Orthodox Church in America Diocese of the South

The Orthodox Church in America Diocese of the South is a diocese of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Its territory includes parishes, monasteries, and missions located in fourteen states in the Southern and Southwestern United States – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The diocesan chancery is located in Dallas, Texas.

Archbishop Dmitri Royster was the first and only ruling bishop of the Diocese of the South from 1978 until his retirement on March 31, 2009. He was consecrated to the position of Bishop of Berkeley on June 22, 1969. The Diocese is now conducting an episcopal search, while the current affairs are being administered by the OCA Primate, Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen) as a locum tenens. Prior to his election as the Primate of the OCA, Metropolitan Jonah served as an auxiliary bishop of Fort Worth in the Diocese of the South from November 1 until November 12, 2008.

Deaneries

The diocese is grouped geographically into six deaneries, each consisting of a number of parishes. Each deanery is headed by a parish priest, known as a dean. The deans coordinate activities in their area's parishes, and report to the diocesan bishop. The current deaneries of the Diocese of the South and their territories are:

• Appalachian Deanery – Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia
• Carolina Deanery – North Carolina and South Carolina
• Central Florida Deanery – Florida
• Southcentral Deanery – Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas
• Southeastern Deanery – Alabama and Georgia,
• South Florida Deanery – Florida

External links

• Official site