension Skete resettled in Cape Neddick, ME.
• St. Cosmas of Aitolia Orthodox Church, Lanham, MD, dedicated its new temple.
• The diocese established its own website.

In 2005:

• Father Michael L. of Holy Wisdom Orthodox Church, Catlett, VA, celebrated the fortieth anniversary of his ordination to the Priesthood.
• Father Peter F. of St. Philaret of New York Mission Parish, Worcester, MA, transferred to Pillars of Orthodoxy Church, Carlisle, PA. The Mission Parish rented several temporary spaces until 2006 when it found a long-term rental at Days Inn Motel in Chicopee, MA.

In 2006:

• Priestmonk Demetrius from the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Carlisle, auxiliary bishop to Metropolitan Ephraim.

In 2007:

• St. Xenia’s Orthodox Mission Church in Guatemala City, Guatemala was established.
• Holy Protection Church, Tonawanda, NY, dedicated a new church.
• A fire severely damaged St. Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Church, Glen Allen, MA. The structure was subsequently leveled to the foundation to begin rebuilding.
• With the transfer of Metropolitan Moses' see to the Holy Nativity of the Theotokos Orthodox Cathedral in Portland (OR), St. Nectarios American Orthodox Cathedral and the Convent of the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple were placed under the Omophorion of Metropolitan Ephraim.

In 2008:

• Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Albany, GA, was blessed by Bishop Demetrius for divine services.
• St. Anna's Orthodox Church, Roslindale, MA, completed a major renovation of its downstairs hall, kitchen, and restrooms, as well as ceiling and air conditioning system of their chapel.
• Father Neketas P. of St. Nectarios American Orthodox Cathedral, Seattle, WA, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination to the Priesthood.
• St. Mark of Ephesus Orthodox Cathedral, Roslindale, MA, completed renovation of its downstairs Church hall, classrooms, and kitchen.
• St. Mark of Ephesus Orthodox Cathedral, Roslindale, MA, hosted the celebration of Metropolitan Ephraim's twentieth year as HOMB's Chief Shepherd and HOCNA's first hierarch.
• Holy Cross Monastery, Niagara Falls, NY, was received into our diocese from the Orthodox Church in America.
• After forty years, the Orthodox Christian Witness published by St. Nectarios American Orthodox Cathedral, Seattle, WA, distributed its last issue.
• Pillars of Orthodoxy Church, Carlisle, PA, celebrated its 35 anniversary.
• St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Church in Frankfort, IL. was dedicated.

In 2009:

•  St. Tatiana Orthodox Mission Church of Woodside, NY completed a major renovation of its Chapel, downstairs, kitchen and restrooms.
• Construction plans were finalized for the Chapel of St. John of Kronstadt Orthodox Mission Church in Flagler Beach, FL.