Orthodox Church in America picks leader

Christian Century, July 31, 2002

The mostly Russian-heritage Orthodox Church in America has chosen Archbishop Herman of Philadelphia as its new North American primate to succeed Metropolitan Theodosius, who is retiring after 25 years because of poor health. The 70-year-old Herman was appointed by church bishops July 22 after the second round of balloting by an estimated 650 lay and clergy delegates meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa, Canada, was leading in the voting then, but church officials said that the delegate ballots serve as nominations for the post--with the final selection left to the bishops. They said it was not unusual for a runner-up to be chosen. The OCA has had full independence from the Russian Orthodox Church since 1970.

Herman will be formally installed in September at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, D.C., as the resident archbishop of Washington and metropolitan of All America and Canada. Born Joseph Swaiko in Brairford, Pennsylvania, Herman graduated from St. Tikhon Orthodox Theological Seminary in 1963. He was given the name Herman in 1970 in honor of the recently glorified St. Herman of Alaska. He served as interim administrator while Theodosius took a medical leave of absence last year.--RNS