A Canadian Orthodox archbishop has stepped down amid allegations of sexual misconduct involving boys.

The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) says in a news release that Archbishop Seraphim of Ottawa, the head of the church's Canadian archdiocese, asked for and was granted, a three-month leave as of last Friday.

The 64-year-old has not been charged with any crime, but police are investigating the abuse claims.

The allegations stem from a period more than 20 years ago when Seraphim was a priest in Winnipeg.

The archbishop posted a letter on the archdiocese's website last week suggesting the reason for his leave was health issues.

"Having also seen my physician, I was informed that this leave is rather overdue," he wrote. "It is my intention and hope to maintain as much solitude and silence as possible."

Metropolitan Jonah Paffhausen, speaking on behalf of the church, said in a statement this week that the church would comply with police procedures "in order to obtain the necessary information needed to bring about a proper resolution."

"We offer our heartfelt prayers to the Great Shepherd and Healer, Our Lord Jesus Christ, that all parties involved in this will be blessed with God's peace, love and healing," he added.

According to a biography of Seraphim on the church's website, he was born Kenneth William Storheim in Edmonton.

He served as a priest in Alberta, North Carolina and London, Ont., between 1981 and 1984, when he became rector of Holy Trinity Sobor in Winnipeg, where he served until 1987.

He became an auxiliary bishop of Edmonton in 1987, and became ruling bishop of the archdiocese in 1990. He was elevated to the rank of archbishop of Ottawa and Canada in 2007.