Vladyka Seraphim at 22:56, 2 July 2024

2024-07-02T22:56:15Z

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	[[Category:Bishops]] [[Category:OCA]] [[Category:AAOCA]]		[[Category:Bishops]] [[Category:OCA]] [[Category:AAOCA]]

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Monastic tonsure, 2002 */

2021-08-08T03:31:07Z

Monastic tonsure, 2002

New page

[[File:Abp.nikon.jpg]]

'''Archbishop Nikon (Liolin) (1945-2019)'''

==Early life of Nicholas Liolin==

On 9 October, 1945, Nicholas Liolin was born in [https://www.britannica.com/place/New-York-City New York City], [https://www.britannica.com/place/New-York-state New York], to Evan J and Helena P Liolin. Evan and Helena had 4 other sons : Arthur, John, Billy and James. Al the sons were raised and nurtured in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith], and they were active in the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Albanian_Archdiocese_%28OCA%29 Albanian Archdiocese] of the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodox Church in America].

His father had served as lay chairman and founder in 1947 of the Diocesan Theological Student Fund. For many years, his mother served as choir director at the family’s home parish of [http://www.stnicholasalbanian.org/ Saint Nicholas, Jamaica Estates], New York. His brother John served on the parish council of [https://www.oca.org/parishes/oca-al-trmsgc Saint George Church], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trumbull,_Connecticut Trumbull], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut Connecticut] ; his brother Billy gave his life serving in the armed forces during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War Korean War] ; his youngest brother, James, served as lay chairman of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica_Estates,_Queens Jamaica Estates], New York, [https://www.oca.org/parishes/oca-al-quesnc parish of Saint Nicholas] and as a member of the Archdiocesan Council’s Student Fund committee. His elder brother, Father Arthur, served for very many years as Chancellor of the Albanian Archdiocese, headquartered at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston Boston], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts].

Nicholas pursued his elementary and secondary studies in New York City, where he developed an abiding interest in the biological sciences and in the theatre arts. He secured leading roles in several high school productions.

==Higher education==

Nicholas Liolin was tonsured to be a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Reader reader] by [[Metropolitan Theophan (Noli)]]. He continued his studies at [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Vladimir%27s_Orthodox_Theological_Seminary_(Crestwood,_New_York) Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crestwood,_Yonkers Crestwood], New York ; at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iona_College_%28New_York%29 Iona College], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Rochelle,_New_York New Rochelle], New York ; at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concordia_College_%28New_York%29 Concordia College], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronxville,_New_York Bronxville], New York ; and at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_School New School for Social Research and Political Science], New York City.

[[File:Student Nicholas LiolinS.png]] '''Student Nicholas Liolin at Saint Vladimir's'''

==Marriage, 1967==

In 1967, Nicholas married Sarah Arthur, his childhood sweetheart.

==Diaconal ordination, 1969==

Nicholas Liolin was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] by [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Stephen_(Lasko)_of_Boston Bishop Stephen (Lasko)] on 5 July, 1969.

==Presbyteral ordination, 1969==

Deacon Nicholas Liolin was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Bishop Stephen (Lasko) on 6 July, 1969.

==Pastoral service==

After the ordinations, Presbytera Sarah, the wife of Priest Nicholas Liolin, served as choir director in order to help her husband in his pastoral duties.

[[File:Priest Niicholas LiolinS.png]] '''First homily of Priest Nicholas Liolin'''

The first assignment of priest Nicholas was to serve in [http://oca.org/parishes/oca-al-sousnc Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southbridge,_Massachusetts Southbridge], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Massachusetts Massachusetts] from 1969 until 1982.

Then he served in [http://oca.org/parishes/oca-al-fahstc Saint Thomas Church] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmington_Hills,_Michigan Farmington Hills], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Michigan Michigan] from 1982 until 2002.

During his 33 years of pastoral service, Father Nicholas was well-known for his pastoral acumen and broad-based ministerial sensitivity and experience.

In addition to his pastoral service, Father Nicholas served as president of the [https://www.coccdetroit.org/ Greater Detroit Council of Orthodox Churches], and as chaplain for the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_State_University Wayne State University] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Christian_Fellowship Orthodox Christian Fellowship].

He served as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_(Christianity) dean] of the [https://www.oca.org/parishes/deanery/OCA-AL-GRL Great Lakes Deanery] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanian_Orthodox_Archdiocese_in_America Albanian Archdiocese].

He administered a health and hospitalisation insurance plan for area clergy. He appeared on numerous live television and radio programmes, which broadcasted to the faithful and those interested in the Orthodox Christian Faith.

He was a project co-ordinator for “The Voice of Orthodoxy”, established by New England’s [https://www.dandb.com/businessdirectory/russianorthodoxlaymansleagueinc-waterbury-ct-16014021.html Russian Orthodox Layman’s League], and he served as editor of “The Vine”, the newspaper of the Albanian Archdiocese.

==Bereavement, widowhood, 2000==

On 25 July, 2000, his wife Sarah, who had suffered from cancer, reposed in Father Nicholas’s arms. [[Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)]] presided at her funeral.

==Monastic tonsure, 2002==

Prior to his episcopal ordination, Father Nicholas spent time at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Tikhon%27s_Orthodox_Theological_Seminary Saint Tikhon’s Seminary and Monastery], South Canaan, Pennsylvania, where he continued his studies.

There, he was [https://orthochristian.com/101607.html tonsured] to be a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Monk monk], and he was given the name Nikon.

He was elevated to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archimandrite archimandrite].

==Episcopal ordination, 2002==

On 25 May, 2002, Archimandrite Nikon was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Episcopate Episcopate] by [[Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)]] and the Holy Synod of Bishops of the OCA, in conjunction with the annual pilgrimage to [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Tikhon%27s_Orthodox_Monastery_(South_Canaan,_Pennsylvania) Saint Tikhon's Monastery] at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Canaan_Township,_Wayne_County,_Pennsylvania South Canaan], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania Pennsylvania].

==Episcopal service==

Bishop Nikon (Liolin) was assigned to serve as the Bishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore Baltimore] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Auxiliary_bishop Vicar-Bishop] to Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor).

On 10 October, 2003, Bishop Nikon was nominated to be the Bishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston Boston] at the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Albanian_Archdiocese_(OCA) Albanian Archdiocesan] Assembly.

On 22 October, 2003, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the OCA elected Bishop Nikon to be the Bishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese. He was also assigned to serve as the administrator of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Diocese_of_New_England_(OCA) Diocese of New England].

In 2005, when the [http://archdiocese.ca/ Archdiocese of Canada]’s Albanian Mission of Saint Astius in Toronto, Ontario, was having difficulties because of the loss of the founding priest, Bishop Nikon worked together with the Canadian archbishop in order to keep the mission intact. Neither the Albanian nor the Canadian archdiocese had the resources to meet the need. However, both bishops agreed to the offer of [[Bishop Ilia (Katre)]] to care for the community personally.

In October, 2005, Bishop Nikon was elected to be the ruling bishop of the Diocese of New England.

On 16-17 December, 2005, at [http://www.holytrinityorthodox.org/who-we-are/ Holy Trinity Cathedral] in Boston, Bishop Nikon was installed by [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Herman_(Swaiko)_of_Washington_and_New_York Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko)] to be the Bishop of Boston, Bishop of New England and of the Albanian Archdiocese.

In addition to his archpastoral leadership of his own dioceses, he served as locum tenens of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Diocese_of_the_South_(OCA) Diocese of the South] from February, 2011, until March, 2015.

On 9 May, 2012, Bishop Nikon was elevated to the dignity of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop archbishop].

[[File:Archbishop Nikon.jpg]]

In June, 2012, Archbishop Nikon (Liolin) participated with [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Anastasios_(Yannoulatos)_of_Albania Archbishop Anastasios (Ianolatos)] of [https://www.britannica.com/place/Albania Albania] in the celebration of the [https://www.oca.org/news/headline-news/archbishop-nikon-participates-in-celebration-in-albania 20th Anniversary of the re-establishment] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Albania Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania]. On Sunday, 24 June, 2012, on the Feast of the [https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2018/06/24/101800-nativity-of-the-holy-glorious-prophet-forerunner-and-baptist-joh Nativity of Saint John the Baptist], he participated in the opening of the recently-completed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resurrection_Cathedral,_Tirana Resurrection of Christ Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirana#:~:text=al.%20Tirana%20or%20Tiran%C3%AB%20%28%20UK%3A%20%2F%20t%C9%AA%CB%88r%C9%91%CB%90n%C9%99,northwest%20overlooking%20the%20Adriatic%20Sea%20in%20the%20distance. Tirana].

[[File:20th anniversary celebration 2012 2.png]] [[File:20th annivesary celebation a 2012 2.png]]

[[File:Abp Nikon 20 years AlbaniaS.png]] '''Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the restoration of autocephaly, 2012'''

At about this time, Archbishop Nikon began to suffer from cancer, and he received many treatments for it. Despite the situation, he continued to care for his spiritual flock as usual, although sometimes with difficulty.

[[File:Archbishop Nikon Liolin.jpg]]

In 2014, there was a controversy between the Albanian Archdiocese and the Church of Albania with regard to a proposed public, peaceful demonstration regarding the situation of the Church of Albania. As a consequence, there was a joint meeting of representatives in January, 2014 (including Archbishop Nikon), in order to discuss the matter.

In 2018, the journal "[https://www.wheeljournal.com The Wheel]" (the source of 2 photos earlier in this article) interviewed Archbishop Nikon. He was asked : “The Schmemann experiment is dead” gets repeated more and more frequently. What are your thoughts on this ? Vladyka responded :
This is the first time I have heard that phrase. [[Protopresbyter Alexander and Matushka Juliana Schmemann |Father Schmemann]] presented what Christ commanded us to
do, and that is go and make disciples. Father Schmemann would travel to wherever there were Orthodox
Christians, tirelessly teaching, preaching, and advising us as we worked to build up the Church in North
America.
Vladyka added :
Receiving converts into the Church, whether they were formerly non-believers or Christians from different
traditions, is part of the DNA of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodoxy]. As we welcome our brothers and sisters who seek the
fullness of the Faith, it is only natural for some friction to occur, in the same way that a family goes
through an adjustment period when they adopt a new son or daughter. This adjustment requires love,
patience, and humility as the new family members learn to live with one another, not as 'a biological
family with some extra adopted kids', but as new family, united in the love of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ Jesus Christ]. As we know,
the process of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/The_%E2%80%9CRussian_Mission%E2%80%9D_in_North_America evangelizing the Native Americans in Alaska] did not always go smoothly. Yet we also know
that the Orthodox Church was ultimately richer as those communities developed their own distinctive
Native American Orthodox Christian Spirituality. Similarly, the reception of people from different
Christian communities in our time may not always be a smooth process, yet we trust that by God’s [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Grace Grace],
the Orthodox Church will be richer for that work that God does through those who are called—and whom God
calls us to welcome—to the fullness of the Faith in our time.

In 2019, Archbishop Nikon became very ill, and many prayers were said on his behalf.

==Repose, 2019==

On Sunday, 1 September, 2019, Archbishop Nikon (Liolin) fell asleep in the Lord in Boston.

The [http://www.archbishop-of-ottawa.org/content/litiya-trisagion-dead Trisagion of Repose] for Archbishop Nikon (Liolin) was served at [http://www.saintgeorgecathedral.com/ Saint George's Albanian Orthodox Cathedral] in South Boston, Massachusetts on Wednesday, 4 September, at 7:00 p.m.

On Thursday, 5 September, the [http://www.archbishop-of-ottawa.org/content/burial-services-over-presbyter-or-over-bishop Funeral Service for the Burial of a Hierarch] was served at [https://www.oca.org/parishes/oca-ne-boshtk Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral] in Boston at 6:30 p.m.

On Friday, 6 September, 2019, the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the Departed, was led by [[Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard)]], at 9:30 a.m., with the Trisagion for the Departed immediately following. Metropolitan Tikhon was assisted by [[Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp)]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit Detroit] and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Romanian_Orthodox_Episcopate_of_America_(OCA) Romanian Episcopate] ; [https://www.oca.org/clergy/BENJAMIN-peterson/ Archbishop Benjamin (Peterson)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco San Francisco] and the [https://www.dowoca.org/ Diocese of the West] ; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Dahulich Archbishop Michael (Dahulich)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_(state) New York] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey New Jersey] ; [[Archbishop Alexander (Golitzin)]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas Dallas], [https://www.dosoca.org the South] and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bulgarian_Diocese_(OCA) Bulgarian Diocese] ; [https://www.oca.org/clergy/PAUL-Gassios/ Bishop Paul (Gassios)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago Chicago] and the [https://domoca.org/ Diocese of the Midwest] ; and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_(Abdalah)_of_Worcester Bishop John (Abdalah)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester,_Massachusetts Worcester] and [http://ww1.antiochian.org/worcester New England] (representing [[Metropolitan Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui) |Archbishop Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui)]] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Archdiocese of North America]), and many clergy.

[[File:2019-0906-abpnikon6 large 2.png]] [[File:2019-0906-abpnikon13 large 2.png]]

Afterwards, the body of Archbishop Nikon (Liolin) was transported to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southfield,_Michigan Southfield, Michigan], where his body was interred next to that of his wife in the [https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/744/holy-sepulchre-cemetery Holy Sepulchre Cemetery].

[[File:2019-0906-abpnikon20 large 2.png]] '''Interment at Southfield, Detroit, led by [[Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp)]]'''

— Bishop of Baltimore 2002-2003.

— Vicar-Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington 2002-2003.

— Bishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese 2003-2012. Preceded by : [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Mark_(Forsberg)_of_Boston Bishop Mark (Forsberg)].

— Bishop of Boston and New England 2005-2012. Preceded by : [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Job_(Osacky)_of_Chicago Bishop Job (Osacky)].

— Archbishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese 2012-2019. Succeeded by : ___.

— Archbishop of Boston and New England 2012-2019. Succeeded by : ___.

[[File:Ardhbishop NIkonS.png]]

==Reflections==

Archbishop Nikon (Liolin) was predeceased by his wife Presbytera Sarah, and also by his 2 brothers John and Billy.

When she heard the news of the repose of Archbishop Nikon, a parishioner at the Holy Trinity parish in Willimantic, Connecticut, commented :
I am sorry to hear that Archbishop Nikon passed. He was a very spiritual person and his preaching was
profound and inspiring. May his memory be eternal.
The President of the Holy Trinity Parish Council added :
He was not only our spiritual leader but a warm and genuine man. I will always remember how he treated
our children, especially the young altar servers [...] he always made them feel special and appreciated.
I will miss his visits.
One of his episcopal brethren in the Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America expressed gratitude for the example of Archbishop Nikon, especially during meetings. He commented that it was perhaps in part because of his life as a married parish pastor that he understood that he neither had all the answers, nor did he have to have all the answers, nor did he always have to have the last word. He tended to have a practical viewpoint and a peaceful influence.

==References==

[http://www.orthodoxia.ch/en/name/55/show Wyrwoll, Nikolaus ed., “Orthodoxia 2014-2015" (Regensburg : Ostkirchliches Institut, 2015). ISBN 978-7245-1959-1.]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_%28Liolin%29 Wikipedia biography]

[http://orthodoxwiki.org/Nikon_%28Liolin%29_of_Boston Orthodoxwiki biography]

[http://oca.org/holy-synod/bishops/the-most-reverend-nikon OCA Biography]

'''Additional information :'''

[https://www.oca.org/news/archived/archimandrite-nikon-liolin-consecrated-to-episcopacy-during-monastery-pilgr Archimandrite Nikon (Liolin) was consecrated Bishop of Baltimore and Auxiliary to Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor), 24 and 25 May, 2002]

[http://archive.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/12/31/new_orthodox_bishop_sets_his_goals/ 2005 interview]

[https://albanianroots.org/2015/11/30/albanian-roots-meeting-with-bishop-joan-pelushi-and-archbishop-nikon-liolin/ Albanian Roots : Meeting with Bishop Joan Pelushi and Archbishop Nikon Liolin]

[https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/thearena/interview_with_archbishop_nikon_of_the_orthodox_church_in_america Ancient Faith interview with Archbishop Nikon]

[http://www.saintgeorgecathedral.com/archive.html Saint George Cathedral article on the parish centennial anniversary]

[http://holytrinityorthodox.org/articles_and_talks/Bishop_interview.htm Interview with Bishop Nikon of Boston]

[https://www.oca.org/media/photos/metropolitan-tikhon-presides-funeral-services-archbishop-nikon Metropolitan Tikhon presided at the Funeral Services and Divine Liturgy for Archbishop Nikon]

[https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/his-eminence-archbishop-nikon OCA In Memoriam article]

[https://www.oca.org/news/headline-news/remarks-of-metropolitan-tikhon-on-the-one-year-memorial-for-archbishop-nikon Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard) serves one year Memorial for Archbishop Nikon (Liolin) 1 September, 2020]

[https://www.oca.org/news/in-remembrance/remembering-archbishop-nikon OCA News article : "Remembering Archbishop Nikon"]

[[Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)]]

[[Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko)]]

[https://www.oca.org/holy-synod/past-primates/metropolitan-jonah Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen)]

[[Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard)]]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Anastasios_(Yannoulatos)_of_Albania Archbishop Anastasios (Yannoulatos)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Stephen_(Lasko)_of_Boston Bishop Stephen (Lasko)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Mark_(Forsberg)_of_Boston Bishop Mark (Forsberg)]

[[Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp)]]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Job_(Osacky)_of_Chicago Archbishop Job (Osacky)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_(Pelushi) Metropolitan John (Pelushi)]

[https://oca.org/ The Orthodox Church in America web-site]

[https://oca.org/dioceses/albanian-archdiocese Albanian Archdiocese of The Orthodox Church in America web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Albanian_Archdiocese_(OCA) Orthodoxwiki article about the Albanian Archdiocese]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church_in_America_Albanian_Archdiocese Wikipedia article about the Albanian Diocese]

[https://www.dneoca.org/ Diocese of New England web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church_in_America_Diocese_of_New_England Wikipedia article about the Diocese of New England]

[http://www.holytrinityorthodox.org/who-we-are/ Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, Boston]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanian_Orthodox_Church The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania]

[https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n=nikon-liolin&pid=193798122&fhid=25350 Legacy.com obituary]

[https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/744/holy-sepulchre-cemetery Findagrave reference for Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield]

Please send your suggestions, additions, corrections or contributions to this address :

info@orthodoxcanada.ca

[[Category:Bishops]] [[Category:OCA]] [[Category:AAOCA]]

Archbishop Nikon (Liolin) - Revision history

Vladyka Seraphim at 22:56, 2 July 2024

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Monastic tonsure, 2002 */