Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard)

Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard) (1966-___)

Early life of Marc R Mollard

Marc R Mollard was born in Boston, Massachusetts on 15 July, 1966. He is the first of 3 children born to François and Elizabeth Mollard.

Mark was raised as a Christian within the Protestant Episcopal Church of the USA (an Anglican communion).

After brief periods when his family lived in Connecticut, France, and Missouri, they settled in Reading, Pennsylvania. There, Marc graduated from Wyomissing High School in 1984.

Higher education

Marc then entered Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

In 1988, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and Sociology from Franklin & Marshall College, after which he moved to Chicago, Illinois.

In Chicago, he began to attend services at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, a parish of The Orthodox Church in America.

Saints Peter and Paul Temple, Chicago

In 1989, Marc Mollard was received into the Orthodox Church from the Episcopal Church. In the autumn of the same year, he began studies at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania.

Saint Tikhon's Seminary, South Canaan, Pennsylvania

One year later, Marc entered Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, and he was soon clothed as a novice.

Catholicon of Saint Tikhon's Monastery

In 1993, Novice Mark Mollard received the Master of Divinity degree from Saint Tikhon’s Seminary.

After this, Novice Marc was assigned to serve as an instructor in Old Testament Studies there. He continued to serve as senior lecturer in Old Testament, teaching master’s level courses in the Prophets and the Psalms and Wisdom Literature. He also served as an instructor in the seminary’s extension studies programme, and he offered courses in the lives of the Old Testament saints, the liturgical use of the Old Testament, and the Old Testament in patristic literature.

Monastic tonsure, 1995

In 1995, Novice Mark Mollard was tonsured to be a monk of the lesser schema by Archbishop Herman (Swaiko) and he was given the name Tikhon in honour of Saint Tikhon of Moscow.

Ordinations, 1995

Later in 1995, Monk Tikhon (Mollard) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate and then to the Holy Priesthood at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery by Archbishop Herman (Swaiko).

Pastoral obediences

In 1998, Hieromonk Tikhon (Mollard) was elevated to the dignity of igumen.

In 2000, Igumen Tikhon (Mollard) was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite.

Archimandrite Tikhon (Mollard)

Archimandrite Tikhon (Mollard) collaborated with Igumen Alexander (Golitzin) in the publication of “The Living Witness of the Holy Mountain”, published by Saint Tikhon Seminary Press, by illustrating this classic book about Mount Athos.

In December, 2002, Archimandrite Tikhon (Mollard) was assigned by Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko) to serve as Vicar-Abbot of Saint Tikhon’s Monastery.

In 2004, the Holy Synod of The Orthodox Church in America elected Archimandrite Tikhon (Mollard) to become a bishop.

Episcopal ordination, 2004

On Saturday, 14 February, 2004, in the Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk Catholicon of Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, Archimandrite Tikhon was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by bishops of The Orthodox Church in America : Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko) ; Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor) ; Archbishop Kyrill (Yonchev) ; Bishop Seraphim (Storheim) ; Bishop Nikon (Liolin) ; and by Bishop Dimitrios (Couchell) (Vicar-Bishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America).

Bishop Tikhon (Mollard)

Episcopal service

Bishop Tikhon (Mollard) was assigned to serve as Bishop of South Canaan and Vicar-Bishop to Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko) and to the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania (of which Metropolitan Herman was still Locum-tenens).

Bishop Tikhon continued to live and to serve in Saint Tikhon's Monastery.

Bishop of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania, 2005

In 2005 (following the official nomination by the Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania), Bishop Tikhon was elected and assigned by the Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America to become the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania.

On 29 October, 2005, Bishop Tikhon was officially installed as the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania during the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Saint Stephen in Philadelphia.

Saint Stephen Orthodox Cathedral, Philadelphia

For part of 2011, Bishop Tikhon served as temporary administrator of the Diocese of the Midwest.

On 9 May, 2012, Bishop Tikhon (Mollard) was elevated to the dignity of archbishop.

Archbishop Tikhon (Mollard)

On 13 November, 2012, Archbishop Tikhon (Mollard) was elected by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the The Orthodox Church in America to become the Primate of The Orthodox Church in America.

Metropolitan of All America and Canada, 2012

On Sunday, 27 January, 2013, Archbishop Tikhon (Mollard) was enthroned to be the Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada of The Orthodox Church in America.

The enthronement took place in Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, DC at the Trisagion during the Primatial Divine Liturgy. Participating in the enthronement were the members of the Holy Synod : Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp), Archbishop Nikon (Liolin), Archbishop Benjamin (Peterson), Archbishop Alejo (Pacheco-Vera), Bishop Melchisedek (Pleska), Bishop Michael (Dahulich), Bishop Alexander (Golitzin), Bishop Irineu (Duvlea), Bishop Mark (Maymon), and Bishop Irénée (Rochon). Participating also were guest hierarchs and clergy representing sister Orthodox Churches : Archbishop Justinian (Ovchinnikov) of Naro-Fominsk (representing Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev) of Moscow and All Russia) ; Archbishop Dimitri (Shiolashvili), Metropolitan of Batumi and Lazeti, North America and Canada (representing Patriarch Ilia II (Ghudushauri-Shiolashvili) of All Georgia ; Bishop Nicholas (Ozone) of Brooklyn (representing Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America ; Bishop George (Schaefer) of Mayfield (representing Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral), First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia ; the Archpriest Aleksa Michich (representing Patriarch Irinej (Gavrilovic) of Serbia and Bishop Mitrofan (Kodić)).

Amongst the other guests who attended were : the Rev'd Hovsep Karapetyan (representing Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Church in America) ; the Very Rev'd Daniel Buda (Church and Ecumenical Relations Officer, representing the World Council of Churches) ; the Rev'd Avelino Gonzalez (Ecumenical Officer of the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, representing Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington) ; the Honourable Christopher Smith (USA Representative from the State of New Jersey and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs) ; Dr. John Shultz (Immediate Past President of the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America). Also present were members of the official corporate administration of The Orthodox Church in America, family members of Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard), and many parishioners and visitors from other parishes.

Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, DC

Primatial service

On 23 September, 2013, at a special convocation of Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York, in association with the third annual Father John Meyendorff Memorial Lecture, Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard) was invested with the Honourary Doctor of Divinity degree.

On 21 March, 2014, Metropolitan Tikhon was assigned by the Holy Synod of The Orthodox Church in America to be Locum Tenens of the Archdiocese of Canada. He served as such until the election, assignment and enthronement of Bishop Irénée (Rochon) on 30 November, 2014.

Fraternal visits to the Church of Constantinople, 2014, 2015, 2016

Metropolitan Tikhon made attempts to normalise relations with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which does not recognise the autocephaly of the OCA. In December 2014, he visited the Phanar, and he also visited the site of the Theological School on the island of Halki.

In June, 2015, Metropolitan Tikhon again visited the Patriarchate of Constantinople on the occasion of a meeting of the executive committee of the 3rd Assembly of Canonical Bishops of the United States of America.

On Saturday, 19 March, 2016, he again met with Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) in Phanar. During the conversation, they discussed preparations for the Pan-Orthodox Council, scheduled for June, 2016.

On Sunday 20 March, 2016, Metropolitan Tikhon, along with other hierarchs, concelebrated with Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) at the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George at the Phanar. This was the first case of a concelebration of a Primate of the OCA with a Patriarch of Constantinople.

Concelebration with Patriarch John (Yazigi) of Antioch in Brooklyn, New York, 2017

On 29 October, 2017, Patriarch John (Yazigi) served the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy in Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York. He served together with Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard) ; and also with Metropolitan Joseph (al-Zehlaui), and other bishops of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America : Bishop Thomas (Joseph) of the Antiochian Diocese of Oakland, Charleston and the Mid-Atlantic ; Bishop John (Abdalah) of the Diocese of Worcester and New England ; Bishop Nicholas (Antoun) of the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast.

Metropolitan Joseph ; Metropolitan Tikhon ; Patriarch John : Divine Liturgy, Saint Nicholas Cathedral

Following the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch John was honoured at a reception and fundraising luncheon. Amongst those in attendance were Patriarch Bechara Peter Cardinal Rai of the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East ; Bishop Gregory John Mansour of the Maronite Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, New York. Funds raised at the luncheon were earmarked to support the relief efforts and the victims of the war in Syria.

Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard) and Patriarch John (Yazigi)

Fraternal visit to the Church of Poland, 2018

From 17 to 22 August, 2018, Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard) made his first official fraternal visit to Metropolitan Sawa (Hrycuniak) and to the Church of Poland. Metropolitan Tikhon was accompanied by Archbishop Benjamin (Peterson) of San Francisco and the Diocese of the West ; Archpriests Daniel Andrejuk and Alexander Rentel ; Archdeacon Joseph Matusiak, and Subdeacon Roman Ostash.

During this visit, Metropolitan Tikhon and his entourage visited numerous parishes, monasteries and other Church sites, especially in the country’s northeastern and south-central regions, where there are many centres of the Orthodox Christian Faith. Metropolitan Tikhon and the delegation participated in the annual pilgrimage to the Monastery of Saints Martha and Mary on the Holy Mountain of Grabarka, which coincided with the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ on 18-19 August (Old Style date). Metropolitan Tikhon and the entourage concelebrated the Primatial Festal Divine Liturgy together with the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Church of Poland, and with dozens of clergy.

The visit included meetings and services in the Dioceses of Warsaw, Bialystok and Lublin. In Warsaw, Metropolitans Sawa, Tikhon, and the members of the delegation were received at Warsaw’s Presidential Palace, where they were welcomed by Minister Pawel Mucha, Deputy Head of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland. The Orthodox Church in America and the Orthodox Church of Poland have many personal and official links and associations which are related to the early days of immigration to North America.

At Saint Mary Magdalene Cathedral, Warsaw

At Grabarka Monastery

Fraternal visit to the Church of Russia, 2019

From 30 January to 3 February, 2019, Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard) was accompanied by an entourage in Moscow, Russia, to which he had been invited by Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev) for the celebration of the 10th anniversary of his enthronement as patriarch. The entourage included Bishop Daniel (Brum) of Santa Rosa ; the Archpriest Alexander Rentel (OCA Chancellor) ; the Archpriest Daniel Andrejuk (OCA Representative to the Moscow Patriarchate) ; Melanie Ringa (OCA Treasurer) ; Archdeacon Joseph Matusiak (Director of the Stewards of the Orthodox Church in America) ; Subdeacon Roman Ostash. Patriarch Kirill had invited other Churches to send representations, and these included : the Churches of Alexandria, Antioch, Serbia, Romania, Poland and the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

Upon their arrival in Moscow on Wednesday, 30 January, 2019, Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard) and the delegation were greeted by Metropolitan Ignatius (Deputatov) of Vologda and Kirillov ; Bishop Matthew (Andreev) of Sourozh ; Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk (Department of External Church Relations’ Secretary for Inter-Orthodox Relations) ; and Dimitri Petrovsky (DECR staff member). When Metropolitan Tikhon was received that evening by Patriarch Kirill, the patriarch stressed the warmth and stability of the relationship between the 2 Churches :

 I would like to emphasise that our bilateral relations have stood the test of time and have never been 
 overshadowed by anything since the establishment of the OCA.  I would like to highlight that whenever our 
 delegation visits the US they meet with you and your representatives, and if your bishops come to Moscow 
 they are always considered to be our dear guests.

Patriarch Kirill continued :

 I would also like to stress the role our Representations play in our bilateral relations.  Your 
 Representation here and ours in New York enable us to maintain close permanent contacts.  This year marks 
 the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the OCA Representation in Moscow.  I am very glad to witness 
 that your representative is doing a very good job representing your Church.

The patriarch also spoke about his satisfaction with regard to the Patriarchate’s Representation Church of Saint Nicholas in New York City, and the relationship it maintains with the OCA through Bishop Matthew (Andreev) of Sourozh, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA. The patriarch also made reference to the initiation of the Summer Institutes at Saints Cyril and Methodius Institute of Post Graduate Studies in Moscow, which offers hospitality during the summer months to representatives of other Local Churches and offers an opportunity to get acquainted with the life of the Russian Church.

In Metropolitan Tikhon's response, he noted

 that Patriarch Kirill and the Church of Russia have borne a tremendous burden with respect to recent 
 developments in Ukraine, developments which are being debated by all the Churches but which have most 
 directly and painfully affected the clergy and faithful of Ukraine.  The Orthodox Church in America has 
 articulated its position in the recent Archpastoral Letter of our Holy Synod of Bishops.  I would like to 
 assure Your Holiness in person that our commitment to the upholding of canonical order remains firm and 
 our gratitude to the Russian Church remains constant.  In spite of these global difficulties, the 
 relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America remain strong and have 
 grown during the ten years of your Primatial ministry, and I pray that this week’s celebration will be 
 full of joy and the hope that comes from fraternal concelebrations and continued collaboration on matters 
 affecting world Orthodoxy.

Metropolitan Tikhon continued by offering examples of the positive relationship between the OCA and the Russian Orthodox Church : the desire to increase co-operation in the area of youth ministry ; joint exchanges and pilgrimages ; plans for the celebration in 2020 of the 50th anniversary of the granting of autocephaly and the glorification of Saint Herman of Alaska ; and other matters of mutual interest.

These greetings were followed by an exchange of gifts.

The rest of the programme included special presentations on the following day, which followed meetings with the Patriarch Irinej (Gavrilovic) of Serbia and the ambassadors of the USA and Canada. On 1 February, there was a Primatial Divine Liturgy served in Christ the Saviour Cathedral, in which all the representatives participated. On 2 February, there were visits to various monasteries in the city, and in the evening, Metropolitan Tikhon served together with Bishops Matthew (Andreev) and Daniel (Brum) at the Vigil in the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow. On 3 February, Metropolitan Tikhon served the Primatial Divine Liturgy together with Bishops Matthew and Daniel at the Saint Catherine's Representation Church in Moscow. That afternoon, Metropolitan Tikhon and his entourage departed for New York.

At Saint Catherine's Church

On 3 September, 2019, following the repose in Christ of Archbishop Nikon (Liolin). Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard) was assigned by the Holy Synod of Bishops to add to his responsibilities serving as Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Boston and New England, and of the Albanian Archdiocese.

Covid-19 virus complications. 2020-2021

In 2020-2021, the Covid-19 virus was active in its first major phase in North America. With it and its treatment as a pandemic came repeated and prolonged closures and/or limited permitted attendance in the Temples in many places in the USA (depending upon local State rules). There were many restrictions on travel, and international travel was extremely limited for a time.

Alaska pilgrimage, 2021

During 7-9 August, 2021, Metropolitan Tikhon led the 51st annual Saint Herman Pilgrimage in Alaska. He was accompanied by Bishop Daniel (Brum) of Santa Rosa, and by Bishop Alexis (Trader) of Bethesda, Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Sitka and Alaska. Travelling with the metropolitan was Priest Alessandro Margheritino, Secretary of The Orthodox Church in America. Metropolitan Tikhon arrived in Anchorage, Alaska, late on 6 August.

On Saturday, 7 August, 2021, Metropolitan Tikhon presided at the Primatial Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Saint Jacob Netsvetov at Saint Innocent Cathedral in Anchorage. He was assisted by Bishops Daniel and Alexis, and 23 priests and also deacons of the Diocese of Sitka and Alaska.

Primatial Divine Liturgy in Saint Innocent's Cathedral

After the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Tikhon presided at a Special Diocesan Assembly of the diocese. He drew special attention to the memory of the recently-departed Archbishop David (Mahaffey) of Sitka and Alaska. At this assembly, Bishop Alexis was unanimously nominated to become his successor. Then many people accompanied Metropolitan Tikhon as he travelled by air to Kodiak.

On Sunday, 8 August, 2021, Metropolitan Tikhon presided at the Primatial Divine Liturgy in Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Kodiak, Alaska, in the presence of the Holy Relics of Saint Herman of Alaska. He was assisted by Bishops Daniel and Alexis, and by many priests and deacons. The Holy Relics of Saint Herman were later brought into the midst of the cathedral for the Vigil of the Feast of Saint Herman of Alaska.

Primatial Divine Liturgy in Holy Resurrection Cathedral

On Monday, 9 August, 2021, Metropolitan Tikhon, his entourage, and the clergy and people travelled by boat (soon after dawn) to Spruce Island. There, at the Chapel of Saints Sergius and Herman of Valaam at the Hermitage of Saint Herman of Alaska, Metropolitan Tikhon presided at the Primatial Divine Liturgy (out-of-doors) at the chapel. In addition to the clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of Sitka and Alaska, there were present many clergy and other pilgrims from various dioceses throughout North America. Bishop Daniel preached the homily.

Chapel of Saints Sergius and Herman of Valaam, Spruce Island

Primatial Divine Liturgy on Spruce Island

Pilgrims on Spruce Island, 2021

Metropolitan Tikhon and his entourage departed for New York in the late afternoon. In some respects, this particular visit was a sort of compensation for the inability (because of the pandemic) to have a full celebration of the 50th anniversary in 2020.

— Bishop of South Canaan, Pennsylvania 2004. Preceded by : ____. Succeeded by : ___.

— Vicar-Bishop of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania 2004.

— Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania 2005-2012. Preceded by : Archbishop Herman (Swaiko).

— Archbishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania 2012. Succeeded by : Archbishop Mark (Maymon).

— Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada 2012-____. Preceded by : Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen). Succeeded by :____.

— Locum Tenens of the Archdiocese of Ottawa and Canada 2014.

— Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Boston and New England, and of the Albanian Archdiocese 2019-____.

Reflections

About his own youth, Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard) commented :

 I was raised in the Church of England, the Episcopal Church of the United States. Personally, I fell away from the Church, 
 from faith in God, when I was still very young, and then slowly returned to it. My father is a scientist, and I was brought up 
 with the idea that you can be either smart or religious.  When I was still young and inexperienced, I decided that it would 
 be better to be smart, but then slowly, after meeting different people, I realised that you can be an intelligent believer. 
 I began to study the life of the Church more attentively ; in the end people and books opened the Orthodox Faith to me, 
 and I began to come to Orthodoxy.

Awards and honours

Ecclesiastical

• Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st degree - "For outstanding Church activities aimed at raising the authority of Orthodoxy in the world, and on the occasion of the celebration in Ukraine of the 1025th anniversary of the baptism of Kievan Rus" (Ukraine, 27 July, 2013)

• Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir 1st degree - "From the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, in consideration of the works for the good of the Holy Church and in connection with the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus" (ROC, 22 July, 2013)

Secular

• Order of "Yaroslav the Wise", 1st degree - "In honour of the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus" (Ukraine, 27 July, 2013)

Honourary degrees

• Honourary Doctor of Divinity from Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, New York (23 September, 2013)

Writings

Golitzin, Alexander, with Mollard, Tikhon (illustrator), "The Living Witness of the Holy Mountain: Contemporary Voices from Mount Athos" (South Canaan, PA : St Tikhon's Seminary Press, 1995). ISBN 10 : 1878997483 ; ISBN 13 : 978-1878997487.

“Of What Life Do We Speak : Four Pillars for the Fulfillment of the Apostolic Work of the Church” (South Canaan, PA : Saint Tikhon's Monastery Press, 2018). ISBN : 1732852235, 9781732852235.

Sunday of Orthodoxy Homily of Metropolitan Tikhon (20 March, 2019)

Interviews :

"Ancient Faith" interview with Bishop Tikhon of The Orthodox Church of America

Interview with Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard) : "Witnessing Christ in a 'Progressive' Country" (2 February, 2019)