Metropolitan Anthony Scharba

Metropolitan Anthony (Secular name: John Ivanovych Scharba) (b. January 30, 1947) is an American Orthodox hierarch who is the Metropolitan of Ierapolis, and Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA (UOC of the USA) since 2012. He is also the primate of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Diaspora since 2015.

Early life and education Scharba was born John Ivanovych Scharba on January 30, 1947, in Sharon, Pennsylvania, USA, to Ivan and Dorofei Scharba. On March 23 of the same year, he was baptized in the Ukrainian Church of John the Baptist in his hometown.

Scharba received his primary and secondary education in Sharpsville. After he graduated from high school, he enrolled in the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in order to prepare for a lay career in as an international journalist.

Primate of the UOC-USA Following the death of the Metropolitan Constatine, on May 21, 2012, Archbishop Anthony was elected locum tenens of the UOC of the USA. On October 6, the Council of Clergy and Laity elected him as their primate. On November 14, the election was approved by Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. In addition, Metropolitan Anthony became locum tenens of the UAOC in the Diaspora. The enthronement took place on January 26, 2013, at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Andrew in Silver Spring, Maryland. Metropolitan Anthony at the enthronement of Primate of the OCU, Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv. At the council of the UAOC in the Diaspora of October 30-November 1, 2015, Metropolitan Anthony was officially elected Metropolitan of the UAOC in the Diaspora.