HIS EXCELLENCY
METROPOLITAN BOGDAN OF EVKARPIA

UKRANIAN ORTHODOX PARISHES IN USA

BIOGRAPHY :

His Exellency Metropolitan Bogdan (Spylka) of Evkarpia has been received in 1936 into the Ecumenical Patriarchate due to efforts of Archbishop Athenagoras of America (later Ecumenical Patriarch), who ordained in 1937 Father Bogdan as a bishop in New York City. His title was 'Bishop of Evkarpia'. Bishop Bohdan at one point had rule over around 45 parishes, also having some initial success in attracting parishes away from the UOC of the USA, due to his more moderate views.

Seraphim Surrency wrote:
"Bishop Bohdan, with what backing the Greeks could give him, which was mostly moral and very little financial, continued to give some competition to the organization of Teodorovich, now commonly called the "Ukrainian Metropolia" but it was a losing battle. In addition to the administrative ineptitude of Bishop Bohdan, his very moderation in matters Ukrainian seemed to work against him. Bishop Bohdan did succeed in attracting some Americans who were interested in Orthodoxy and most in ordination. Bishop Bohdan ordained over a dozen native converts to the Orthodox priesthood without requiring any theological education and as might be expected the results were disastrous (an exception was Fr. Dimitry Royster who later transferred his allegiance to the Russian Metropolia and was consecrated Bishop in 1969)" (p. 113).

In 1958, at the twentieth anniversary celebration of his consecration as a bishop, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate honored Bishop Bohdan for his service by elevating the see of Evkarpia to the status of a Metropolis. He became then a titular Metropolitan of Evkarpia.

After 1957, Metropolitan Bohdan became less and less active, due mainly to advancing age, all the while continuing to lose parishes to the UAOC.

Metropolitan Bohdan (Spilka) of Evkarpia reposed on November 1, 1965.

His Excellency Metropolitan Bohdan of Evkarpia
(probably the time he was ordained to the episcopate - 1937)