On December 6, 2018, the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia elected Archimandrite Luke (Murianka), Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, and Rector of its seminary, as Bishop of Syracuse, Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese. His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York sent an appeal to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia for confirmation of this election.