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The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, meeting in its regular Spring 2026 Session under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, announces that it has accepted the request of His Eminence Archbishop Alexander to retire from his responsibilities as Archbishop of Dallas and the South.
His Eminence’s retirement from the Diocese of the South will take effect on July 23, 2026, upon the conclusion of the regular Diocesan Assembly of the Diocese. At that time, His Eminence will be relieved of his duties as diocesan bishop of the South. He will, however, continue to serve as the ruling bishop of the Bulgarian Diocese.
Archbishop Alexander has served the Church with distinction over many years of faithful ministry. Born in Burbank, California, in 1948, he was raised in the Orthodox faith and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Divinity from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. He continued his studies at the University of Oxford under Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) and spent time in monastic formation, including at Simonos Petras Monastery on Mount Athos.
He was consecrated to the episcopacy in 2012 as Bishop of Toledo and the Bulgarian Diocese, succeeding Archbishop Kyrill, and was later elected Archbishop of Dallas and the South in 2016, succeeding Archbishop Dmitri of blessed memory. In 2017, he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop. Throughout his episcopal ministry, His Eminence has been known for his theological depth, his commitment to the liturgical and spiritual life of the Church, and his faithful pastoral care of the clergy and faithful entrusted to him.
The Holy Synod expresses its profound gratitude to Archbishop Alexander for his years of devoted service to the Diocese of the South and to the Orthodox Church in America. The hierarchs assure His Eminence of their continued prayers as he is relieved of his responsibilities in the Diocese of the South while continuing his archpastoral ministry in the Bulgarian Diocese.
Further information regarding the administration of the Diocese of the South following His Eminence’s retirement will be provided in due course.
