33 Facts About Jonah Paffhausen

Metropolitan Jonah was the first convert to the Orthodox faith to have been elected as the primate of the OCA.

On June 15,2015, Metropolitan Jonah Paffhausen was released from the Orthodox Church in America in order for him to be accepted as a retired bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

James Jonah Paffhausen was born in Chicago, Illinois, to James and Louise Jonah Paffhausen.

Jonah Paffhausen was baptized in the Episcopal Church at St Chrysostom's Episcopal Church.

Jonah Paffhausen continued attending a parish of the Episcopal Church after his family relocated to La Jolla, California.

Jonah Paffhausen later transferred to UC Santa Cruz and helped to establish an Orthodox Christian Fellowship chapter there.

Jonah Paffhausen interrupted his studies to spend a year in Russia, working for Russkiy Palomnik in the publishing arm of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Jonah Paffhausen subsequently joined Valaam Monastery as a novice, coming under the spiritual direction of Archimandrite Pancratius, the monastery's abbot, now a titular bishop of Troitsk.

In 1994, Jonah Paffhausen was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood.

Hieromonk Jonah Paffhausen returned to his home state of California and was initially assigned as the priest of a mission parish, St Mary Magdalene of Merced, California.

Father Jonah Paffhausen worked to establish a mission parish in Chico, California.

Jonah Paffhausen was given the obedience to establish a monastery at the Saint Eugene's retreat at Point Reyes, California by his bishop, Tikhon.

Jonah Paffhausen continued to work with mission parishes in Chico, Eureka, and Susanville, California, and in the Kona District, Hawaii.

Jonah Paffhausen 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.

Jonah Paffhausen's election as metropolitan was an unusual occurrence in the history of the OCA, as he was the newest bishop in the OCA at the time.

Jonah Paffhausen was only an auxiliary bishop at the time, and that for only ten days, but he was the only bishop at the time who was seen as untainted by the scandal.

Jonah Paffhausen stated that hierarchical authority in the Orthodox Church should be about responsibility, accountability, and spiritual fatherhood, rather than "imperial aristocracy".

Jonah Paffhausen said that there had been a catastrophic leadership failure in the OCA, but told the assembly that clinging to bitterness over the situation would only do further harm, and that church members had to learn to forgive in order to heal.

Metropolitan Jonah Paffhausen was formally installed as bishop of the Orthodox Church in America Diocese of Washington and New York at St Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, DC, on December 28,2008.

Jonah Paffhausen served as the locum tenens of New York until the Orthodox Church in America Diocese of New York and New Jersey enthroned its own bishop in 2010.

In November 2009, Jonah Paffhausen signed an ecumenical statement known as the Manhattan Declaration, which called on evangelicals, Catholics and the Orthodox not to comply with rules and laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage and other matters that go against their religious consciences.

Jonah Paffhausen expressed a desire to establish full communion between the OCA and the ACNA.

Jonah Paffhausen supported the creation of the ACNA, addressing his assembly in 2009.

Jonah Paffhausen publicly threatened to pull some 26 OCA military chaplains out of the American military if they were asked to officiate at same-sex marriages or condone homosexuality in any way.

Jonah Paffhausen made some statements critical of fellow Orthodox leaders and made it known he wanted to permanently move church headquarters from Oyster Bay Cove, New York to Washington, DC.

In 2011 and extending into 2012, Jonah Paffhausen presided at or participated in several events of historical significance in the Orthodox Church.

In that same month, Jonah Paffhausen met Metropolitan Christopher of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, as well as Patriarch Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

In May and December 2011, Jonah Paffhausen concelebrated with Metropolitan Hilarion of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

Bishop Benjamin, who was to have accompanied Jonah Paffhausen, traveled to Prague in his stead.

On July 6,2012, Jonah Paffhausen tendered his resignation as Primate of the Orthodox Church in America.

On June 15,2015, Metropolitan Jonah Paffhausen was released from the Orthodox Church in America in order for him to be accepted as a retired bishop within the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

In September 2017, Metropolitan Jonah Paffhausen was assigned as rector of St Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church in Stafford, Virginia, and transferred his teaching ministry there.

In October 2020, Metropolitan Jonah Paffhausen relocated to Spotsylvania Courthouse in Virginia and founded St Demetrios Orthodox Monastery, becoming the new monastery's abbot while continuing to serve as rector of St Herman's.