Diocesan History
Metropolitan Orestes Chornock Is Greeted in New York After His Consecration As Bishop in Constantinople (1938)
In July 1935, 37 parishes who were in opposition to latinization attempts by
the Roman Catholic Church petitioned that a Church Congress be called to decide
the future of Carpatho-Russian Churches in the United States. The first
Diocesan Council-Sobor was called in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania on November 23, 1937
by Father Orestes P. Chornock who was appointed administrator of the Diocese
being formed. The Sobor abrogated the 300-year old "Unia" and
returned the Carpatho-Russian people to the ancestral Orthodox Faith. The
clergy at this Sobor elected the Rt. Rev. Orestes P. Chornock as the
Bishop-Nominee of the new Diocese.
The Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church prior to the "Unia" was under
the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Because Carpatho-Russians
received Christianity from Saints Cyril and Methodius from Constantinople,
and because the Patriarch of Constantinople held canonical jurisdiction over
all new churches in the diaspora, the First Diocesan Sobor decided to petition
the Ecumenical Patriarchate to accept the Carpatho-Russians into Orthodoxy and
canonically establish a new Diocese.
His Eminene, Metropolitan Orestes (Chornock)
The Ecumenical Patriarch accepted the petition and received the Carpatho-Russian Church into Orthodoxy as a
self-governing Diocese. On September 19, 1938, the Diocese was canonized by
Patriarch Benjamin I, of thrice-blessed memory, in the name of "The Holy
Orthodox Church in Christ" under Patriarchal Decree number 1379. This was
the first Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church since the infamous Papal Unia.
Father Orestes P. Chornock was consecrated the day prior, September 18, as
bishop of the Diocese.
The Carpatho-Russian Youth Organization was founded during the first year of
the new Bishop's administration. In 1946, the official newspaper of the
Diocese, "The Church Messenger," was established and continues to
print a bi-weekly paper to this day. The American Carpatho-Russian Youth
(A.C.R.Y.) was re-organized in 1947.
Christ the Saviour Cathedral was established and incorporated in 1950, thus
making Johnstown, Pennsylvania the seat of the Diocese. In
1951, Christ the Saviour Seminary was permanently relocated to Johnstown. Students formerly were taught in
temporary quarters located in New York City, Nicholson, PA and Bridgeport, Connecticut.
During the ensuing years, many achievements were realized and once the
Diocese was stable and growing, Bishop Orestes began to seek a bishop to assist
him in his responsibilities. The Ecumenical Patriarchate elected and appointed
Bishop Peter (Shymansky) as auxiliary bishop in 1963. Shortly after his
consecration he became ill and after serving only 6 months he reposed in the
Lord on May 17, 1964.
On January 1, 1966 at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in New York, Bishop Orestes
was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan.
His Grace, Bishop John (Martin)
On August 16, 1966, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate appointed
and elected Bishop John (Martin) as auxiliary to His Eminence, Metropolitan
Orestes. Bishop John was consecrated in Christ the Saviour Cathedral on October
6. During his episcopacy, the new Bishop revamped numerous aspects of diocesan
administration. An English Liturgy book for the pews was published. The
Seminary curriculum was revised. Three new mission parishes were established. A
clergy pension fund was established. The Distinguished Diocesan Donors giving
program was inaugurated, which eventually led to the building of a camp and
retreat center named Camp Nazareth located in Mercer County, Pennsylvania
and completed in 1977.
On February 17, 1977, His Eminence, Metropolitan Orestes reposed in the
Lord, and the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate appointed Bishop John
as Ruling Bishop of the Diocese.
In 1978, a monastic community for men was established at the Monastery of
the Annunciation in Tuxedo, Park, New
York.
On September 30, 1984, Bishop John died unexpectedly and was buried on
October 4 with Archbishop Iakovos presiding.
The clergy of the Diocese nominated Bishop Nicholas (Smisko) as their new
hierarch. Bishop Nicholas was consecrated as bishop on March 13, 1983 for the
Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Holy Synod elected Bishop Nicholas as the Ruling
Bishop of the Diocese on March 20, 1985. On April 19 he was enthroned by
Archbishop Iakovos. Bishop Nicholas immediately sought to improve relations
with Carpatho-Russian Orthodox in Europe. He
gave a great deal of attention to liturgical matters and published a new prayer
book entitled "Come to Me" which since has sold thousands of copies.
A Diaconate program has graduated some 25 deacons in the last several years. Bishop
Nicholas was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan in 1998.
His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas
His Eminence has led several Pilgrimages of faithful to the Holy Land and to
Europe, notably the 1988 Pilgrimage that celebrated the Millenium in Russia. His
Eminence initiated a Pro-Life movement in the Diocese, leading faithful to Washington, DC
for the annual "March for Life" since 1987.
The Seminary curriculum was revamped and an "Annual Giving Appeal"
for the theological school was initiated. The Diocesan newspaper, "The
Church Messenger," was consolidated in Johnstown.
Five new parishes were received. The Diocese celebrated its Golden Jubilee of
Canonical Establishment in 1988 amidst thousands of faithful, numerous bishops
and representatives of the Patriarch of Constantinople, including His Eminence,
Archbishop Iakovos.
A bold program of missions and evangelization was begun in 1992 and is known
as "Harvest 2000." Missions have been established in Florida, Georgia,
Indiana, Illinois,
Maryland, North Carolina,
Virginia and Ontario, Canada.
Recognizing the need for larger,
modern chancery facilities, a new Chancery building for the Diocese was constructed, adjoining the
present Episcopal Residence. Ground was broken for the edifice in June 1997 by
His Eminence, Archbishop Spyridon, while the cornerstone was dedicated by His
All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during his historic visit to the
Diocese on November 16, 1997.
The diocese entered a new era by establishing a presence on the world wide
web, through the establishment in the year 2000 of a diocesan website at www.acrod.org. Fr. Paul Stoll was appointed the first diocesan webmaster.
Under the leadership of Metropolitan Nicholas, a staff lodge and additional
cabins for campers were constructed. In addition, a Carpathian-style wooden church was constructed on the Camp grounds to serve as a memorial to our
ancestors and an inspiration to our youth.
The new church, which was placed under the patronage of the evangelizers of the Slavs, Saints Cyril
and Methodius, was consecrated in August of 2003. A heritage museum is planned
for the basement of the church.
In anticipation of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of Camp Nazareth,
many renovations and improvements were made to the camp facilities, including
the refurbishing of the interior of the cabins, repainting of the exterior of
all buildings, the remodeling of the
kitchen, repairs to the swimming pool and the erection of new welcome signs.
In August of 2005 at the annual summer pilgrimage at Camp Nazareth, with the
Blessing of His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, His Eminence announced the establishment of a new annual celebration of
the glorification of All Saints of Carpatho-Rus, to be held on the second
Sunday after Pentecost.
In September of 2005, a new diocesan-wide youth ministry was
established by Metropolitan Nicholas to more effectively meet the spiritual
needs of our diocesan youth. Known as The
Diocesan Apostolate for Youth, this
apostolic ministry has labored for the strengthening and evangelization of the
youth of the Diocese and the establishment of a Christian
witness for any youth seeking a relationship with Christ. The primary activity of the Youth Apostolate
has been to provide a catalyst for youth activity. To date, two projects have been initiated and
firmly established in the life of the American Carpatho-Russian Diocese -- the
establishment of a youth-oriented publication known as Daylight and the Annual Summer Pilgrimage at Camp Nazareth
as well as several regional pilgrimages held each year.
In 2007, the diocese
joined the Ecumenical Patriarchate in
honoring the 1600th Anniversary of the repose of St. John
Chrysostom. This celebration was marked
with special deanery and diocesan-wide celebrations, educational symposia and
special programming at the annual Altarboy Retreat, summer camping program, and
the Fall educational conference at Camp Nazareth.
The year 2008 marked the seventieth anniversary of the canonical
establishment of the Diocese, the celebration of the 2000th anniversary of
the conversion of the Holy Apostle Paul, and the twenty-fifth anniversary of the
consecration of His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas to the Episcopacy. The diocese honored these milestones in the
life of the diocese and the Christian Faith with special liturgical
commemorations, educational programs and celebrations. In remembering the establishment of the
diocese and the missionary labors of the Apostle Paul, clergy and laity alike
were provided with an excellent opportunity to reflect on the missionary nature of the Church. Read A Reflection On The Seventieth Anniversary Of The Diocese
Inspired by the missionary zeal of
the Holy Apostle Paul and the founding fathers and mothers of the diocese,
several new initiatives were set in motion to reinvigorate and enhance the
apostolates and ministries of the diocese, including the complete redesign and
expansion of the diocesan website, and the establishment of live broadcasting
of liturgical services and educational symposia via the internet.
Armed with the latest multi-media digital communications technology, and
faithful to the apostolic faith and tradition of the Orthodox Church, the
clergy and faithful of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the 21st
century are firmly committed to carrying out the great Commission of our Lord,
to go
therefore and make disciples of all the nations ....(Matthew 28:19) proclaiming the beauty and truth of the Orthodox Christian Faith.
Further Reading
Glory to Jesus Christ - A History of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese - By Protopresbyter Lawrence Barriger
Good Victory - By Protopresbyter Lawrence Barriger
