Alejo Pacheco-y-Vera

Alejo (born Antonio Pacheco Vera; September 6, 1954) is a Mexican Christian prelate who has served as Archbishop of Mexico in the Orthodox Church in America since 2005.

Early life Bishop Alejo was born Antonio Pacheco Vera in 1954 in Mexico. He was received into the Orthodox faith on August 1, 1972. Six years later, he was tonsured a monk and took on the name Alejo; he was ordained a deacon on January 14, 1979 and was assigned to the Ascension Cathedral in Mexico City. He was ordained a priest in March 1, 1981, continuing to serve the cathedral while also sent on numerous missions throughout the state of Chiapas. In 2001, he was elevated to the rank of igumen and to archimandrite in 2003.

Bishop of Mexico

Following the death of Bishop José Cortes y Olmos of Mexico City, Alejo was elected as Bishop of Mexico City in April 2, 2005, and was consecrated May 28 of that same year. As Bishop of Mexico City, he served as auxiliary bishop to Dmitry of Dallas, and enjoyed positive relations with the Greek Orthodox Antiochian Church in America.

On October 16, 2008, Alejo was elected as Archbishop of Mexico following the death of his predecessor, Archbishop Dmitri, and was installed on January 18, 2009. With his election, the Exarch of Mexico was elevated to full diocesan status. On January 6, 2013, Archbishop Alejo invited Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco to celebrate the Great Feast of Theophany and to celebrate the 41st anniversary of the establishment of what is now the Diocese of Mexico. In 2018, he established a mission in Tijuana.