HIS BEATITUDE, ARCHBISHOP & METROPOLITANI, Primate
His Beatitude +MICHAEL is the Primate, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Orthodox Church of America and Dependencies, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in the United States His Beatitude was born in the United States of America. In 1966, he studied at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School, in 1970 he attended Bishop Moore High School, in 1972, he read Theology in St. John Vianney College Seminary. In 1974 His Beatitude read Theology, Philosophy & Sociology at St. Mary's Seminary and University. In 1975, he was ordained Subdeacon by Archbishop Michael Shaheen, of the for Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. In 1981, he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate and Holy Priesthood and served in multipole parishes in Ohio and Florida. On September 20, 1986, during the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. Ignatius Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Orlando, Florida, presided by Metropolitan +NIKOLAUS (Ilnyckyj), Metropolitan +PETER (Zhurawetzky), and Bishop +DAVID (Baxter), His Beatitude was Consecrated to the Episcopacy. On the 2nd of December 1986, Metropolitan Archbishop +MICHEAL received a Letter from the Ecumenical Patriarch +DEMETRIOS of Constantinople, blessing his work in the new responsibility. In 1994 His Beatitude became Moderator for the Standing Episcopal Conference of Orthodox Bishops. On the 15th November 1997, he was invited by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and was received by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch +BARTHOLOMEW I in Pittsburgh. On the 21st August 2002 the President of the Holy Governing Synod of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in the United States confirmed the Canonicity of the Episcopal Consecration of +MICHAEL and inclusion in the Diptychs of the UAOC. On 15 April 2024 His Beatitude +AMVROSIJ (Dolgorouky), Metropolitan Archbishop and Canonical Successor of Metropolitan +HRYHORIJ (Ohijchuk) and Metropolitan +CHRISTOPHOROS (Contogeorge) and Primate of the Joint Synod of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in the United States and former Exarchate of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and confirmed that Metropolitan +MICHAEL is listed in the Dyptychs. On the 23rd of April 2026, the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and the Holy Synod of the OCA-UAOC both accepted & acknowledge the Canonical Appointment of His Beatitude of Metropolitan Archbishop +MICHAEL as Primate and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in the USA in accordance with the official Documents, Records and Letters from the Archives of His Beatitude +AMVROSI of Trice Blessed Memory. This was confirmed on the 23rd of April 2026 by His All-Holiness +BARTHOLOMEW I, Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch. His Beatitude continues to serve in his capacity as Primate of the Orthodox Church of America and Dependencies, home for the Standing Episcopal Conference of Orthodox Bishops and the Primate of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in the USA. Metropolitan Archbishop +MICHAEL invites all independent Bishops, Priests, Deacons and Religious seeking more knowledge of the Orthodox Catholic Faith, Fellowship, Inter-Communion and possible acceptance and/or Incardination into the Holy Church. His Beatitude as Vicar for North America, has worked diligently in the Vineyard of the United States, Canada, Indonesia, Europe and Africa seeking Orthodox Churches to grow the American Province; and in Communion with our "Sister Churches" of the APC - Historic Federation in America and Dependencies, Russia and Ukraine.
Metropolitan Archbishop +GEORGE of Great Britain & the Arab Province, Primate.
His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan +GEORGE was born in the Middle East in a Christian family who served for generations the Orthodox Church. From his youth, he was inclined to serve the Church. In the mid 80's, and due to unstable political situation and civil wars in the region, he travelled to New York, USA to attend Saint Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary. His Eminence holds a MA Degree in Divinity; he also holds a MA Degree in Business Administration from Cornell University and a PHD in Byzantine Theology as well. On the 22nd of April 1991, the vigil service feast of Saint George the Great Martyr, he formally took the monastic vows in accordance with the Eastern Rite. On the 23rd of April 1991, he was ordained to the Holy Deaconate. On the 23rd of April 1992, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood where he served in many parishes in the USA. In August 1994 he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite. In June 1995 he was consecrated an Auxiliary Bishop. In 1998, he was asked to take on reinvigorating the missionary work in Eastern Africa. His mission was to create a strong Christian community mission work and education system in that part of the world. On the 15th of August 2006, the Dormition of the Theotokos, His Eminence joined the Mariamite Christian Fathers, Community of Mary. The aim of this Monastic Community is: to proclaim the Gospel to those who have not heard it, to do charity work to those who are in need regardless of: background, age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief and to foster according to Gospel values; peace, justice and the integrity of the creation worldwide and to defend the human rights of every individual. His Eminence lived and worked in the Middle East, USA, Asia, Africa and Europe. In working and living in different continents, he had the opportunity to work closely with many international humanitarian Organizations and missions. He was successful in the many projects he was overseeing. In 2016 and after spending many working as a missionary year in Central Equatoria, East Africa and Myanmar (Burma) in Asia where he worked closely with Refugee Camps, Orphanages and field Hospitals, and Human Rights Organizations, His Eminence moved to the United Kingdom. On the 15th of August 2018, feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, on the Community Feast Day, His Eminence was elected the primate of The Mariamite Christian Orthodox Fathers, Community of Mary. He was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan Archbishop given the title: Primate of the Mariamite Christian Orthodox Fathers, Community of Mary. In 2022, His Eminence was awarded by the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta the Ukrainian Relief Medal of Honour in recognition to his aid and support to the refugees of Ukraine. He was acknowledged twice by the President of the United State for his support and charity work and as an activist for human rights, and for his services in both social and Christian work. On the 27th of August 2023, Metropolitan Archbishop +GEORGE was received into The Orthodox Church of America and Dependencies, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in the United States by His Beatitude +MICHEAL, Primate. Metropolitan Archbishop +GEORGE was appointed Archbishop - OCA / UAOC-APC Archdiocese of London & Great Britain - Metropolitan of the Arab Province, Primate. In May 2026, His Eminence was awarded the medal of The Ukrainian Star from Ukraine Priory of the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta. He was acknowledged twice by the President of the United State for his support, charity work, his active work in the human rights movement, and for his services in both social and Christian work. His Eminence is proficient in: English, Arabic, Patristic Greek, Classical Hebrew and Aramaic.