Bishop-Elect Melchisedek
It is with profound joy, and in thanksgiving to Almighty God, that the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, announces that today, at the OCA Chancery in Oyster Bay Cove, New York, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America canonically elected Archimandrite Melchisedek (Thomas Pleska) as the next Bishop of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania.
Bishop-Elect Archimandrite Melchisedek was born in Canton, OH on August 20, 1942. He is a graduate of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary in Crestwood, NY and was ordained to the holy priesthood in 1986 by Metropolitan THEODOSIUS. During his priesthood he was the pastor of churches in Pottstown, PA Old Forge PA, Simpson, PA and Meridian CT. In 1998 he entered into the monastic life in Greece. In 2004, he was tonsured to the Great Schema, and raised to the rank of Archimandrite and Spiritual Father by the local Metropolitan in Greece.
On November 15, 2008 Archimandrite Melchisedek (Thomas Pleska) was nominated to the Holy Synod by an Extraordinary Assembly of the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania to be the next Bishop of this historic Archdiocese.
More details will be forthcoming as they become available on this historic occurrence.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Igumen Patrick (Carpenter)
Archdiocesan Press Officer