PHOTO: The new Chancery of the OCA in DC
By George C. Michalopulos
On Sept. 29, the Orthodox Church in America announced it had purchased a property in Washington, DC, to serve as the national chancery and permanent residence of the Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of All-America.
This is a significant step for the OCA and for the future of Orthodox unity.
As is well known, canon law places the offices of the primate of any local (i.e., autocephalous) Church in the capital of the nation it serves. Before then, the chancery of the OCA was in Syosset, New York. There were several reasons for this, mostly demographic: like almost all American Orthodox jurisdictions, the preponderance of Orthodox populations was in New York City. This made practical sense, even if it violated the spirit of the canons.
Now, thanks to a generous gift by two donors (see above), the OCA’s headquarters will be located in the nation’s capital, where it belongs.
This presents a significant challenge to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s plans to consolidate all Orthodox jurisdictions under its umbrella. While it is true that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has steadfastly refused to recognize the autocephaly of the OCA, the fact remains that the GOA’s primate resides in New York City and his title is “Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Exarch of Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the United States, Chairman of the Holy Eparchial Synod, Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the United States.”
All in all, this audacious title is rather ambiguous. Although he resides in New York City, the headquarters of the GOA, the title emphasizes its eparchial status as a branch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate rather than an American, that is, territorial, Church. Moving the OCA’s chancery to the nation’s capital solidifies its autocephalic title as the primatial headquarters of American Orthodoxy.
This is not to say unity will never (or cannot) happen; any future attempts at pan-Orthodox unity will have to take this into account. In other words, real unity, if it is to be accepted as realistic and canonical, will only happen if the other jurisdictions coalesce around this office.
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Orthodox Church in America Acquires New Metropolitan’s Residence and Chancery in Washington, DC
With profound thanksgiving to Almighty God, the Orthodox Church in America announces the acquisition of a new property in Washington, DC, which will serve as the residence of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and the new home of the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America.
The acquisition represents a major milestone in the life of the Orthodox Church in America and brings to completion the relocation of the main Chancery offices from the former Chancery property in Oyster Bay Cove, New York, and the establishment of temporary offices in Springfield, Virginia, in 2022.
Located just a few steps from Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, the Primatial Cathedral of the Orthodox Church in America, the new property establishes the residence of the Primate and the central administrative offices of the Church in close proximity to the Primatial Cathedral. This proximity will strengthen the liturgical, pastoral, and administrative life of the Church and provide a fitting setting for the ministry of the Primate and the work of the Chancery officers.
Its location in the heart of Washington, DC, provides the Orthodox Church in America with an accessible and visible presence in the nation’s capital. The spacious property will also offer opportunities to welcome hierarchs, clergy, faithful, dignitaries, and other visitors, while facilitating the Church’s engagement with ecclesiastical, diplomatic, civic, and other institutions. In this way, the new location will support the Orthodox Church in America in carrying out its broader mission and witness on this continent.
The acquisition was made possible through the extraordinary generosity of two faithful members of the Orthodox Church in America, the late Joseph and Theresa Domanick, whose gift provided the means for the purchase of the property. Their generosity represents a remarkable and enduring offering to the Church and will continue to bear fruit in its ministry for generations to come.
Reflecting on the acquisition, His Beatitude offered thanksgiving to God and gratitude to all those who made it possible:
“We give thanks to Almighty God for His abundant mercy and for this remarkable blessing in the life of the Orthodox Church in America. I am especially grateful for the extraordinary generosity of the ever-memorable servants of God Joseph and Theresa Domanick, whose love for the Church made this acquisition possible. I also offer my heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Holy Synod, the Metropolitan Council, our officers, advisors, and all those who have devoted so much time and labor to bringing this undertaking to completion. May this new home serve the Church faithfully and strengthen her witness and ministry for many years to come.”
The acquisition received the unanimous support of both the Holy Synod of Bishops and the Metropolitan Council, reflecting a common vision for the future of the central administration of the Orthodox Church in America.
Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, described the acquisition as the culmination of a lengthy process and a significant new chapter in the life of the Church:
“This is a monumental step in the life of the Orthodox Church in America and the fulfillment of a process that has required an extraordinary amount of work, consultation, and cooperation. It represents much more than a geographic relocation. The establishment of the Metropolitan’s residence with Chancery offices just steps from our Primatial Cathedral brings together, in a meaningful and necessary way, the primatial, liturgical, pastoral, and administrative dimensions of the life of our Church. From the extraordinary generosity that made the purchase possible, to the remarkable location that became available, to the unanimous support of the Holy Synod and Metropolitan Council, there have been many moments throughout this process in which we could see the providence of God at work. Its successful completion is a cause for profound gratitude.”
Final preparations for His Beatitude’s move are currently underway, including furnishing the property and transferring materials from the temporary Chancery offices in Springfield and from the former Chancery in Oyster Bay Cove.
As the Orthodox Church in America enters this new chapter, the faithful are asked especially to remember in prayer the ever-memorable servants of God Joseph and Theresa Domanick, whose extraordinary generosity made this acquisition possible.
May their memory be eternal!
