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Published
by the Orthodox
Church in America,
October 31, 2005
Bishop
Tikhon installed as ruling hierarch of the
Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern
Pennsylvania
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PHILADELPHIA,
PA [OCA Communications] — Saint Stephen
Cathedral here was filled to capacity as His
Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, primate of the
Orthodox Church in America, presided at the
Divine Liturgy during which His Grace, Bishop
Tikhon [Mollard], was officially installed as
the ruling hierarch of the Diocese of
Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania on
Saturday, October 29, 2005.
Concelebrating with Metropolitan Herman was His
Grace, Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada and
numerous clergy representing the diocese's three
deaneries. Metropolitan Herman had served as the
diocese's ruling bishop for two decades before
his election as the OCA's Primate in July 2002.
"Bishop Tikhon was elected to ruling
hierarch of the diocese by clergy and lay
delegates at a special assembly of the diocese
held in May 2005," said the Very Rev. John
Matusiak, OCA Communications Director.
"Bishop Tikhon will oversee nearly 50
parishes across the eastern half of the
state."
Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick, OCA
chancellor, read the proclamation of
installation at the conclusion of the Divine
Liturgy, after which Metropolitan Herman prayed
for Bishop Tikhon and presented him with the
archpastoral staff, signifying his episcopal
position and authority.
Following the Divine Liturgy, hundreds of
diocesan faithful attended an installation
banquet at the Phylmont Country Club, Huntingdon
Valley, PA. The Very Rev. John Kowalczyk,
chancellor of the Diocese of Philadelphia and
Eastern Pennsylvania, opened the affair with a
toast in Bishop Tikhon's honor. During the
banquet, Bishop Tikhon was presented with
numerous gifts, including new sets of vestments,
from the deaneries, clergy, and faithful of the
diocese.
A native of Boston, Bishop Tikhon converted to
Orthodox Christianity from Episcopalianism in
1989. After completing studies at Franklin and
Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, he entered
Saint Tikhon Orthodox Theological Seminary,
South Canaan, PA, from which he received a
Master of Divinity degree in 1993.
Prior to his consecration to the episcopacy in
2004, Bishop Tikhon was senior lecturer in Old
Testament at Saint Tikhon Seminary, and is
credited with a number of publications. He also
served as deputy abbot of Saint Tikhon Monastery
prior to his election to the Philadelphia see.
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