Herman (Swaiko)

Herman
Archbishop of Washington and New York
Rabbis from the Tbilisi Synagogue greeting Metropolitan Herman
Enthroned	September 8, 2002
Predecessor	Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)
Successor	Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen)
Other posts	Deputy Abbot of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Orthodox Monastery
Orders
Ordination	April 1964
Consecration	February 19, 1973
Personal details
Birth name	Joseph Swaiko
Born	1 February 1932 (1932-02-01) (age 79) Baidford, Pennsylvania
Nationality	American
Denomination	Eastern Orthodox
Alma mater	Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary

Metropolitan Herman (born Joseph Swaiko, February 1, 1932 in Bairdford, Pennsylvania) is the former primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). As the head of the OCA, he was the Archbishop of Washington and New York, and Metropolitan of All America and Canada. He was elected Metropolitan on July 22, 2002, replacing Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor), who retired due to health problems related to a series of strokes.^[1]

Biography

Metropolitan Herman completed his primary and secondary education in the West Deer Township school system, and enrolled in Robert Morris University. He graduated from Robert Morris with an associate degree in secretarial science. Upon graduation, he served as a company clerk in the Adjutant General's Corps of the United States Army, and was stationed in Labrador.^[2]

After his honorable discharge from the army in 1959, he enrolled at Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, and graduated in 1963. In March 1964, he was ordained as a deacon, and in April 1964 was ordained a priest. Subsequently, he served on the seminary's administrative staff and was an instructor of Church Slavonic. He also served as Rector of churches in Dundaff and Union Dale, PA.^[2]

He was tonsured as a monk on December 4, 1970, and received the name Herman (in recognition of St. Herman of Alaska). On October 17, 1971, Herman was elevated to the rank of Igumen and was named Deputy Abbot of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Orthodox Monastery. In October 1972, Herman was raised to the to the rank of Archimandrite. He was consecrated to the Episcopacy on February 10, 1973, as Bishop of Wilkes-Barre.^[2]

After the death of Archbishop Kiprian (Borisevich), Herman was elected Bishop of Philadelphia on March 17, 1981 and Rector of Saint Tikhon's Seminary in May 1982. In 1994, he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop. From May to September 2001, Archbishop Herman served as the temporary administrator of the OCA, while Metropolitan Theodosius was on a medical leave of absence.^[2]

Election to Metropolitan

On April 2, 2002, Metropolitan Theodosius (who had suffered a series of strokes) submitted a petition to the Holy Synod of the OCA, requesting his retirement. The Holy Synod granted his request, and announced an election for his replacement to be held on July 22, at the OCA's Thirteenth All-American Council in Orlando.^[3]

No candidate received the required two-thirds majority during the first round of voting, which necessitated a second round. During the second round, Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada received the majority of votes, but again not the required two-thirds. Subsequently, the Holy Synod decided to elect Archbishop Herman (Metropolitan Theodosius was selected in a similar manner in 1977, having not received a two-thirds majority of votes).

Archbishop Herman was enthroned on September 8, 2002 at a ceremony in St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

Retirement

Metropolitan Herman was forced to retire after a long list of financial improprieties has been revealed by the investigative committee. He is now banned from religious practice at St. Tikhon's Monastery, South Canaan, PA.

Episcopal succession

Episcopal lineage
Consecrated by:	Ireney (Bekish) and co-consecrators
Consecrator of
Bishop	Date of consecration
Irineu (Duvlea)	November 2, 2002
Tikhon (Mollard)	February 14, 2004
Benjamin (Peterson)	May 1, 2004
Alejo (Pacheco-Vera)	May 28, 2005

Preceded by Theodosius (Lazor)

Primate of the Orthodox Church in America July 22, 2002 – September 4, 2008

Succeeded by Jonah (Paffhausen)

References

1. ^ "ARCHBISHOP HERMAN OF PHILADELPHIA ELECTED PRIMATE OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA". http://biserica.org/Publicatii/2002/NoVII/XIV_index.html. Retrieved November 2, 2006. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} "Biography of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman". http://oca.org/HSbioherman.asp?SID=7. Retrieved November 2, 2006. 
3. ^ "Primatial Elections in the OCA". http://oca.org/HSprimatialelections.asp?SID=7. Retrieved November 2, 2006. 

Persondata
Name	Herman
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 1, 1932
Place of birth	Baidford, Pennsylvania
Date of death
Place of death