Archbishop Nikon (de Grève)
.jpg)
Archbishop Nikon (de Grève) (1895-1983)
Alexis may be spelt Aleksis, Aleksy, Alexy, Alexei.
Nikon may be spelt Nicon.
Early life of Alexis de Grève
On 6/18 February, 1895, Alexis de Grève was born in Batoumi, Kutais Province, (now Adjara), in the Russian Caucasus (Georgia). The precise form of his family name in Georgian is not available.
Alexis was raised within the Georgian part of the Russian Orthodox Church (Georgia had not yet regained independence from the Russian Empire, nor had the Georgian Church recovered her autocephaly).
Alexis received his primary and secondary education in Georgia. The general nature of his education followed that which would normally be preparatory for a military career.
Higher education
Alexis then attended the Tiflis (Tbilisi) Military School in Georgia, followed by the Saint Paul Military Academy in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He graduated from them both.
Alexis served with the Russian army during World War I.
During the war, he served as an officer of the Life Guards of the Moscow Regiment on the Western Front, and then on the Turkish front. He ended the war in the rank of colonel. Afterwards, following the Revolution of 1917, he fought in the Volunteer Army, a strategic section of the White Army in South Russia during the Russian Civil War against the Bolsheviks. During this time, he was wounded.
Exile, 1923
After the collapse of the White Army in 1923, Alexis fled to Western Europe, and he settled in Belgium.
Further education, 1925
Beginning in 1925, Alexis attended the new Saint Sergius Institute in Paris, France.
In 1927, the Brotherhood of Saint Sergius of Radonezh was established, on the initiative of the students Alexis de Grève, Konstantin Struve (later Archimandrite Sava), and Vladimir Kullman (later Bishop Methodius).
Monastic tonsure, 1927
On 29 November, 1927, in the Saint Sergius Institute in Paris, Alexis de Grève was tonsured to be a monk by Metropolitan Evlogiy (Georgievsky) of Paris, and he was given the name Nikon.
Diaconal ordination, 1927
On 4 December, 1927, the Monk Nikon (de Grève) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Metropolitan Evlogiy (Georgievsky) of Paris.
Presbyteral ordination, 1928
On 20 April, 1928, Metropolitan Evlogiy (Georgievsky) of Paris ordained the Hierodeacon Nikon (de Grève) to the Holy Priesthood.
Pastoral service
In 1928, the Hieromonk Nikon (de Grève) graduated from the Saint Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris.
He was assigned first to serve at the Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on the rue Daru in Paris.
Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, rue Daru, Paris
During 1928-1929, he was the editor of the spiritual magazine "Sergievsky Pages", which was published by the Brotherhood of Saint Sophia of the Saint Sergius Institute.
On 15 June, 1928, Hieromonk Nikon (de Grève) was assigned to serve as the rector of the Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. There, after Father Sergiy (Chetverikov) had been transferred to Paris, he served as a missionary in the region.
In 1933, the Hieromonk Nikon (de Grève) was elevated to the dignity of igumen.
Metropolitan Evlogiy (Georgievsky) wrote about him :
Father Nikon devoted himself with dedication to his pastoral duties. He led the parish well. He paid special attention to children : schools, children's holidays, etc. He continued the line of the missionary activity of Father Chetverikov. He travelled through Slovakia, and he visited his spiritual children — and in what difficult conditions sometimes ! In 20-degree frosts on snowy plains in open sleighs, in a poor cassock [...] ; countless memorial services in cemeteries, on frosty days ; complete disregard for his health, convenience, rest. [...] He did not spare himself in the constant services in cemeteries. In the cold, he began to develop throat disease. Transfer to Paris could be a solution.
On 1 May, 1935, Igumen Nikon (de Grève) was released from service in Bratislava, and he was assigned to serve as the third priest of the Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Paris.
He was also assigned to serve as a Law of God (catechism) teacher in the Russian gymnasium school in Paris (he held this position until 30 May, 1943).
On 7 January, 1936, Igumen Nikon (de Grève) was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite.
In 1936, Archimandrite Nikon (de Grève) participated in the sanctification of a memorial chapel and a monument to Russian soldiers who had fallen on the French front during World War I in the Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand township of the Department of Marne. In 1924, a monument with a Russian Orthodox Cross had been established in the middle of the Russian Cemetery. In this cemetery, Russian soldiers from various places round about had also been brought there for interment.
Archimandrite Nikon served as a member of the Diocesan Council of the Provisional Russian Western European Exarchate. He participated in the Russian Christian Student Movement, and also its general assemblies.
He lectured on Orthodoxy in parishes on the outskirts of Paris, including the Temple of Christ the Saviour in Asnières-sur-Seine, the Temple of the Icon of "Our Sovereign Lady" in Chaville, at the Courses on Orthodoxy at the Cossack Museum in Courbevoie (1930s), in the parish of Saint Nicholas in Nice (1938), and others.
Saint Nicholas Sobor, Nice
In the late 1930s, Metropolitan Evlogiy described Father Nikon as being "a man of burning faith and a moving spirit".
World War II 1939-1945
After the Germans occupied Paris during World War II, Archimandrite Nikon served as an assistant to Metropolitan Evlogiy, and was interned for a time by the Nazis. He continued his responsibilities under house-arrest.
After the Nazi arrest of Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky) of Brussels, Archimandrite Nikon was sent to Brussels, Belgium, in order to take care of and administer the diocese during the absence of its archpastor.
During 1940-1942, Archimandrite Nikon was the rector of the Saint Nicholas Church in Brussels, Belgium.
In 1945, after the end of the war, together with Metropolitan Evlogiy (Georgievsky), Archimandrite Nikon (de Grève) went under the omophor of the Moscow Patriarchate.
In September, 1945, he attended a reception at the Soviet Embassy in honour of Metropolitan Nikolai (Yarusevich).
On the basis of an exceptionally good recommendation from Metropolitan Evlogiy (Georgievsky), by the direction of Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky), Archimandrite Nikon (de Grève) was elected to become a bishop.
Long before the ordination, it had been questioned whether or not Archimandrite Nikon would swear an oath to the Patriarch of Moscow.
Episcopal ordination, 1946
On 23 February, 1946, in the Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on rue Daru, Paris, Archimandrite Nikon (de Grève) was named bishop-elect. Metropolitan Serafim (Lukyanov), Archbishop Vladimir (Tikhonitsky), Bishop Sergiy (Korolev) and Bishop John (Leonchukov) took part in the service.
On 24 February, 1946, Archimandrite Nikon (de Grève) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by Metropolitan Evlogiy (Georgievsky) in the Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. He was assisted by the bishops who had participated in the naming service the evening before.
Episcopal Service
Bishop Nikon (de Grève) was given the title "Bishop of Sergiev", a titular see of the Moscow Diocese.
He was assigned to serve as the Bishop of the Belgian Diocese.
After the repose in Christ of Metropolitan Evlogiy (Georgievsky) on 8 August, 1946, both Archbishop Vladimir (Tikhonitsky) and Bishop Nikon (de Grève) declined to remain in the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. A petition was made to the Patriarchate of Constantinople that the exarchate be received.
On 6 March, 1947, Patriarch Maxim V (Vapordzis) of Constantinople approved the existence of the Western European Exarchate in his jurisdiction. He awarded the title of Patriarchal Exarch to Archbishop Vladimir, who was elevated to the dignity of metropolitan on 8 July, 1947.
On 27 May, 1947, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church issued a decree to exclude the bishops who had transferred to the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople from the hierarchy of the Russian Church.
Transfer to the USA, 1947
After Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky) was able to return to Belgium, in 1947, Bishop Nikon (de Grève) was transferred from Europe to the North American “Metropolia”.
Rector of Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, 1947-1952
In 1947, upon his arrival in the USA, Bishop Nikon (de Grève) was assigned to be the Rector of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania.
On several previous occasions, Bishop Nikon had been invited to go to North America. However, because of his loyalty to the Church in Western Europe, he had declined. However, once the situation changed with the return of Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky), he finally accepted the invitation as God's will.
Upon his arrival within the monastery, Bishop Nikon delivered an address to the students of the seminary, who had awaited with anticipation his arrival. He freely expressed his views regarding the development of the school. He mentioned that he hoped to increase the number of years required for the instruction ; he wished to enlarge the faculty ; he wished to increase the number and variety of courses offered in the syllabus.
He first proposed the establishment of a Brotherhood of Saint Tikhon. The purpose of this brotherhood was to help in the dissemination of seminary publications throughout the USA. Further, he presented plans for the establishment of a printing-press at the seminary. This press would publish and print books, pamphlets, magazines, tracts and sermons, and other materials. Through this, the personal libraries of the priests in North America (and also the parishes) would be enriched, and provided with a regular and constant flow of current material for sermons and religious education. Bishop Nikon was a very active man, who was extremely concerned with improving the level of theological education in North America.
In 1948, Bishop Nikon (de Grève) was assigned to be the Bishop of Philadelphia.
Bishop Nikon remained at the same time Rector of Saint Tikhon's Seminary.
Saint Tikhon's Monastery before the renovations
Saint Tikhon's Monastery Catholicon (after the renovations)
Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (after renovations and construction)
Despite his increased pastoral responsibilities, Bishop Nikon did not neglect the seminary. During 1948, he persuaded the Great Council of Bishops to bless the addition of a year to the course of studies at the seminary, thus bringing the term to 4 years. This increase permitted the addition of many necessary courses of study to the curriculum. He worked hard to achieve the aim of bringing the level of teaching and learning so that it would be comparable to the level of learning at other well-known and recognised Orthodox Christian theological schools throughout the world.
Although (as is frequently the case everywhere in Church life), there was a lack of funds to do everything, Bishop Nikon regardless strove continually to add breadth to the perspective and understanding of the students both of theology and of general culture. He believed in using the richness of Russian culture so as to prepare the students for service within the Church. He would often invite famous Russian professors to the seminary so that they would present lectures on a wide variety of subjects, both of a theological and of a non-theological nature.
In 1951, Bishop Nikon initiated a project of constructing a new seminary building in order to increase the space. Already completed by 25 September, 1951, Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich) formally blessed the new building. He was assisted by several other bishops. This new building provided more classroom space, and also living-quarters for both students and faculty.
Under the leadership of Vladyka Nikon, the faculty had been increased to include Archbishop Leonty (Turkevich), who soon became Metropolitan Leonty ; Archimandrite Andronik (Elpidinsky) ; Protopresbyter Gregory Lomako ; Archpriests George Popoff ; Basil Amatoff ; Paul Nervana ; Dimitri Ressetar ; Phillip Pechinsky ; Priest Basil Mousin-Pushkin ; and Professors Vladislav A Mayevsky ; Nicholas I Koursky ; Eugene Novitsky ; Alexander Bezsmertny ; Robert Wilson ; Basil Kaminsky ; Theodore F Balabanov ; and Harry Dorosh.
Before his arrival at Saint Tikhon's Seminary, Professor Vladislav A Mayevsky had previously worked as librarian and historical recorder for Patriarch Varnava (Rosić) of Serbia. Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky) had invited him to North America to teach at Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, but he preferred the atmosphere of a monastic environment.
Professor Eugene I Novitsky had been a lawyer in Russia, and he arrived in the USA in 1948. He was recommended to Bishop Nikon as a possible instructor by his close friend Professor Nicholas Arseniev of Saint Vladimir's Seminary. Vladyka Nikon immediately accepted him into the faculty as a teacher of Russian Church History and Russian language.
Professor Nicholas I Koursky had long ago been a student of Artur G Rubenstein at the Moscow Conservatory of Music prior to the Revolution. At Saint Tikhon's, Professor Koursky became the music instructor.
Father Basil Amatoff, a graduate of the Theological Seminary in Vladimir, Russia, had afterwards studied the teaching of the deaf. He became one of the most famous professors of the handicapped within Imperial Russia. In North America, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in 1915, and he served at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in New York City. He also taught at Saint Platon's Seminary until it had to close. He then worked as a missionary priest in Alaska until he had returned to teach at Saint Tikhon's in 1938. By 1945, he was dean of the seminary. He had briefly returned to Alaska because of their urgent needs, but because of his poor health he returned to teach at Saint Tikhon's until his repose in Christ in 1950.
Bishop Nikon worked closely with Archimandrite Luka (Cirikun), the abbot. Father Luka had served earlier in Saskatchewan, Canada, beginning in 1911, and thereafter in some USA parishes until he was assigned by Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky) in 1922 to be the abbot of Saint Tikhon's Monastery.
During the time of Bishop Nikon, there arrived several novices, and also several monks who had arrived after World War II from Europe as refugees.
Toronto, Canada, 1952
Then, on 7 May, 1952, Bishop Nikon (de Grève) was transferred to Canada to be the Bishop of Toronto and the Archdiocese of Canada.
He moved to Toronto, Ontario, where he served at Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox Cathedral (on Glen Morris Avenue). From there, he made pastoral visits to various places.
Christ the Saviour Cathedral on Glen Morris Avenue, Toronto
Both before and after the time when he was serving in this capacity, there lived in Toronto, as one of his parishioners, the Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna Romanova/Kulikovskaya (1882-1960).
During his pastoral rounds, Bishop Nikon (de Grève) several times visited the Summer Chapel of Saint Sergius of Radonezh at Lac Labelle, Québec, and he was prominent in the memory of the Troubetzkoy family and others, there.
1954 visit to Saint Sergius Chapel, Lac Labelle, Québec
Vladyka Nikon at Lac Labelle, Québec, with Father Alexander Schmemann and Oleg Rodomar
In 1959, when Archbishop Ireney (Bekish) returned to the USA from Japan, Bishop Nikon was elevated to the dignity of archbishop.
Japan, 1960
Then, while Archbishop Ireney retained the title of Archbishop of Tokyo for some time, in January, 1960, Archbishop Nikon (de Grève) was transferred from Canada, and he was initially assigned to serve as the Archbishop of Kyoto and Vicar-Archbishop of Japan. He also served as the Administrator of the Archdiocese of Japan.
Archbishop Nikon in Japan, 1960
In 1961, Archbishop Nikon (de Grève) was assigned formally to serve as the Archbishop of Tokyo and All Japan. There, he continued the work of the restoration of the Japanese Church from effects of the disastrous years of World War II. During his time of service in Japan, Bishop Nikon proved himself to be a zealous missionary, a prayerful man, and a faster. In personal relationships, he was humble and very simple. He took part in the life of the entire flock without distinction of race or politics.
Holy Resurrection Cathedral (Nikolai-do) Tokyo
Return to the USA, 1962
On 7 June, 1962, Archbishop Nikon (de Grève) was returned to the USA in order to serve as assistant to the aged Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich). He retained the title "Archbishop of Tokyo", and the administration of the Archdiocese of Japan was left in the care of Bishop Vladimir (Nagosky), the Vicar-Bishop of Kyoto.
Bereavement, 1963
On 4 November, 1963, Sergey de Grève, brother of Archbishop Nikon, reposed in Christ in New York City.
Titular Archbishop of Brooklyn, 1965
In 1965, upon the repose of Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich), Archbishop Nikon was assigned to serve as the Titular Archbishop of Brooklyn.
As an archbishop, he served primarily as the rector of Christ the Saviour Church in Manhattan, New York. He also was the custodian of the archives of The Orthodox Church in America.
Retirement, 1978
In his later years, before 1979, his health weakened, and Archbishop Nikon retired to the Saints Cosmos and Damian Nursing Home on Staten Island. In retirement, his title was adjusted to "Former Archbishop of Brooklyn".
For a few years, Archbishop Nikon was living in the same retirement home as his predecessor in the Church of Japan, Metropolitan Ireney (Bekish).
Saints Cosmas and Damian Nursing Home
Repose, 1983
On 12 June, 1983, Archbishop Nikon reposed in Christ in New York City, where he was living in retirement.
The Funeral Services for the Burial of a Hierarch were served in the Holy Protection Cathedral in New York City.
After the funeral services, his body was interred in the cemetery of Saint Tikhon’s Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania. It was then transferred to the Cimetière de Sainte-Geneviève-des-bois at Paris, France.
Grave marker and tombstone, Sainte-Geneviève-des-bois Russian Cemetery at Paris
— Bishop of Sergiev (Moscow Patriarchate) 1946-1947.
— Vicar-Bishop of Brussels and Belgium 1947-1947. Preceded by : Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky). Succeeded by : Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky).
— Bishop of Philadelphia (Metropolia) 1948-1952. Preceded by : Bishop Adam (Philipovsky). Succeeded by : Bishop Dimitry (Magan).
— Bishop of Toronto and Canada 1952-1959. Preceded by : Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich) (Locum Tenens) See created.
— Archbishop of Toronto and Canada 1959. Succeeded by : Bishop Anatoly (Apostolov) (in Montréal). (See of Toronto and Canada dissolved)
— Archbishop of Kyoto, Japan 1960-1961. Preceded by : ____. Succeeded by : Bishop Vladimir (Nagosky).
— Vicar-Archbishop of Japan 1960-1961.
— Archbishop of Tokyo, Japan 1961-1964. Preceded by : Archbishop Ireney (Bekish). Succeeded by : Metropolitan Vladimir (Nagosky).
— Archbishop of Brooklyn 1965-1978. Preceded by : Bishop John (Shahovskoy). Succeeded by : Bishop Peter (l'Huillier).
— Former Archbishop of Brooklyn 1978-1983.
Reflections
Archbishop Nikon (de Grève) was known to be both direct and energetic as a person and as a pastor, and at the same time humble. In one report, he was described as being a true monk. For instance, upon his departure from Japan, instead of keeping even coins as a keepsake (he had been urged to do so), he insisted that the money be put in the poor box at the cathedral. Likewise, when he was presented with beautiful flowers at his departure, he replied that they were too beautiful and luxurious for such as he, and that the sisterhood ought to place them appropriately in the cathedral.
This humility was demonstrated also in his last years in the Saints Cosmas and Damian Nursing Home, where he lived at that time.
Writings
• "No Death" (Paris, 1931) followed by 7 more editions.
References
Cohn, Ronald, "Nikon (de Grève)" (Let Me Print, 2013). ISBN-10 5509760982. ISBN-13 9785509760983. (in Russian)
Perich, John J, “The Center of Orthodoxy in America : the History of Saint Tikhon's Monastery – Orphanage – Seminary” (South Canaan, Pennsylvania : Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, 1974). [Master's Degree thesis]
Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.
Drevo Orthodox Encyclopaedia biography
Additional information :
Archdiocese of Canada — Orthodox Church in America, “The Orthodox Church in Canada : A Chronology” (Ottawa : Archdiocese of Canada, 1988).
Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.
Metropolitan Evlogiy (Georgievsky)
Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich)
Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)
Metropolitan Vladimir (Nagosky)
French Wikipedia article about the Russian Military Cemetery at Saint Hilary the Great, France (in French)
Article about the Russian Military Cemetery at Saint Hilary the Great
Wikiwand brief history of Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Brussels (in Dutch)
Archdiocesan article about Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Brussels
Saint Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral, rue Daru, Paris
Orthodoxwiki article about the Orthodox Church of Japan
Orthodox Church in Japan web-site
The Archdiocese of Russian Orthodox Churches in Western Europe web-site
2013 "Tikhonaire", with photos of past professors (see pp. 34-37)
Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America
The Orthodox Church in America web-site
Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada
The Archdiocese of Canada web-site
Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox Cathedral Toronto web-site
Toronto Cathedral web-site history
Article about Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Toronto, Ontario
Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Tokyo, Japan
Christ the Saviour Orthodox Cathedral in Manhattan, New York
Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary web-site
Canadian Orthodox Church History Project, no. 29, pp. 103-104
Departed Bishops in/of Canada Canadian Orthodox History Project, no. 29, pp. 102-103.