The Diocese of Mexico (Spanish: Diócesis de México) is a missionary diocese of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Its territory includes parishes, monasteries, and missions located in four states in Mexico (as well as Mexico City) - Chiapas, México, Jalisco, and Veracruz. The diocesan chancery is located in Mexico City.
In 2023, the ruling bishop of the exarchate was Alejo (Pacheco-Vera), Bishop of Mexico City.[1]
After the Mexican Revolution of 1910, the country’s leaders attempted to establish a national church and the Mexican National Catholic Church came into being in 1926;[2] however, many clergy were concerned that this was moving away from a ‘true’ church.
In 1965, Mexican bishop Jose Cortes y Almos contacted Saint Seraphim Church in Texas; the rector Dmitri (Royster) visited Mexico and presented the Mexican case to the Orthodox Church of America.[2][3]
The Mexican Exarchate was created through the mass conversion (some 10,000-20,000 persons) of an entire diocese of the Mexican National Catholic Church to Orthodoxy in 1972.[4] Dmitri became a Bishop and was the Exarch of Mexico from 1972 to 2008.[5] The Mexican National Catholic Church still has four other existing dioceses.
In October 16, 2008, the exarchate reorganized as the Diocese of Mexico.[2] Bishop Alejo (consecrated on May 28, 2005) was elected as the ruling bishop and installed in Ascension Cathedral in Mexico City on January 18, 2009;[6] he became Archbishop on May 9, 2012.
The diocese is grouped geographically into five deaneries, each consisting of a number of parishes. Each deanery is headed by a parish priest, known as a dean. The deans coordinate activities in their area's parishes, and report to the diocesan bishop. The current deaneries of the Exarchate of Mexico are: