Leadership
The Most Blessed Tikhon
Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada
His Beatitude was born in 1966. In 1989, he was received into the Orthodox Church from Episcopalianism and began studies at St Tikhon’s Seminary, South Canaan, PA. One year later, he entered the monastic community at St Tikhon’s Monastery as a novice. He was awarded the MDiv degree from St Tikhon’s Seminary in 1993. In 2002, he was named Deputy Abbot of St Tikhon’s Monastery. Two years after his election to the episcopacy by the Holy Synod of Bishops in 2003, he was installed as Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania. From 2005 to 2012, he also served as Rector of St Tikhon’s Seminary. In 2012, he was elevated to the dignity of Archbishop and elected Primate of the Orthodox Church in America at the 17th All-American Council. Full biography available here.
The Most Reverend Benjamin
Archbishop of San Francisco and the West
His Eminence was born in Pasadena, California in 1954. In 1978 he was awarded a MDiv degree from St Vladimir's Seminary. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in 1987 at his home parish, where he served for 10 years as deacon and youth and education director. In 1991, he was elevated to the rank of archdeacon, and in 1997, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Tikhon. In 1999, Igumen Benjamin was transferred to the Diocese of Alaska, where, in 2002, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. In January 2004 he was reassigned to Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral, Los Angeles, and appointed Chancellor of the Diocese of the West. In 2007, the Holy Synod of Bishops elected His Grace Bishop Benjamin to be reigning hierarch of The Diocese of the West. And at the 2012 spring session, they elevated the Bishop to the dignity of Archbishop. Full biography available here.
Reverend Gregory Matlak
Rector
Fr Gregory was raised in Utah, where he developed a deep love of nature. He was brought up as a Protestant, though his father was baptized at Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago. After receiving a BA from Wheaton College, he worked for wilderness programs and with adjudicated youth. He met his wife Stephanie in Chicago, while involved with conservative Anglicanism. Upon wedding, they moved to Utah, where Fr Gregory worked in education administration, and taught philosophy and theology at a community college and a regional seminary. The Matlaks then moved to Boston, where by God's mercy they were received into the Orthodox Church. There Fr Gregory completed a PhD in Theology and Education at Boston College. Upon graduating, he received a call to prepare for the holy priesthood, which he did at St Tikhon's Seminary. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in 2019 and the Holy Priesthood in 2020. The Matlaks have two beautiful daughters.
Very Reverend George Masters
Attached Clergy
Fr. George was born of Greek immigrant parents and raised in Santa Monica, California. He was baptized at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles. His family moved to the San Francisco Bay area while still a teen. Upon completing high school and college, Fr. George entered the newly emerging computer industry as a software engineer. He met his wife Georgette at a Greek Orthodox Young Adult League conference in San Jose. Upon wedding, they moved to Boston where Fr. George was already enrolled at Holy Cross Seminary where he brought the first computers to the school and served as its first information technology specialist. Fr. George received his Masters of Divinity in 1986 from Holy Cross. During his time at Holy Cross he attended Holy Trinity Cathedral in Boston, where he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on Pentecost of 1987. Fr. George moved to Santa Maria, California. While in Santa Maria, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in August of 1987. Fr George is also a mathematics educator in the State of California.