OCA's Diocese of the South to nominate bishop

(OCA-DOS) - Dear Reverend Clergy, Pious Monastics, and Esteemed Laity of the Diocese of the South, Brothers and sisters in Christ,

The blessing of the Lord!

In accordance with my prerogatives as locum tenens, and in keeping with the diocesan bylaws, I am pleased formally to call a Special Diocesan Assembly of the Diocese of the South for the nomination of a new diocesan bishop to take place at 1:00 pm on Monday, February 16, 2015, in the context of the annual Pastoral Conference at the Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Miami Lakes, Florida. All the information concerning the assembly and the pastoral conference is available on the diocesan website. I encourage all parishes, monasteries, and missions of the Diocese of the South to participate by sending their allowed number of clergy and lay delegates.

When the possibility of this assembly was discussed in the Diocesan Council meeting in Dallas in July earlier this year, this was deemed the most appropriate timing and place for this momentous occasion. Along with St Seraphim’s Orthodox Cathedral, Christ the Saviour has been one of the historical centers of the diocese, with Archbishop Dmitri spending half the year in residence in Miami in the early years of the Diocese of the South and much of the nascent missionary work being carried out by Fr George Gladky, longtime Rector of Christ the Saviour and the first chancellor of the diocese. Also, with 2015 being a year in which two important activities will take place in Dallas --- specifically the consecration and/or installation of the new bishop and the transfer of the Archbishop Dmitri’s remains to the memorial chapel at St Seraphim’s --- and with the All-American Council being held in Atlanta, Georgia in July during the usual time of our regular diocesan assembly, Christ the Saviour was the unanimous choice of the Diocesan Council for this special assembly (and, in conjunction with the pastoral conference).

The nomination will take place in accordance with Article I, Section 5 of the Diocese of the South’s Bylaws. At its November meeting, the Diocesan Council, with my blessing, recommended that the names of all the candidates vetted by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America be given to the Special Diocesan Assembly for possible nomination.

I look forward to being with all of you in February in Miami Lakes. I also wish you every joy of the coming feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Asking the Lord to give you strength, I remain,

With love in Christ,

+Nikon
Archbishop of Boston, New England and the Albanian Archdiocese
Locum Tenens of the Diocese of the South