New Bishop of American Orthodox Church

On Saturday, May 8, 2010, over 1000 faithful - including nine bishops, 125 clergy, and 100 seminarians and their families - gathered at Saints Peter and Paul Church here to celebrate the consecration of His Grace, Michael as Bishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey.

The Holy Liturgy was led by Metrooplitan Jonah with the concelebration of eight hierarchs among those were representatives of Antioch, Romanian and Albanian Orthodox Church.

Bishop Michael (Dahulich) was born in Johnson City, NY, on August 29, 1950 in an orthodox family. He grew up in Binghamton, NY. He attended Christ the Saviour Seminary, Johnstown, PA. He completed his theological studies there in December 1972.

He was ordained by Bishop John - first to the diaconate on February 3, 1973, at Saint Peter the Apostle Chapel, Johnstown, and the following day to the priesthood - at Christ the Saviour Cathedral. The same year he survived a car accident in which his wife died.

Over the next few years, Father Michael attended Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA, from which he graduated with a degree in philosophy, and Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, from which he graduated with a Master of Arts in Theology and later a Ph.D. in Theology with a concentration in New Testament studies.

Upon his graduation from Saint Vincent College, he was named Prefect of Student Life at Christ the Saviour Seminary. In 2002 he became a Dean of Saint Tikhon's Seminary. Bishop-Elect Michael was tonsured as a Riasophor Monk on October 23, 2009 at Saint Tikhon's Monastery Church by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, who also tonsured him into the Lesser Schema at the Monastery Church on Holy Tuesday, March 30, 2010. The following day he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite and awarded the mitre by the Metropolitan.

Source: The Orthodox Church of America