The Archdiocese of Washington is a diocese of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Its territory includes parishes, monasteries, and

missions Mission (from Latin ''missio'' "the act of sending out") may refer to: Organised activities Religion * Christian mission, an organized effort to spread Christianity *Mission (LDS Church), an administrative area of The Church of Jesus Christ of ...

located in Washington, D.C., southern Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. From 2005 to July 1, 2009, it was known as the Diocese of Washington and New York, until the Diocese of New York and New Jersey was reestablished as a separate diocese. The

archbishop In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...

of Washington is Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard), who is also the OCA's ruling primate.

History

At the 6th All-American Council, the Holy Synod of Bishops decided to form a new Diocese of Washington, D.C. by splitting the Washington area from the rest of the diocese. The new diocese began functioning in 1981 as the see of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America. However, the national administrative offices remained at Syosset, within the Diocese of New York and New Jersey. In 1981, the Diocese of New York and New Jersey became one of the local dioceses under its own hierarch, Bishop Peter (L'Huillier), with his see at the Holy Protection Cathedral. The formation of the Diocese of Washington included the areas of Washington, D.C., Maryland, southern Delaware, and northern Virginia. The St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington was the see for the Metropolitan. At its inception the new diocese included only a few parishes, those in the Baltimore and Washington metropolitan areas. During the following two decades after formation of the diocese a number of new parishes formed as the population of the diocese increased. In 2005, after the election of Metr. Herman as the ruling hierarch of the OCA and with the retirement of Abp. Peter, the Holy Synod of the OCA re-merged the dioceses of New York and New Jersey and Washington as the Diocese of Washington and New York. St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington was designated the see of the ruling hierarch. In 2009, the Diocese of New York and New Jersey was re-established as a separate diocese.

External links

*
Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
the primatial cathedral of Metr. Tikhon. {{coord, 38.9504, -77.1782, type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-VA, display=title Washington Christianity in Delaware Eastern Orthodoxy in Maryland Christianity in Virginia Eastern Orthodoxy in Washington, D.C. Christian organizations established in 1981 Eastern Orthodox organizations established in the 20th century Dioceses established in the 20th century