OCA restores Diocese of New York-New Jersey

SYOSSET, NY (OCA Communications) - On July 1, 2009, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America met via teleconference, during which they reestablished, as separate dioceses, the Diocese of Washington and the Diocese of New York-New Jersey.

Declaring the Diocese of New York-New Jersey vacant, the hierarchs appointed His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, to serve as Locum Tenens.

The Holy Synod of Bishops also decided that His Beatitude's title, effective immediately, is "Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada."

An official notification of these changes will be issued by the Holy Synod of Bishops shortly.