OCA Holy Synod of Bishops Grants Retirement to Metropolitan Herman

Syosset, NY.- The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, meeting at the OCA Chancery in Oyster Bay Cove, NY, on Thursday, September 4, 2008, issued the following statement.

“On September 4, 2008, The Holy Synod of Bishops received a letter from His Beatitude, Metropolitan HERMAN. In this letter, His Beatitude asks for Retirement, effective immediately, 'in the best interests of The Orthodox Church in America, and taking into consideration the current condition of my health.'

“Effective this date, The Holy Synod of Bishops grants His Beatitudeʼs request to retire from the Office of Metropolitan of All America and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America.

“The Holy Synod of Bishops resolves that, in retirement, the title will be ʽFormer Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada.ʼ

“The Holy Synod of Bishops expresses to His Beatitude, Metropolitan HERMAN, their fraternal love and gratitude for his primatial service and archpastoral labors.

“The Holy Synod of Bishops resolves that His Eminence, DMITRI, Archbishop of Dallas and the South, be Locum tenens of The Orthodox Church in America. In liturgical commemorations, in the Litanies, he is to be commemorated in this manner: 'For His Eminence, Archbishop DMITRI, for His Grace, our Bishop [N]...' At the Great Entrance and at 'Among the first...,' he is to be commemorated in this manner: 'His Eminence, DMITRI, Archbishop of Dallas and the South, Locum tenens of the Metropolitan See...'"

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