(M.Div.'94) was ordained Bishop of Chicago and the Midwest of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) by His Beatitude The Most Blessed Tikhon, primate of the OCA, on Saturday, December 27, 2014. Clergy and faithful from parishes across the Midwest gathered at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Chicago for the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and the episcopal consecration.
At Friday evening's Vespers, Bishop-Elect Paul addressed hierarchs, clergy and faithful, saying, "People need to see in their bishop someone who is truly humble, where his yes means yes and his no means no. The ministry of the bishop is not his ministry, but it is the ministry of Christ Incarnate!"
"From my heart I wish you inexhaustible energy, peace, and joy, as you undertake this awesome ministry as a bishop of Christ's Church."
Raised in a Greek Orthodox family, Bishop Paul became a member of the OCA in the mid-1980s. He holds a Master of Social Work degree from Wayne State University and a Master of Divinity degree from St. Vladimir's. After his ordination to the priesthood, he served as rector of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Kokomo, IN for 11 years and as rector of Archangel Michael Church, St. Louis, MO, for an additional seven months. In 2007, he was transferred to the OCA's Bulgarian Diocese and assigned Dean of St. George Cathedral, Rossford [Toledo], OH. On Tuesday, October 7, 2014, clergy and lay delegates representing parishes throughout the Diocese of Chicago and the Midwest gathered at Archangel Michael Church in Broadview Heights, OH, for a special Assembly at which Bishop Paul was nominated to fill the vacant see. (Photos c/o oca.org)
