UPDATED—Metropolitan Tikhon receives greetings, addresses Eastern PA clergy and faithful
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon continues to receive congratulatory messages on the occasion of his election as Primate of the Orthodox Church in America at the 17th All-American Council in Parma, OH on Tuesday, November 13, 2012. [See related story.]
The texts of the greetings received through Friday, November 16, appear below. Additional greetings will be posted on the OCA web site as they are received.
From His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
His Beatitude, Tikhon
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada
Your Beatitude, Dear Brother in the Lord:
I congratulate you on your election to the primatial throne of the Archbishops of Washington, Metropolitans of All America and Canada.
By the will of the plenitude of the Orthodox Church in America, a high responsibility has been placed on you for the future of the youngest Local Orthodox Church, which has experienced a difficult time in her history in recent years. I hope that through the efforts of Your Beatitude the American Church will restore full-fledged relations with other Local Orthodox Churches, restore peace and harmony within herself and make comfortable the further life of your predecessor at the Metropolitan See of Washington.
I prayerfully wish that through the intercession of the great apostle of America, St. Tikhon the Patriarch of All Russia, the Lord Pantocrator will give you strength and wisdom as you will work in the difficult field of Primatial ministry.
With brotherly love in the Lord,
+ Kirill
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
From His Beatitude, Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
To His Beatitude, most Blessed Tikhon, newly elected Primate of the Orthodox Church in America:
Your Beatitude, my beloved brother and concelebrant in the Lord!
From the fullness of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and from me personally, I would like to express my sincere congratulations on your election as the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America.
The life of a person who truly strives to realize his goal and to find a sense of his existence in this world brings him without doubt to search of the source of all things, which for us can be found in Our Creator.
The whole life of your Beatitude shows us how persistent and tireless you were in your personal search for Truth. From your personal archpastoral experience you know that care for the God loving Christian flock is that cross of life which one can only bear with a prayer in the heart and complete dependence on God.
In the search for peace on earth a hierarch should preach the Word of God with the peace of Christ in his soul following in the footstep of the good Shepherd (John 10, 11).
Today on the day of your election as the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America you accepted from God the honour to become a leader (pilot) of the Church steering this saving ship to the peaceful harbour of the Heavenly Kingdom, specifically helping people in their search of life with Christ and in Christ.
I prayerfully participate in the joy of Orthodox America and wish that your primatial service will be truly fruitful.
May our great Hierarch, Our Lord Jesus bless your work for the good of the Church and grant you joy and peace, strengthening you spiritually and physically for many blessed years.
With the brotherly love in Christ,
+ Volodymyr
Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine
From His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chair of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.
His Beatitude Tikhon
Elected Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada
Your Beatitude,
Please accept my cordial greetings on the occasion of your election as the sixth Primate of the Orthodox Church in America.
The 17th All-American Council has elevated you to the lofty and important ministry of the Metropolitan of All America and Canada. Special spiritual and physical strength is needed for preaching the truths of the Orthodox faith on the North American Continent – this truly vast vineyard of Christ (cf. Mt 21:33-41) which has been cultivated by the toil and exploits of Saint Herman of Alaska, Saint Innocent and your heavenly patron Saint Tikhon of Moscow.
I believe that through the intercession of the holy and equal-to-the-apostles enlighteners of the American land, God will give you His mighty helping hand (cf. 1 Pt 5:6) and establish and guard (cf. 2 Thess 3:3) the Orthodox Church in America, the youngest in the family of Local Autocephalous Churches, against any discord and disorder.
I hope that your ministry will greatly contribute to the strengthening of the spiritual relations between our fraternal Churches and wish Your Beatitude peace and abundant grace from the All-Generous God.
With respectful love in the Lord,
+ Hilarion
Metropolitan of Volokolamsk
Chairman, Department for External Church Relations, Moscow Patriarchate
From His Eminence, Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA.
His Beatitude Tikhon
Metropolitan of All America and Canada, Archbishop of Washington
Your Beatitude!
It is my pleasure to extend my sincere congratulations to you on the occasion of your election as the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America. I wish you spiritual strength, wisdom and inexhaustible assistance of our Lord Jesus Christ, through the intercession of holy prayers of your predecessor and heavenly patron—Saint Tikhon (Bellavin)—in your upcoming endeavors.
+ Justinian
Archbishop of Naro-Fominsk
Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA
From His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
His Beatitude Tikhon
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada
Orthodox Church in America
Your Beatitude, Most Blessed Master!
It is with profound joy that we have learned of your election as the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America. With fraternal love in the Lord and deep respect I congratulate Your Beatitude and your divinely saved flock, wishing you good health, fortitude and length of days, that you may zealously carry out the exalted ministry entrusted to you by the Chief Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Your brother and concelebrant,
+ Hilarion
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
From His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph and His Grace, Bishop Daniil of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia.
The Most Blessed Metropolitan Tikhon
P. O. Box 675
Syosset, NY 11791
Nov 15, 2012
Repose of St. Herman, Wonderworker of Alaska, Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Abibus
Beginning of the Nativity Fast
Your Beatitude, Dear Metropolitan Tikhon,
It is our honor and joy to congratulate Your Beatitude on your election for the Metropolitan Primate of the Orthodox Church in America! Axios! Worthy! Dostoin!
We prayerfully wish you that our Lord Jesus continue to grant you wisdom and His mighty help be with you in your new service in His Church.
Eis polla eti, Despota!
With love in Christ,
+ Metropolitan Joseph
+ Bishop Daniil
Greetings also have been received from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
From His Eminence, Metropolitan Zachariah Nicholovos of the Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
Your Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon,
It is with immense joy and thanksgiving to God, the clergy and the faithful of the Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, join me in proclaiming AXIOS on Your Beatitude’s election as Primate of the Orthodox Church in America.
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has always enjoyed a warm relationship with the Orthodox Church in America. It is with great hope in Christ our Lord, we trust our relationship will grow and we can work together to facilitate the healing of this great division between the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
I convey the heartfelt greetings and joy of His Holiness, the Catholicos of the East, Baselios Paulose II, and the Holy Synod of the Indian Orthodox Church. May the intercession of Holy Theotokos, and our Father among the Saints, St. John Chrysostom, whose Feast Day we celebrate today, preserve you in your ministry as the newly elected Metropolitan of All America and Canada.
AXIOS! AXIOS! AXIOS!
Your Brother in our Lord,
+ Zachariah Nicholovos Metropolitan
From His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios Mar Eusebius of the Diocese of South-West America, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
To: His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada
We are extremely delighted to hear of Your Beatitude’s recent elevation as the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America. Your Beatitude has been a spiritual father and great influence to many of our young clergy who studied at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary during your tenure as Rector,
and we are thankful for your presence and role in molding them as priests.
As we move forward, we hope to work with Your Beatitude to strengthen the bonds between our Churches and help build a common witness of the Holy Orthodox Christian Faith in North America. We are currently in India, and we have informed His Holiness the Catholicos of your election. His Holiness sends his apostolic greetings to you and all the faithful of the Orthodox Church in America.
On behalf of the Diocese of South-West America of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, we extend to Your Beatitude our love and pray that the Lord may continue to guide you in your new responsibility of shepherding the flock of the Orthodox Church in America.
Your brother in Christ,
+ Alexios Mar Eusebius
Metropolitan
In related news, Metropolitan Tikhon addressed the clergy, monastics and faithful of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania in a letter dated November 15, 2012, the text of which reads as follows.
To the Clergy, Monastics and Faithful of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania:
Christ is in our midst!
By the grace of Almighty God, on Tuesday, November 13, 2012, I was elected to the position of Primate of the Orthodox Church in America by the Holy Synod of Bishops during the 17th All-American Council held at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Parma, Ohio. I am truly humbled by the trust that has been placed in my by the Church and I especially ask for the continued prayers of all the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania as I assume my new responsibilities.
On the day following the Council, the Holy Synod of Bishops met in Parma and addressed a number of matters resulting from my election, including the question of hierarchical oversight of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania. It was the consensus of the Holy Synod that my responsibilities as Primate would require my full attention and that the oversight of my former diocese should be given to another hierarch.
Therefore, the Holy Synod appointed His Grace, Bishop Melchisedek of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, as Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania. He is to be commemorated as such during all divine services within the Dicoese, following the usual commemoration of the Metropolitan.
In addition, the Holy Synod appointed His Grace, Bishop Mark of Baltimore, as Administrator of the Diocese. Both of these appointments are effective immediately and I would ask for your prayerful support of Bishop Melchisedek and Bishop Mark during this period of transition as the Diocese begins the process of searching for a new diocesan bishop.
At the same time, I would like to assure you that there will be no changes to the existing administrative structures of the diocese. The chancery officers remain in place according to my previous appointments: Fr. John Kowalczyk as Chancellor and Fr. Martin Browne as Treasurer. Likewise, the administrative staff will continue unchanged with Matushka Sandy Kopestonsky continuing as Administrative Assistant and Mr. Aric Gingo working in the Department of Communications. The Diocesan Center office hours will remain in effect, Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
All three deaneries have recently held their elections for officers and I have approved the officers elected and appointed one vacant position. I attached a list of the current Administration and Deanery officers.
In general, the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania will continue to operate as normal and all the programs that have been, or are being, implemented will continue on their present trajectory. Much has been accomplished over the past several years in the Diocese and it is my fervent hope that the momentum that the clergy and faithful have developed in this work will be sustained and increased by your zeal and energy.
I am particularly pleased with the progress that has been made in the area of parish revitalization, clergy health and administrative responsibility within the parishes. It is my prayer that all of you will continue to support this work and will offer of yourselves for the continued blossoming of our diocese and the Orthodox Church in America.
I am grateful to God for the opportunity to have served as your diocesan bishop for almost eight years and I leave with much sorrow over this separation. I have grown to love and respect my brothers in Christ, the priests and deacons of Eastern Pennsylvania, together with their families; and it has been my great joy to serve the faithful Christian people of this Diocese, to learn from them and be inspired by their devotion to Christ and his Holy Church.
As your new Primate, my presence within the diocese, of course, will be limited, but it is my intention to return as often as I can, with the blessing of the diocesan authorities, to the place where I began my ministry as a bishop, where I was blessed to serve and where I know that I can count on the prayers and love of the good people of Eastern Pennsylvania (and the Northern tip of Delaware).
May the Lord bless you abundantly and strengthen all of you for our common labors in the vineyard of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I ask for your prayers as I give you assurance of my love and prayers for you.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Tikhon
Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of All America and Canada