Orthodox Bishops hold 15th Assembly in Pittsburgh

The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America held its 15th meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from October 3–6, 2026. The gathering included a pan-Orthodox Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, presided over by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. During the service, Bishop Irinej of Eastern America delivered a homily regarding the commandment to love one's enemies.

A primary focus of the Assembly was the ongoing development of a Common Catechesis. The Hierarchs reaffirmed a mandate to the Theological Education Committee to formulate a classical catechetical text intended to teach the Orthodox faith in English. Additionally, the Assembly approved the creation of a sign language lexicon to assist in religious engagement.