OCA Releases July and August 2026 Pastoral Changes

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) has released its Pastoral Changes announcements for July and August 2026, documenting clergy ordinations, assignments, releases, and other changes across the Church.

The monthly reports are issued by the Office of the Chancellor, headed by Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino. They provide an official record of clergy-related developments submitted to the OCA Chancery by individual dioceses. The July and August reports are available online through the OCA’s website. The July report can be accessed here, while the August report is available here.

According to the OCA, entries are published after the respective dioceses submit the information to the Chancery. The announcements therefore reflect the information received and processed by the central church administration.

The Pastoral Changes series serves as a regular source of information about clergy appointments and transitions within the OCA’s diocesan structure, keeping clergy and faithful informed of official personnel developments.

Ordinations

• Deacon John Jensen — Ordained to the priesthood by Bp. Vasily on July 11, 2026, at the Church of the Annunciation in Milwaukie, OR. Assigned as associate priest at the same church. (Diocese of the West)
• Deacon John Gallagher — Ordained to the priesthood by Bp. Vasily on August 30, 2026. Assigned as associate priest at St. Anne Church in Corvallis, OR. (Diocese of the West)
• Justin Kaseman — Ordained to the diaconate by Bp. Vasily on August 30, 2026. Attached to St. Anne Church in Corvallis, OR. (Diocese of the West)
• Matthew Peterson — Ordained to the diaconate by Archbishop Alexei on August 22, 2026. Attached to All Saints of Alaska Chapel in Kodiak, AK. (Diocese of Sitka and Alaska)
• Jonathan Schultz — Ordained to the diaconate by Bp. Vasily on August 23, 2026. Attached to St. Nicholas of South Canaan Church in Billings, MT. (Diocese of the West)

Assignments

• Archpriest Thomas Andrew — Appointed Priest-in-Charge of the Nativity of the Theotokos Orthodox Church in Chenega Bay, AK, effective February 25, 2026. (Diocese of Sitka and Alaska)
• Priest Evan Ashmore — Appointed Acting Rector of Holy Resurrection Church in Belle Vernon (Rostraver Township), PA, effective July 7, 2026. (Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania)
• Archpriest Robert Dick — Appointed Dean of the Boston Deanery, effective July 1, 2026. (Diocese of New England)
• Archpriest Vasily Fisher — Appointed Priest-in-Charge of Saints Sergius and Herman of Valaam Orthodox Church in Nanwalek, AK, effective April 22, 2026, and later appointed Priest-in-Charge of the Nativity of the Theotokos Orthodox Church in Chenega Bay, AK, effective August 11, 2026. (Diocese of Sitka and Alaska)
• Priest Stephen Gresh — Appointed Rector of St. Nicholas Church in Donora, PA, effective July 7, 2026. (Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania)
• Priest Paul Hamner — Appointed Priest-in-Charge of Nativity of Christ Mission in Ogden, UT, effective July 31, 2026. (Diocese of the West)
• Archpriest Seraphim Joa — Appointed Priest-in-Charge of the newly established St. Joseph of Arimathea Mission Station in Camp Hill, AL, effective July 14, 2026. (Diocese of the South)
• Priest George (Egor) Khristich — Appointed Priest-in-Charge of St. Moses the Strong Mission in Helena, MT, effective July 1, 2026. (Diocese of the West)
• Priest Tikhon Krueger — Appointed Acting Rector of Holy Dormition Church in Calhan, CO, effective July 1, 2026. (Diocese of the West)
• Priest William Rettig — Appointed Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Boston, MA, effective July 1, 2026, changing from Acting Dean. (Diocese of New England)
• Priest William Rusk — Appointed Administrator of St. John the Baptist Church in Edwardsville, PA, effective July 15, 2026. (Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania)
• Priest John Stiff — Appointed Acting Rector of All Saints of North America Church in Alexandria, VA, effective July 1, 2026. He remains under the omophorion of Metropolitan Tikhon as a territorial cleric in the Archdiocese of Washington.
• Priest Noah Andrew — Appointed Rector of Holy Trinity Church in Kasigluk, AK, and Dean of the Kuskokwim Deanery, effective August 2, 2026. (Diocese of Sitka and Alaska)
• Archpriest Alexander Cadman — Appointed Rector of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Las Vegas, NV, effective August 1, 2026. (Diocese of the West)

Previously, the UOJ reported that the OCA sought $50,000 to support Ukrainian refugees in Poland.