Fr. Nectarios Yangson Appointed Dean of New Pacific Islands Deanery

HONOLULU, HI — The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) has established a new Pacific Islands Deanery within its Western American Diocese, bringing together Orthodox communities and missions across a wide area of Oceania. The deanery was established by decree of Abp. Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America.

Priest Nectarios Yangson, rector of Holy Theotokos of Iveron Russian Orthodox Church in Hawai‘i and guardian of the wonderworking myrrh-streaming “Hawaiian” Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, has been appointed dean. A native of the Hawaiian Islands, Fr. Nectarios will oversee communities in Hawai‘i, the Mariana Islands, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and Tahiti in French Polynesia.

The announcement highlighted continued missionary growth throughout the region, including new missions, church construction, catechumens preparing for Holy Baptism, and growing interest in the Orthodox faith. The deanery is intended to strengthen cooperation among communities separated by thousands of miles of ocean.

The parish expressed gratitude to Abp. Kyrill for his support and asked for prayers for Fr. Nectarios as he begins his new responsibility. It also invoked the protection of the Most Holy Theotokos over his ministry and the Orthodox faithful throughout the Pacific.

The announcement concluded with appeals for the Orthodox faith to flourish throughout Oceania, emphasizing the unity of the Church despite the geographical distance separating its communities.

Previously, the UOJ reported that a woman received healing after praying before the Hawaiian Iveron Icon.