Benjamin Peterson (bishop)

For other uses, see Benjamin Peterson.

His Eminence Benjamin The Most Reverend
Archbishop of the West
Archbishop Benjamin in 2012
Archdiocese	Orthodox Church in America Diocese of the West
See	Los Angeles
Elected	March, 2007
Installed	October 2, 2007
Predecessor	Tikhon Fitzgerald
Successor	Vasily Permiakov
Previous post(s)	Bishop of Berkeley (2004-2007) [1]
Orders
Ordination	November 15, 1987 (diaconate) July 19, 1997 (priesthood)
Consecration	May 1, 2004 [2]
Personal details
Born	Vincent Peterson (1954-06-01) June 1, 1954 (age 71) Pasadena, California
Nationality	American
Denomination	Eastern Orthodox
Alma mater	Saint Vladimir's Seminary

Benjamin Peterson (born Vincent Peterson (born June 1, 1954)) is retired Archbishop of the Orthodox Church in America. During 2007-2025 he served as ruling hierarch of Diocese of the West.

Early life and biography

Peterson was born Vincent Peterson in Pasadena, California on June 1, 1954. He was baptized into the Orthodox faith on April 27, 1972. He enrolled in Saint Vladimir's Seminary, graduating with a Master of Divinity in 1978. Before entering the clergy, he was chairman of the Orthodox Church in America’s Department of Liturgical Music and served as choirmaster at several parishes in Detroit, Michigan, and in Los Angeles. ^[3]

On November 15, 1987 Peterson was ordained to the deaconate by Bishop Tikhon, and tonsured a rasophore monk in the following year. Later, he was further tonsured to the rank of lesser schema by Archbishop Herman at Saint Tikhon Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania. ^[3] He was sent to the Diocese of Alaska in 1999 to serve as dean of the Saint Innocent Cathedral in Anchorage, and later as administrative dean of Saint Herman Theological Seminary in Kodiak, where he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. ^[2]

Bishop

In January 2004, Peterson was transferred to Los Angeles where he served as Chancellor of the Diocese of the West and reassigned to the Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral. In March 2004 he was elected to the episcopacy and given the position of Bishop of Berkeley, Auxiliary to the Diocese of the West. He was consecrated on May 1, 2004 at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco. ^[2]

Following the retirement of the previous bishop, Bishop Tikhon, Peterson would serve as temporary administrator of the diocese on November 14, 2006. He would be nominated for the position of bishop in January 31, 2007 was canonically elected in March and consecrated October 2 of that same year. ^[4] He was elevated to rank of Archbishop on May 9, 2012. ^[2]

On June 8, 2014 he visited Durango, Colorado, reflecting on its Czech and Slovak heritage as well as expressing hope that the diocese will continue to grow. ^[5] In addition to his roles, he also served as administrator of the Diocese of Alaska from 2008 to 2009, and as locum tenens from 2009 to 2014.

Health and retirement

In April 2021, he announced he was diagnosed with early stages of Parkinson's disease. ^[6] On December 8, 2024 he announced his upcoming retirement, taking affect on July 15, 2025. Under his tenure, the diocese has grown by 18% since being enthroned. ^[7]

References

1. The Orthodox Church. VOLUME № 43, 1/2. JAN/FEB 2007 Archived 2015-09-10 at the Wayback Machine , page 2
2. "The Holy Synod: The Most Reverend Benjamin". www.oca.org.
3. "The Most Rev. Benjamin, Archbishop of San Francisco and the West – Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral" . Retrieved 4 March 2025.
4. "His Eminence Benjamin, Archbishop of San Francisco and the West". The Diocese of the West.
5. Mathis, Brandon. "Orthodox Church archbishop visits Durango parish". Durango Herald. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
6. Peterson, Benjamin (15 April 2021). "Important News from His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin". The Diocese of the West.
7. "The Holy Synod of Bishops Announces the Upcoming Retirement of His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin". www.oca.org. Springfield, Virginia. 8 December 2024.

Eastern Orthodox Church titles
Preceded by Tikhon Fitzgerald	Bishop of the West March 20, 2007 — July 15, 2025	Succeeded by Vasily Permiakov