Archimandrite Inna (Kibikoff)

Archimandrite Inna (Kibikoff) (1873-1946)

Gregory may be spelt Grigory, Grigoriy, Gregorios.

Kibikoff may be spelt Kibikovv.

Kharkov may be spelt Kharkiv.

Early life of Gregory Kibikoff

In about 1873, Gregory Kibikoff was born to Orthodox Christian parents in a village of the Kharkov Province of the Russian Empire (now known as Kharkiv, Ukraine). It was a peasant family of a historically Cossack region. Kharkov was the capital of the region previously known as Sloboda Ukraine. There is little else currently available with regard to the details of the early life of Gregory or his family. It is evident that he was raised as an Orthodox Christian in an Orthodox Christian family within the Church of Russia of that time.

Because of the nature of the future events of his life, he would have received the usual education available in his home region and within the empire.

Higher education

There is further evidence that he had an association with several monasteries (in which he was already regarded as a novice in 1898) in the Kharkov Province. In the course of this, he would have received a theological education. It is quite possible that he received this education at the Kharkov Theological Seminary.

Kharkov Theological Seminary

Emigration to North America, 1907

Novice Gregory Kibikoff emigrated to America and to the USA in 1907.

Although it is not so stated, it is known that Archbishop Tikhon (Belavin), Igumen Arseny (Chahovtsov) and others were recruiting suitable candidates for the missionary field in North America. Furthermore, Igumen Arseny had himself been born and raised in the same province.

Monastic tonsure, 1908

Upon arrival at the Monastery of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk at South Canaan, Pennsylvania, USA, Novice Gregory was tonsured to be a monk of this monastic brotherhood. He was given the name Inna.

Soon after he arrived, Archbishop Tikhon (Belavin) was transferred back to Russia in 1907, and Archimandrite Arseny (Chahovtsov) was assigned to serve in the missionary territory in Canada. Then, Bishop Platon (Rozhdestvensky) was assigned by the Most Holy Synod of the Church of Russia to lead the Russian Mission's Diocese of the Aleutian Islands and New York.

Saint Tikhon's Monastery building

Ordinations, 1908

In 1908, Monk Inna (Kibicoff) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate, and then to the Holy Priesthood.

Pastoral service

The first pastoral assignment of Hieromonk Inna (Kibikoff) was at the Holy Dormition parish in Calhan, Colorado. The history of that parish (founded by Saint Tikhon (Belavin) in 1905) indicates that Father Inna was their first pastor, but this could not have happened until 1908.

First Holy Dormition Temple, Calhan, Colorado (left) ; Second Holy Dormition Temple, Calhan, Colorado (right)

At this writing, his fuller pastoral record is not available, but there are indications that Hieromonk Inna (Kibikoff) was given many and various pastoral/missionary responsibilities. As a monk, he served in obedience, and he travelled in that spirit to the many places he served. It involved many, many moves.

At the appropriate date, Hieromonk Inna (Kibikoff) was elevated to the dignity of Igumen.

In 1930, Igumen Inna (Kibikoff) served as rector of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Claremont, New Hampshire, under the jurisdiction of the North American Metropolia of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Holy Resurrection Church, Claremont

Then, from 1930-1932, he served as rector of Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church in Berlin, New Hampshire.

Holy Resurrection Church, Berlin, 1915

Igumen Inna (Kibikoff) was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite.

On 6 December, 1934, Archimandrite Inna (Kibikoff) blessed the foundation of the Sisterhood of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Saints Peter and Paul Temple, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Igumen Inna served in this parish until 1936.

In 1936, Archimandrite Inna (Kibikoff) was mentioned as being amongst the clergy of the Holy Protection Cathedral (also called Holy Intercession Cathedral) in New York City.

Holy Protection Cathedral, New York City

Repose, 1946

On 4 February, 1946, at age 73, Archimandrite Inna (Kibikoff) fell asleep in the Lord at Clarkstown, Rockland, New York.

In this place was the newly-established Tolstoy Farm, where a Russian community was being established at Valley Cottage. In 1940, Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky) had sanctified the house-church Chapel of Saint Sergius of Radonezh at this site.

After the Funeral Services for the Burial of a Priest, the body of Archimandrite Inna (Kibikoff) was interred at the cemetery of the Monastery of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk at South Canaan, Pennsylvania.

Grave-marker

References

Russian Religious Workers Abroad article

“The Russian Mission in North America”

Additional information :

Kishkovsky, Archpriest Leonid & Stokoe, Mark, “Orthodox Christians in North America (1794-1994)”

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.

Orthodox Church in America web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Russian Mission in North America

Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Russia

Saint Tikhon (Belavin)

(Saint) Arseny (Chahovtsov)

Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)

Archbishop Evdokim (Meschersky)

Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)

Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)

Russian clergy serving abroad in 1914