Statute of The Orthodox Church in America

This is the Revised Statute of the Orthodox Church in America which was approved at the 20th All-American Council on 20 July, 2022. It replaced the previous Statute and its ancestors, and it has been in effect since 1 August, 2022.

Preamble

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Orthodox Church in America, as a local autocephalous Orthodox Church, belongs to the worldwide communion of Orthodox Churches. It unites in its fold Orthodox Christians of various national backgrounds and traditions. It grew from the Alaskan mission established in 1794 by the Church of Russia. Expanding across the United States and Canada, it became a Diocese of that Church. In 1924 this Diocese was reorganized as an autonomous Metropolitanate under the title “the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America.” On April 10, 1970, the Patriarch and the Holy Synod of the Church of Russia granted autocephaly to the Metropolitanate. The Metropolitanate accepted and affirmed its new status and reorganized under the title “The Orthodox Church in America” at sessions of the All-American Council held in October, 1970, at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania.

The Orthodox Church in America is governed by Holy Tradition, that is, the whole body of teaching and practice of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. That Tradition is expressed first of all in Holy Scripture; in the dogmatic decisions and canons of the seven Ecumenical Councils, the canons of the local councils, the canons and writings of the Holy Fathers; in the liturgical life of the Church; and in this Statute of The Orthodox Church in America (hereafter, “the Statute”). The purpose of the Statute is to apply Holy Tradition to the organization and daily life of The Orthodox Church in America.

The Orthodox Church in general and The Orthodox Church in America in particular are hierarchical in structure.

The Statute consists of this Preamble, and the Eighteen (18) Articles that follow :

• Article I — The Orthodox Church in America

• Article II — The Holy Synod

• Article III — The All-American Council

• Article IV — The Metropolitan

• Article V — The Metropolitan Council

• Article VI — Church Officers

• Article VII — The Diocese

• Article VIII — The Diocesan Bishop

• Article IX — The Diocesan Assembly

• Article X — The Diocesan Council

• Article XI — The Deanery

• Article XII — The Parish

• Article XIII — Monasticism

• Article XIV — Stavropegial Institutions

• Article XV — Ecclesiastical Courts

• Article XVI — National Groups

• Article XVII — Amendments

• Article XVIII — Effective Date

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