SYOSSET, NY [OCA] -- In a letter dated December 8, 2010, His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip, Primate of the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, granted a canonical release to His Grace, Bishop Mark [Maymon] to enter the canonical jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church in America. This action was a response to an official request made by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, on behalf of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America.

Upon receipt of the letter from Metropolitan Philip, Metropolitan Jonah expressed his "appreciation for the harmonious relations of the Orthodox Church in America and the Antiochian Archdiocese, as shown most recently in the release of Bishop Mark.... We welcome His Grace, Bishop Mark into the Orthodox Church in America and look forward to close collaboration in ministry and mission."

Effective January 1, 2011, Bishop Mark will serve as Auxiliary to Metropolitan Jonah with the title "Bishop of Baltimore" and will administer the OCA Diocese of the South. Additional information may be found on the web site of the Antiochian Archdiocese at www.antiochian.org.