Orthodox Bishops meeting in NYC, Group Photo

WEB-site of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America – formerly known as the Episcopal Assembly of North and Central America – made its debut on Friday, December 17, 2010. It may be accessed at http://www.episcopalassembly.org.

In addition to information on the Assembly’s history, establishment, and current activities, the site provides comprehensive lists of all member Churches and hierarchs; a wealth of informative documents, statements, and addresses highlighting its inaugural meeting; directories of Assembly agencies, endorsed organizations, commissions, consultations, and committees; a soon-to-be expanded directory of parishes and institutions; and a wealth of other information and resources.

The Assembly met for the first time in New York, NY May 26-28, 2010, under the chairmanship of His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Over 60 Orthodox Christian hierarchs, including His Grace, +Iov (Job), Bishop of Kashira, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada, participated.

This Assembly is the result of the decision of the Fourth Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference, which met in Chambésy Switzerland in June 2009, after the extraordinary Synaxis of all the Heads of the Autocephalous Churches convened by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. One of twelve assemblies that have been or will be convened around the world in regions where there is no singular Orthodox presence, the Assembly includes all active canonical bishops who reside and minister in North and Central America and will meet annually. The Assembly is the successor of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas [SCOBA].