Changes

After decades of a very cold relationship, in 1970 the Metropolia was granted autocephaly (think of it as administrative independence) by the Patriarch of Moscow and became known as the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).  When that happened, numbers of the Romanian, Bulgarian, and Albanian Churches in the USA and Canada merged with the OCA.   

After decades of a very cold relationship, in 1970 the Metropolia was granted autocephaly (think of it as administrative independence) by the Patriarch of Moscow and became known as the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).  When that happened, numbers of the Romanian, Bulgarian, and Albanian Churches in the USA and Canada merged with the OCA.   

The Orthodox Church continues to grow in North America.  Most of its bishops were born in America, many having converted (either from paganism or other Christian churches) as adults.  The Orthodox church has experienced a couple of waves of mass conversions, such as when several thousand Byzantine-rite Catholics converted in the early 20th Century.   

The Orthodox Church continues to grow in North America.  Most of its bishops were born in America, many having converted (either from religions outside christianity or other Christian churches) as adults.  The Orthodox church has experienced a couple of waves of mass conversions, such as when several thousand Byzantine-rite Catholics converted in the early 20th Century.   

The Orthodox in America have established one undergraduate college, Holy Cross in Boston as well as several seminaries including (Anchorage, [[New York]], [[Boston]], and Pennsylvania), one practical ministerial institute (Penn.), and a graduate school for lay theologians (Berkeley).  Some of their parishes have Saturday schools where Greek, Russian, and other languages as well as theology and culture are taught to children.  A few parishes have established High Schools and elementary schools.

The Orthodox in America have established one undergraduate college, Holy Cross in Boston as well as several seminaries including (Anchorage, [[New York]], [[Boston]], and Pennsylvania), one practical ministerial institute (Penn.), and a graduate school for lay theologians (Berkeley).  Some of their parishes have Saturday schools where Greek, Russian, and other languages as well as theology and culture are taught to children.  A few parishes have established High Schools and elementary schools.