Nathaniel (Popp)
Encyclopedia
Archbishop Nathaniel is an American
Romanian Orthodox
clergyman, the current archbishop
of the Orthodox Church in America
's Romanian Episcopate
.
Born to a Romanian-American
family in Aurora
, Illinois
, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1966, in the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church
. He soon left the Catholic Eastern Rite
and, under the guidance of Archbishop Valerian Trifa
of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, converted to Orthodoxy
on February 15, 1968. After residing in a monastic
community for several years, Fr. Popp became the rector
of a parish in Hermitage, Pennsylvania
.
On November 15, 1980, Fr. Nathaniel was consecrated Bishop of Dearborn Heights
, as an auxiliary bishop
to Archbishop Valerian Trifa. He served as bishop until 1984, when Abp. Valerian retired. On November 17, 1984, Bishop Nathaniel became the ruling hierarch of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America; on October 20, 1999, the Holy Synod of the OCA elevated him to the rank of archbishop.
Archbishop Nathaniel traveled to Romania
in May 2003, where he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate
from the University of Oradea
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Romanian Orthodox
Romanian Orthodox Church
The Romanian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church. It is in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox churches, and is ranked seventh in order of precedence. The Primate of the church has the title of Patriarch...
clergyman, the current archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Orthodox Church in America
Orthodox Church in America
The Orthodox Church in America is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in North America. Its primate is Metropolitan Jonah , who was elected on November 12, 2008, and was formally installed on December 28, 2008...
's Romanian Episcopate
Orthodox Church in America Romanian Episcopate
The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America is one of three ethnic dioceses of the Orthodox Church in America , and a former diocese of the Romanian Orthodox Church...
.
Born to a Romanian-American
Romanian American
A Romanian American is a citizen of the United States who has significant Romanian heritage. For the 2000 US Census, 367,310 Americans indicated Romanian as their first ancestry, while 462,526 persons declared to have Romanian ancestry...
family in Aurora
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1966, in the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church
Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic
The Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic is an Eastern Catholic Church which is in full union with the Roman Catholic Church. It is ranked as a Major Archiepiscopal Church and uses the Byzantine liturgical rite in the Romanian language....
. He soon left the Catholic Eastern Rite
Eastern Rite Catholic Churches
The Eastern Catholic Churches are autonomous, self-governing particular churches in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. Together with the Latin Church, they compose the worldwide Catholic Church...
and, under the guidance of Archbishop Valerian Trifa
Valerian Trifa
Valerian Trifa was a Romanian Orthodox cleric and fascist political activist, who served as archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Church in America and Canada...
of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, converted to Orthodoxy
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
on February 15, 1968. After residing in a monastic
Monasticism
Monasticism is a religious way of life characterized by the practice of renouncing worldly pursuits to fully devote one's self to spiritual work...
community for several years, Fr. Popp became the rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of a parish in Hermitage, Pennsylvania
Hermitage, Pennsylvania
Hermitage is a city in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 16,157 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
On November 15, 1980, Fr. Nathaniel was consecrated Bishop of Dearborn Heights
Dearborn Heights, Michigan
Dearborn Heights is a city in Wayne County, in the Detroit metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 57,774 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, as an auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
to Archbishop Valerian Trifa. He served as bishop until 1984, when Abp. Valerian retired. On November 17, 1984, Bishop Nathaniel became the ruling hierarch of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America; on October 20, 1999, the Holy Synod of the OCA elevated him to the rank of archbishop.
Archbishop Nathaniel traveled to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
in May 2003, where he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from the University of Oradea
University of Oradea
The University of Oradea is a public University, located in Oradea, in North-Western Romania.With its four colleges and 18 faculties, has a total of 123 fields of study for undergraduates and 151 post-graduate specialisation degrees...
.