ROCIA

Definition

(Noun) <I>proper noun</i>: The Russian Orthodox Church in America. The Autocephalous <i>(self-governing)</i> Orthodox Church established in 1927 by the synod of bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church governing all of the Orthodox Parishes at that time in the USA. Established to be the Orthodox Church for American Converts and second and more generation Orthodox believers who spoke American English as their primary language. Its creation was blessed by Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow and all Russia <i>(whom the Church honors as an Orthodox Saint)</i>.
First headed by Archbishop AFTIMIOS (Ofiesh), of blessed memory, it is currently ruled by Metropolitan SYMEON (Ioannovskij) of Denver (see City) and the Holy Synod of Bishops.