Archpastoral Letter of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon
To the Clergy, Monastics and Faithful of the Diocese of the South
Concerning the Election of Bishop Alexander as Bishop of Dallas and the South
March 31, 2016

The Feast of the Repose of St. Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow, Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to America

To the Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Diocese of the South:

Christ is in our midst!

So that you might greet the Great and Holy Feast of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ's Resurrection not widowed and without an Archpastor, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America prayerfully gave consideration to filling the vacant See of Dallas and the South.

Pursuant to its prerogative set forth in the Statute of the Orthodox Church in America, VIII.7.e, the Holy Synod of the Church, after prayerful and careful deliberation, has elected His Grace, Bishop Alexander of Toledo in the Bulgarian Diocese, to be the Bishop of Dallas and the Diocese of the South. The Bishops of the Holy Synod ask the clergy, monastics and faithful of the Diocese to receive this news with thanksgiving to God and to welcome their new Bishop with joy. Chief among the priorities of the Holy Synod in making this election was the pastoral, administrative and spiritual need on the part of the Diocese of the South and its people to fill the vacancy of the see of Dallas which had gone unfilled for many years.

The Metropolitan and the Bishops of the Holy Synod unanimously recognize and appreciate the services to the Church and to the Diocese rendered by Archimandrite Gerasim (Eliel) who has faithfully led the Diocese of the South as its Administrator. His commitment to and love for the people of the Diocese and their spiritual welfare has been evident in all that he has accomplished in the Diocese of the South. The Holy Synod is of one mind in viewing the labors of Archimandrite Gerasim as those of the good and faithful servant of whom our Lord so lovingly spoke.

The Holy Synod asks all of the Clergy, Monastics and Faithful of the Diocese of the South prayerfully and humbly to receive the election of Bishop Alexander as a providential decision that seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to the Bishops gathered in Council.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
+Tikhon
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada

PDF Original:  http://oca.org/cdn/PDFs/synod/2016-0331-dos-pastoral-letter.pdf