The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America met on the campus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary on Monday, November 2, and canonically elected Seminary alumnus His Grace Bishop Gerasim (Eliel) as Bishop of Dallas and the South.
The members of the Holy Synod gathered Monday morning at the Seminary’s Three Hierarch’s Chapel for a Moleben to open their regular fall session, under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon.
His Grace Bishop Gerasim’s election during the session marks the first time a bishop has been canonically elected on the grounds of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. In a letter informing the clergy of the Diocese of the South of the election, Metropolitan Tikhon directed that Bishop Gerasim be commemorated immediately as Bishop of Dallas and the South at all divine services, following the commemoration of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America.
The enthronement of Bishop Gerasim will take place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at St. Seraphim Cathedral in Dallas, TX.
His Grace Bishop Gerasim’s election follows his nomination by the clergy and lay delegates at the Special Nominating Assembly held on July 24, 2026, at St. Justin Martyr Church in Jacksonville, FL. His Grace has served as Locum Tenens of the Diocese of the South since July, following the retirement of His Eminence Archbishop Alexander. Consecrated to the episcopacy on June 29, 2021, Bishop Gerasim previously served as Bishop of Fort Worth and Auxiliary to the Diocese of the South.
His Grace Bishop Gerasim graduated from St. Vladimir’s Seminary with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 2012. He was the class valedictorian and also received commendations for contribution to community life and for his thesis, “Russian Icons in a Native Church: Conflict in Culture in Western Alaska.”
May God grant Bishop Gerasim many years!
Photos: OCA.org
