The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) have elevated His Grace Bishop Paul of Chicago to the rank and dignity of archbishop.
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon and the Hierarchs of the Holy Synod made the decision Wednesday, May 27, 2020 during their regular Spring Session (via teleconference), in recognition of Archbishop Paul’s five years of outstanding service as a bishop, leading the Diocese of the Midwest.
“Congratulations to the newly elevated Archbishop Paul of Chicago,” wrote His Beatitude on Twitter. “His yeoman’s work in shepherding the vast Diocese of the Midwest make him most worthy of this elevation. I wish His Eminence inexhaustible energy, peace, and joy. Axios!”
Archbishop Paul began theological studies in September 1991 at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, from which he received his Master of Divinity degree summa cum laude and served as valedictorian in 1994. He was ordained to the priesthood by His Eminence, the late Archbishop Job of Chicago and the Midwest, on June 25, 1994. On October 20, 2014, he was tonsured to monastic rank with the name Paul, in honor of Saint Paul the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople. On October 21, 2014, the Holy Synod elected him to fill the vacant Episcopal See of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest. Archimandrite Paul was consecrated to the Episcopacy and enthroned as Bishop of Chicago and the Midwest at Chicago’s historic Holy Trinity Cathedral on Saturday, December 27, 2014.
May God grant His Eminence, Archbishop Paul many years!
