On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, during the 21st All-American Council held in Phoenix, AZ, the Diocese of the West gathered for a Special Diocesan Assembly. Presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Locum Tenens of the Diocese, the Assembly was convened to nominate a new bishop following the retirement of His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin on July 15. The Assembly unanimously put forward the Very Reverend Archimandrite Vasily (Permiakov) as their candidate for Bishop of San Francisco and the West.

Later that same day, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, also meeting under Metropolitan Tikhon during a Special Summer Session, canonically elected Archimandrite Vasily as the new bishop. His episcopal ordination and enthronement are scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco, CA. The Diocese will release additional details regarding the ordination services in the coming weeks.