Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas (Grygorenko) Icon - S704

Born November 2, 1923, Robert Royster (later Dmitri of Dallas) grew up in Teague, Texas. As a young man Robert converted to Orthodoxy with his sister and adopted the name Dmitri after Dmitri of Rostov. Soon after he was drafted into the United States Army and served in the Pacific theater as a Japanese interpreter. 

After returning to the US, Dmitri continued to use his skills with languages to teach. He also ministered to the Spanish-speaking ethnic Mexicans of his community, translating liturgical texts into their language. In 1965, a Bishop from Mexico reached out to him and inquired about the possibility of his church converting to Orthodoxy. Dmitri greatly facilitated this transition, which was resolved in 1972. 

Dmitri held many positions in the church over his life, eventually serving as the first Bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Dallas and the South, and was elevated to the rank of Archbishop in 1993. He also wrote several spiritual works, including Orthodox Christian Teaching: An Introduction to the Orthodox Faith; The Doctrine of Christ; The Parables of Christ; The Miracles of Christ; The Kingdom of God: The Sermon on the Mount; and The Epistle to the Hebrews, A Commentary. 

Dmitri reposed August 8, 2011 at the age of 87. On March 5, 2016 his body was disinterred from Restland Cemetery and transferred to a memorial chapel at St Seraphim Cathedral. The state of his relics was found to be incorrupt. Though not a saint officially yet, he is venerated by many in the South for his loving work among them. 

This icon is offered by Legacy Icons with the permission of the iconographer, Vladimir Grygorenko.