Archbishop Tikhon (Troitsky)

Archbishop Tikhon (Troitsky) of San Francisco (1883-1963)

Tikhon may be spelt Tykhon, Tihon.

Early life of Alexander Alexeievich Troitsky

On 12 April, 1883, Alexander Alexeievich Troitsky was born into the family of a priest of the Kostroma Diocese in the Kostroma Governorate of the Russian Empire. In the Troitsky family at Kostroma, there were others who served in the Russian Orthodox Church in various capacities.

According to the unverified information given in a book by V A Kuznetsov, Alexander Alexeievich Troitsky was born into the family of the Psalmist ("psalomshchik") Alexei Vasilyevich Troitsky (1840-1899), of the Holy Resurrection Temple in the village of Penki in the Kostroma Diocese.

Alexander Alexeievich was raised in the Orthodox Christian Faith within the Russian Orthodox Church.

In the course of the following years, Alexander Alexeievich completed his primary and secondary education.

Higher education

Later, Alexander Alexeievich entered the Kazan Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kazan, Tatarstan. He graduated from the seminary in 1904.

In 1905, Alexander Alexeievich entered the Kazan Theological Academy in Kazan.

Monastic tonsure, 1905

In 1905, Alexander Alexeievich Troitsky was tonsured to be a monk, and he was given the name Tikhon.

Diaconal ordination, 1905

In 1905, the Monk Tikhon (Troitsky) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate.

Diaconal service

Hierodeacon Tikhon (Troitsky) was assigned to the Kazan Orthodox Theological Academy, where he continued his studies.

While he continued his studies in the academy, the Hierodeacon (a deacon who is a monk) Tikhon was spiritually nourished by the venerable elder, the Schema-Archimandrite (Saint) Gabriel (Zyryanov).

Schema-Archimandrite (Saint) Gabriel (Zyranov)

Presbyteral ordination, 1908

In 1908, the Hierodeacon Tikhon (Troitsky) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood.

Pastoral service

In 1908, the Hieromonk Tikhon (Troitsky) graduated from Kazan Theological Academy with the degree Candidate of Theology.

On 28 August, 1908, the Hieromonk Tikhon (Troitsky) was transferred, and he was assigned to serve as the assistant inspector of the Tauride Theological Seminary in Simferopol, Crimea.

On 25 August, 1910, the Hieromonk Tikhon (Troitsky) was assigned to be the inspector of the Volyn Theological Seminary in Kremenets, Volhynia. At that time, Archbishop Antony (Khrapovitsky) was Archbishop of Zhytomyr and Volyn (also spelt Volhynia).

In August, 1910, the Hieromonk Tikhon (Troitsky) was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite.

On 28 December, 1916, Archimandrite Tikhon (Troitsky) was transferred, and he was assigned to be the inspector of the Kharkov Theological Seminary. In this transfer, he followed, as it were, Archbishop Antony (Khrapovitsky), who had been transferred to the Kharkov Diocese in 1914.

According to his students, Archimandrite Tikhon was very strict, in contrast with their gentle rector, Archimandrite Averkiy (Kedrov).

He remained in his responsibility as inspector in Kharkov Seminary until the closure of the seminary after the revolutions in 1917.

Exile, Yugoslavia, 1919

In 1919, in the wake of the Bolshevik Revolution, together with Metropolitan Antony (Khrapovitsky), he emigrated to the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia). There, he began his life in exile.

He began his life in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia with the assignment to work as the inspector of the Prizren Theological Seminary. He continued in this responsibility and service for many years.

In 1925-1926, Archimandrite Tikhon (Troitsky) went to Mount Athos, Greece, where he was a member of the Athonite Brotherhood of the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon.

1926 photo at Saint Panteleimon Monastery : Archimandrites Kirik (Maksimov) and Tikhon (Troitsky) (seated), Rasophor Basil (Krivoshein), Dimitry Shahovskoy before tonsure and Monk Sophrony (Sacharov)

In 1930, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) (which at that time was resident in Sremski Karlovci in Yugoslavia) chose and elected Archimandrite Tikhon (Troitsky) to become a bishop.

Episcopal ordination, 1930

On 14 June, 1930, Archimandrite Tikhon (Troitsky) heard the official proclamation of his election by the Holy Synod of Bishops, and he made his Confession of Faith before Metropolitan Antony (Khrapovitsky), Archbishop Hermogenes (Maximov) and Archbishop Theophan (Gavrilov).

On 15 June, 1930, Archimandrite Tikhon (Troitsky) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate in Belgrade by Metropolitan Antony (Khrapovitsky), Archbishop Hermogenes (Maximov) and Archbsihop Theophanes (Gavrilov). Saint Mardarije (Uskoković) was present during this service.

Bishop Tikhon (Troitsky)

Episcopal service ; transfer to the USA, 1930

Bishop Tikhon (Troitsky) was assigned to be the Bishop of San Francisco, and Vicar-Bishop of the North American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR).

On 31 July, 1933, Bishop Tikhon (Troitsky) was assigned to be the Diocesan Bishop (ruling bishop) of North America and Canada (ROCOR).

Bishop Tikhon (Troitsky) was elevated to the dignity of archbishop.

1934 : Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America

On 4 September, 1934, the North American Diocese was divided, and Archbishop Tikhon (Troitsky) was appointed to be the administrator of the Western American Diocese. He was then given the title “Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America”.

After the reconciliation between the “American Metropolia” and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in 1935, the diocese was again reorganised. Archbishop Tikhon (Troitsky) was given the title “Archbishop of Seattle and Western America”, although his administration was still based in San Francisco.

In November, 1946, relations between the “American Metropolia” and the Russian Church Abroad were severed as a result of strong disagreements about a decision by the Cleveland Sobor. Archbishop Tikhon (Troitsky) was one of 5 American archpastors who remained within the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. He was once again assigned to be the Archbishop of San Francisco, a title which was also retained by Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky) of the “American Metropolia”. Such a situation made very visible the rupture between the 2 Churches, administrations which both stemmed from the Russian Empire (whether through the Mission or through exile), and whose faithful people were almost identical. Such ruptures did, do, and will cause major disturbances in many families as well. It is also dangerous to try to defend “who is right” in such cases. Mutual repentance and reconciliation is always the best course.

Archbishop Tikhon with Archbishop John (Maximovich) in San Francisco (left)

Retirement, 1962

In 1962, Archbishop Tikhon, who was feeling unwell, decided to retire, and through his intercession, the administration of the San Francisco Diocese was transferred to his old friend, Archbishop John (Maximovitch) of Shanghai.

Repose, 1963

On 30 March, 1963, Archbishop Tikhon (Troitsky) fell asleep in the Lord at Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, New York.

The Funeral Services for the Burial of a Hierarch were offered in the Monastery Temple.

After the funeral services, the body of Archbishop Tikhon (Troitsky) was interred under the Altar of the Monastery Temple at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York.

Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville

— Bishop of San Francisco (ROCOR) 1930-1933. Preceded by : Archbishop Apollinary (Koshevoy). Succeeded by : Bishop Feodosy (Samoilovich).

— Vicar-Bishop of the North American Diocese (ROCOR) 1930-1933.

— Archbishop of North America and Canada (ROCOR) 1933-1934. Preceded by : Title established. Succeeded by : Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko).

— Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America (ROCOR) 1934-1935. Preceded by : Bishop Feodosy (Samoilovich). Succeeded by Archbishop Theophilus (Pashkovsky) (as Metropolitan of North America and Canada of the "Metropolia").

— Archbishop of Seattle and Western America (Metropolia) 1935-1946. Preceded by : The See was created. Succeeded by : Bishop Nektariy (Kontsevitch).

— Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America (ROCOR) 1946-1962. Preceded by : Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky). Succeeded by : Archbishop John (Maximovitch).

— Former Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America 1962-1963.

Reflections

Gernot Seide, in his "History of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia from Its Beginning to the Present (1983)", wrote the following explanatory words about the situation of the Church and of Vladyka Tikhon dring 1933-1934 :

 After the death of Bishop Apollinarius, in 1933, Bishop Tikhon became a provisional leader 
 in North America.  He held this position from July of 1933 until September of 1934, finally 
 as Archbishop.  In September of 1934, Bishop Vitalis was appointed Archbishop and leader in 
 North America & Canada.  Simultaneously, two independent dioceses were created : Eastern America 
 & (Eastern) Canada, with its see in New York, headed by Archbishop Vitalis, and Western America 
 & San Francisco, headed by Archbishop Tikhon.  The Diocese of Western America also included the 
 Western Canadian communities and those in Alaska.  At first, a vicar bishop resided in Canada, 
 but later, at the end of 1934, the vicariate was turned into the independent Diocese of Edmonton 
 & Canada.  Thus, the Church Abroad, in 1935, shortly before the reunification, included the 
 following dioceses : Eastern America & New York, Western America & San Francisco, and Edmonton & Canada. 
 
 In 1933, when Archbishop Apollinarius died, 62 communities belonged to these three dioceses, 
 recognising the jurisdiction of the Church Abroad.  In 1935, there were already 80 communities.

Writings

Writings about Archbishop Tikhon by various authors

• Eleutherius, Metropolitan, “Conciliarity of the Church : God and Caesar” (Paris, 1938), p. 145.

• E M : Notes and Additions

• Pospielovsky, Dmitry, “The Russian Church under the Soviet Regime, 1917-1982” (SVS Press, 1984), p. 489.

• (Rklitsky), Archbishop Nikon, “Biography of Metropolitan Antony Khrapovitsky”, vol. 5, pp. 271, 276-278 ; vol. 7, p. 411.

• Seide, G, “Geschichte der ROK im Ausland” [“History of the Russian Church Outside Russia”], passim, pp. 430f.

• S P, ‘Centenary of the Birth of Archbishop Tikhon’ in “Orthodox Russia” [“Pravoslavnaya Rus”], no. 10 (1983), p. 12.

• Talberg, N D, “To the dear Memory of the righteous Archpastor”, pp. 7-9.

…… “History of the Russian Church” (Kiev, 1971). ASIN : B072FBHR69.

• (Znosko-Borovsky), Bishop Mitrofan, “Chronicle of one Life” (Moscow : St Vladimir's Brotherhood, 2006), pp. 548-585.

• “Church Bulletin”, no. 5 (1917), p. 32.

• “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate” (JMP), no. 12 (1945), p. 12 ; no. 6 (1957), p. 71.

• “Jubilee Collection commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church in North America”, Part 2 (New York, 1945), p. 116.

• ‘Death, where is your Sting’ in “Pravoslavnaya Rus” [“Orthodox Russia”], no. 7 (1963), pp. 6-8.

• "Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia"

• "[...] And two Wings will be given to his Wife : Collection for the 50th Anniversary of Sergei Fomin” (Moscow : Palomnik, 2002), p. 270.

References

ROCOR Biography

Russian Wikipedia biography

Russian Biography in “Drevo Encyclopaedia”

Открытая православная энциклопедия «Древо» (Open Orthodox Encyclopaedia "Drevo" biography) (in Russian)

Religious Persons of Russians Abroad biography

Orthodoxwiki biography

Drevo article “The Meaning of Tikhon (Troitsky) in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree”

Additional information :

Lyubimov, Andrey, “In Memory of Archbishop Tikhon (Troitsky)

Seide, G, “History of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia from its Beginning to the Present (1983)”

Sollogub, A A, Gr., ed., "Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. 1918-1968" (New York : Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem, 1968), i, I, pp. 73, 81, 660.

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.

“Archbishop Tikhon (Troitsky) : Based on materials from the archives of the Western American Diocese of the ROCOR”

"Anniversary Collection in Memory of the 150th Anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church in North America", 2 {New York, 1945}, p. 116.

Orthodoxwiki article "ROCOR and OCA" (Metropolia) (overview)

Diocese of the West History (OCA)

Web-site of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, Eastern American Diocese

Web-site of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, Western American Diocese

Web-site of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, Montréal and Canadian Diocese

History of the San Francisco and Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia

Saint John (Maximovitch)

Metropolitan Antony (Khrapovitsky)

Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)

Archbishop Apollinary (Koshevoy)

Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko)

Bishop Feodosy (Samoilovich)

Bishop Nektariy (Kontsevitch)

The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia web-site

Orthodoxwiki article on the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia

Wikipedia article on the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia

Web-site of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, Western American Diocese, San Francisco, California

Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, New York