Church Leadership
His Beatitude was born in 1966. In 1989, he was received into the Orthodox Church from Episcopalianism and began studies at St Tikhon’s Seminary, South Canaan, PA. One year later, he entered the monastic community at St Tikhon’s Monastery as a novice. He was awarded the MDiv degree from St Tikhon’s Seminary in 1993. In 2002, he was named Deputy Abbot of St Tikhon’s Monastery. Two years after his election to the episcopacy by the Holy Synod of Bishops in 2003, he was installed as Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania. From 2005 to 2012, he also served as Rector of St Tikhon’s Seminary. In 2012, he was elevated to the dignity of Archbishop and elected Primate of the Orthodox Church in America at the 17th All-American Council. Full biography available here.
His Eminence was born in Pasadena, California in 1954. In 1978 he was awarded a MDiv degree from St Vladimir’s Seminary. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in 1987 at his home parish, where he served for 10 years as deacon and youth and education director. In 1991, he was elevated to the rank of archdeacon, and in 1997, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Tikhon. In 1999, Igumen Benjamin was transferred to the Diocese of Alaska, where, in 2002, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. In January 2004 he was reassigned to Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral, Los Angeles, and appointed Chancellor of the Diocese of the West. In 2007, the Holy Synod of Bishops elected His Grace Bishop Benjamin to be reigning hierarch of The Diocese of the West. And at the 2012 spring session, they elevated the Bishop to the dignity of Archbishop. Full biography available here.
Fr Gregory was raised in Utah, where he developed a deep love of nature. He was brought up as a Protestant, though his father was baptized at Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago. After receiving a BA from Wheaton College, he worked for wilderness programs and with adjudicated youth. He met his wife Stephanie in Chicago, while involved with conservative Anglicanism. Upon wedding, they moved to Utah, where Fr Gregory worked in education administration, and taught philosophy and theology at a community college and a regional seminary. The Matlaks then moved to Boston, where by God’s mercy they were received into the Orthodox Church. There Fr Gregory completed a PhD in Theology and Education at Boston College. Upon graduating, he received a call to prepare for the holy priesthood, which he did at St Tikhon’s Seminary. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in 2019 and the Holy Priesthood in 2020. The Matlaks have two beautiful daughters.
Church Leadership
His Beatitude was born in 1966. In 1989, he was received into the Orthodox Church from Episcopalianism and began studies at St Tikhon’s Seminary, South Canaan, PA. One year later, he entered the monastic community at St Tikhon’s Monastery as a novice. He was awarded the MDiv degree from St Tikhon’s Seminary in 1993. In 2002, he was named Deputy Abbot of St Tikhon’s Monastery. Two years after his election to the episcopacy by the Holy Synod of Bishops in 2003, he was installed as Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania. From 2005 to 2012, he also served as Rector of St Tikhon’s Seminary. In 2012, he was elevated to the dignity of Archbishop and elected Primate of the Orthodox Church in America at the 17th All-American Council. Full biography available here.
His Eminence was born in Pasadena, California in 1954. In 1978 he was awarded a MDiv degree from St Vladimir’s Seminary. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in 1987 at his home parish, where he served for 10 years as deacon and youth and education director. In 1991, he was elevated to the rank of archdeacon, and in 1997, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Tikhon. In 1999, Igumen Benjamin was transferred to the Diocese of Alaska, where, in 2002, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. In January 2004 he was reassigned to Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral, Los Angeles, and appointed Chancellor of the Diocese of the West. In 2007, the Holy Synod of Bishops elected His Grace Bishop Benjamin to be reigning hierarch of The Diocese of the West. And at the 2012 spring session, they elevated the Bishop to the dignity of Archbishop. Full biography available here.
Fr Gregory was raised in Utah, where he developed a deep love of nature. He was brought up as a Protestant, though his father was baptized at Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago. After receiving a BA from Wheaton College, he worked for wilderness programs and with adjudicated youth. He met his wife Stephanie in Chicago, while involved with conservative Anglicanism. Upon wedding, they moved to Utah, where Fr Gregory worked in education administration, and taught philosophy and theology at a community college and a regional seminary. The Matlaks then moved to Boston, where by God’s mercy they were received into the Orthodox Church. There Fr Gregory completed a PhD in Theology and Education at Boston College. Upon graduating, he received a call to prepare for the holy priesthood, which he did at St Tikhon’s Seminary. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in 2019 and the Holy Priesthood in 2020. The Matlaks have two beautiful daughters.