Orthodox Church in America Diocese of Mexico

The Diocese of Mexico (Spanish: Diócesis de México) is a missionary diocese of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Its territory includes parishes, monasteries, and missions located in four states in Mexico (as well as Mexico City) - Chiapas, México, Jalisco, and Veracruz. The diocesan chancery is located in Mexico City.

Diocese of Mexico
orthodox
Location
Country	Mexico
Metropolitan	Tikhon (Mollard)
Information
Denomination	Eastern Orthodox
Language	English, Spanish
Current leadership
Parent church	Orthodox Church in America
Archbishop	Alejo (Pacheco-Vera)
Map
The states in which the Diocese of Mexico has jurisdiction.
Website
ocamexico.org

In 2023, the ruling bishop of the exarchate was Alejo (Pacheco-Vera), Bishop of Mexico City.^[1]

History

After the Mexican Revolution of 1910, the country’s leaders attempted to establish a national church and the Mexican National Catholic Church came into being in 1926;^[2] however, many clergy were concerned that this was moving away from a ‘true’ church.^{[citation needed]}

In 1965, Mexican bishop Jose Cortes y Almos contacted Saint Seraphim Church in Texas; the rector Dmitri (Royster) visited Mexico and presented the Mexican case^{[clarification needed]} to the Orthodox Church of America.^[2][3]

The Mexican Exarchate was created through the mass conversion (some 10,000-20,000 persons) of an entire diocese of the Mexican National Catholic Church^[which?] to Orthodoxy in 1972.^[4] Dmitri became a Bishop and was the Exarch of Mexico from 1972 to 2008.^[5] The Mexican National Catholic Church still has four other existing dioceses.^{[citation needed]}

In October 16, 2008, the exarchate reorganized as the Diocese of Mexico.^[2] Bishop Alejo (consecrated on May 28, 2005) was elected as the ruling bishop and installed in Ascension Cathedral in Mexico City on January 18, 2009. He was elevated to Archbishop on May 9, 2012.^[6]

List of Bishops

Mexican Exarchate

• Dmitri (Royster) (16 February 1972 - 16 October 2008)
• Alejo (Pacheco-Vera) (16 October 2008 - 14 January 2009)

Diocese of Mexico

• Alejo (Pacheco-Vera) (14 January 2009 - Present)

Deaneries

The diocese is grouped geographically into five deaneries, each consisting of a number of parishes. Each deanery is headed by a parish priest, known as a dean. The deans coordinate activities in their area's parishes, and report to the diocesan bishop. The current deaneries of the Exarchate of Mexico are:

• Mexico City, D.F.
• State of Mexico
• State of Jalisco
• State of Veracruz
• State of Chiapas

See also

• Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Latin America