Jonah (Paffhausen)
Encyclopedia
Jonah Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, is the primate
of the Orthodox Church in America
(OCA). He was elected on November 12, 2008, and installed to his see on December 28, 2008, in Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Jonah is also the first convert to the Orthodox faith to be elected as the OCA's primate.
at St. Chrysostom's Episcopal Church. His family later moved to La Jolla, California, near San Diego. In 1978, he was received into the Orthodox Church at Our Lady of Kazan Church (Moscow Patriarchate) while studying at the University of California, San Diego
. James later transferred to UC Santa Cruz and helped to establish an Orthodox Christian Fellowship chapter there.
After graduation from UCSC, James went on to study at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, graduating in 1985 with an M.Div. and again in 1988 with an M.Th. in Dogmatic Theology. In 1989, he began doctoral studies at Graduate Theological Union
in Berkeley, California
, but interrupted his studies to spend a year in Russia
, working for Russkiy Palomnik in the publishing arm of the Moscow Patriarchate. During his time in Russia, he was introduced to Russian spirituality and its particular form of monastic life.
He subsequently joined Valaam Monastery
as a novice
, coming under the spiritual direction of Archimandrite Pancratius (Zherdev), the monastery's abbot
(now a titular bishop of Troitsk, believed to have been close to Patriarch Alexius II of Moscow). Fr Pankratiy's spiritual father, Elder Kyrill of Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra
, later blessed James to become a hieromonk
.
In 1994, James was ordained
to the diaconate
and priest
hood, and then in the following year, he was tonsure
d a monastic at St Tikhon's Monastery, South Canaan, Pennsylvania, receiving the name Jonah.
Hieromonk
Jonah returned to his home state of California, serving a number of mission parish
es there and later given the obedience to establish a monastery. In 1996, St. John of San Francisco Monastery was founded in Point Reyes
, California (later moving to Manton
). During his tenure as abbot
, Fr. Jonah's monastic community grew to more than fifteen members. In this period, he also worked to establish Californian missions in Merced
, Sonora
, Chico
, Eureka
, Redding
, and Susanville
, and in Kona
, Hawaii
.
In 2008, Fr. Jonah was elevated to the rank of archimandrite
and sent from the monastery to take on the duties of being an auxiliary bishop
for the Orthodox Church in America's Diocese of the South. In September of that year, he was officially elected to that position, and then on November 1 consecrated in Dallas as Bishop of Fort Worth, led by Archbishop Dmitri (Royster)
, then locum tenens of the OCA's Metropolitan See.
Eleven days later, on November 12, Bishop Jonah was elected as Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America. He was formally installed to his see of Washington
and New York
at St. Nicholas Cathedral
, Washington, D.C., on December 28, 2008.
In November 2009, Jonah signed an ecumenical statement known as the Manhattan Declaration
calling on evangelicals, Catholics and Orthodox not to comply with rules and laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage and other matters that go against their religious consciences.
Regarding ecumenical relations with non-Orthodox jurisdictions and Christian denominations, Jonah befriended bishops of the Anglican Church of North America [ACNA] throughout 2009 and 2010. Citing irreconcilable differences with The Episcopal Church [TEC, USA] and severing ecumenical discussions with TEC, Jonah went on record as siding with ACNA traditionalists. Furthermore, he has expressed a desire to welcome ACNA members into the OCA someday. Jonah addressed the ACNA assembly in 2009. Jonah received baptism as an infant in a Chicago parish of TEC in 1959, and continued attending a parish of TEC after his family relocated to LaJolla, California. It was not until age 18 that Jonah began preparation for Chrismation in a San Diego Orthodox parish of the Moscow Patriarchate.
From 25 February to 24 April 2011 Metropolitan Jonah took a retreat for personal and spiritual renewal with the blessing of the OCA Holy Synod. His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit assisted in temporary administration of the OCA during His Beatitude's retreat.
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
of the Orthodox Church in America
Orthodox Church in America
The Orthodox Church in America is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in North America. Its primate is Metropolitan Jonah , who was elected on November 12, 2008, and was formally installed on December 28, 2008...
(OCA). He was elected on November 12, 2008, and installed to his see on December 28, 2008, in Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Jonah is also the first convert to the Orthodox faith to be elected as the OCA's primate.
Life
James Paffhausen was born in 1959 in Chicago, Illinois, and baptized into the Episcopal ChurchEpiscopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
at St. Chrysostom's Episcopal Church. His family later moved to La Jolla, California, near San Diego. In 1978, he was received into the Orthodox Church at Our Lady of Kazan Church (Moscow Patriarchate) while studying at the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
. James later transferred to UC Santa Cruz and helped to establish an Orthodox Christian Fellowship chapter there.
After graduation from UCSC, James went on to study at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, graduating in 1985 with an M.Div. and again in 1988 with an M.Th. in Dogmatic Theology. In 1989, he began doctoral studies at Graduate Theological Union
Graduate Theological Union
The Graduate Theological Union ' is a consortium of nine independent theological schools, and eleven centers and affiliates. Eight of the theological schools are located in Berkeley, California. The GTU was founded in 1962. It maintains the Graduate Theological Union Library, one of the most...
in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, but interrupted his studies to spend a year in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, working for Russkiy Palomnik in the publishing arm of the Moscow Patriarchate. During his time in Russia, he was introduced to Russian spirituality and its particular form of monastic life.
He subsequently joined Valaam Monastery
Valaam Monastery
The Valaam Monastery, or Valamo Monastery is a stauropegic Orthodox monastery in Russian Karelia, located on Valaam, the largest island in Lake Ladoga, the largest lake in Europe.-History:...
as a novice
Novice
A novice is a person or creature who is new to a field or activity. The term is most commonly applied in religion and sports.-Buddhism:In many Buddhist orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya and...
, coming under the spiritual direction of Archimandrite Pancratius (Zherdev), the monastery's abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
(now a titular bishop of Troitsk, believed to have been close to Patriarch Alexius II of Moscow). Fr Pankratiy's spiritual father, Elder Kyrill of Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra
Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra
The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church. The monastery is situated in the town of Sergiyev Posad, about 70 km to the north-east from Moscow by the road leading to Yaroslavl, and currently is home to...
, later blessed James to become a hieromonk
Hieromonk
Hieromonk , also called a Priestmonk, is a monk who is also a priest in the Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholicism....
.
In 1994, James was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
to the diaconate
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
hood, and then in the following year, he was tonsure
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
d a monastic at St Tikhon's Monastery, South Canaan, Pennsylvania, receiving the name Jonah.
Hieromonk
Hieromonk
Hieromonk , also called a Priestmonk, is a monk who is also a priest in the Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholicism....
Jonah returned to his home state of California, serving a number of mission parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es there and later given the obedience to establish a monastery. In 1996, St. John of San Francisco Monastery was founded in Point Reyes
Point Reyes
Point Reyes is a prominent cape on the Pacific coast of northern California. It is located in Marin County approximately WNW of San Francisco. The term is often applied to the Point Reyes Peninsula, the region bounded by Tomales Bay on the northeast and Bolinas Lagoon on the southeast...
, California (later moving to Manton
Manton, California
Manton is a census-designated place in Tehama County, California, United States. The population was 347 at the 2010 census, down from 372 at the 2000 census....
). During his tenure as abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
, Fr. Jonah's monastic community grew to more than fifteen members. In this period, he also worked to establish Californian missions in Merced
Merced, California
Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government...
, Sonora
Sonora, California
Sonora is the county seat of Tuolumne County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,903, up from 4,423 at the 2000 census. Sonora is the only incorporated community in Tuolumne County.-Geography:...
, Chico
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
, Eureka
Eureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
, Redding
Redding, California
Redding is a city in far-Northern California. It is the county seat of Shasta County, California, USA. With a population of 89,861, according to the 2010 Census...
, and Susanville
Susanville, California
Susanville is the county seat of Lassen County, California, United States. Susanville is located on the Susan River in the south-central part of the county, at an elevation of 4186 feet . The population was 17,974 at the 2010 census, up from 13,541 at the 2000 census...
, and in Kona
Kona District, Hawaii
Kona is the name of a moku or district on the Big Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii. In the current system of administration of Hawaii County, the moku of Kona is divided into North Kona District and South Kona District . The term "Kona" is sometimes used to refer to its largest town,...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
In 2008, Fr. Jonah was elevated to the rank of archimandrite
Archimandrite
The title Archimandrite , primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic churches, originally referred to a superior abbot whom a bishop appointed to supervise...
and sent from the monastery to take on the duties of being an auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
for the Orthodox Church in America's Diocese of the South. In September of that year, he was officially elected to that position, and then on November 1 consecrated in Dallas as Bishop of Fort Worth, led by Archbishop Dmitri (Royster)
Dmitri (Royster)
Archbishop Dmitri was a hierarch of the Orthodox Church in America. He served as archbishop of the church's Diocese of the South from 1978 to 2009 and was the ruling bishop of the Mexican Exarchate from 1972 to 2008...
, then locum tenens of the OCA's Metropolitan See.
Eleven days later, on November 12, Bishop Jonah was elected as Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America. He was formally installed to his see of Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
at St. Nicholas Cathedral
St. Nicholas Cathedral (Washington, D.C.)
St. Nicholas Cathedral is the primatial cathedral of the Orthodox Church in America and the seat of Jonah, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America....
, Washington, D.C., on December 28, 2008.
In November 2009, Jonah signed an ecumenical statement known as the Manhattan Declaration
Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience
The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience is a manifesto issued by Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christian leaders to affirm support of "the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty". It was drafted on October 20, 2009 and released November 20, 2009,...
calling on evangelicals, Catholics and Orthodox not to comply with rules and laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage and other matters that go against their religious consciences.
Regarding ecumenical relations with non-Orthodox jurisdictions and Christian denominations, Jonah befriended bishops of the Anglican Church of North America [ACNA] throughout 2009 and 2010. Citing irreconcilable differences with The Episcopal Church [TEC, USA] and severing ecumenical discussions with TEC, Jonah went on record as siding with ACNA traditionalists. Furthermore, he has expressed a desire to welcome ACNA members into the OCA someday. Jonah addressed the ACNA assembly in 2009. Jonah received baptism as an infant in a Chicago parish of TEC in 1959, and continued attending a parish of TEC after his family relocated to LaJolla, California. It was not until age 18 that Jonah began preparation for Chrismation in a San Diego Orthodox parish of the Moscow Patriarchate.
From 25 February to 24 April 2011 Metropolitan Jonah took a retreat for personal and spiritual renewal with the blessing of the OCA Holy Synod. His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit assisted in temporary administration of the OCA during His Beatitude's retreat.