Metropolitan Tikhon of Pskov and Porkhov Last Monday we were all informed (this now happens in the twinkling of an eye due to modern technology) that our beloved abbot, Bishop Tikhon (Shevkunov) is now Metropolitan Tikhon of Pskov and Porkhov. All of us are under God’s special Providence, but those who know His Eminence cannot help but notice that there is something out of the ordinary here. Vladyka has written about the many amazing experiences of his life in the wildly popular book, Everyday Saints and Other Stories (Pokrov Publications, 2012) and we greatly urge all to read it; but we will give a few highlights of the Metropolitan’s life here.
In the world, Georgy Shevkunov was a graduate from a prestigious cinematography school, with a concentration in screenplay writing. He began his monastic life in the ancient Pskov Caves Monastery, located in the town of Pechory in the Pskov diocese in the western part of Russia. This monastery played a very important role in Russian history both in the early days of Russian Christianity and in the Soviet era. It was always an outpost of Russian culture on the nation’s western border, with several important functions—the building of monastic life in the western regions, enlightenment of the local Finno-Urgic (Estonion) peoples, a safe refuge for those escaping from persecution by Livonian Catholics in the Baltic regions, and a fortress against attacks from Western invaders. It was (and is) a fortress in both the physical and spiritual sense—its strong walls built by the great abbot St. Cornelius protected it physically, while the Mother of God and St. Nicholas, patrons of the monastery churches, protected it spiritually from all onslaughts. God protected the monastery even during soviet times—it was one of the very few monasteries in the Soviet Union that was never closed.
Archimandrite John (Krestiankin) and Hieromonk Tikhon (Shevkunov). Photo: Pravoslavie.ru
Hieromonk Tikhon (Shevkunov) In 1993, Hieromonk Tikhon was appointed abbot of the newly-reopened Sretensky Monastery. Dedicated to the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and the subsequent deliverance of Moscow from attack by the Mongol Tamerlane, Sretensky Monastery began its existence in 1397. Durig the early soviet period, the future Hieromartyr Hilarion (Troitsky) served as the monastery abbot, and his close friend, Patriarch Tikhon, often served there. The soviet regime closed the monastery in 1926, and it was desecrated by the KGB. When it was turned over to Fr. Tikhon as a metochion of the Pskov Caves Monastery, it was in ruins—the only church that had not been demolished was in pitiful shape, with all its ancient frescos painted over, and the monastery grounds were strewn with debris. Fr. Tikhon rolled up his sleeves and began the colossal work of restoring the monastery. This meant carefully bringing back the old frescos inch by inch, clearing the grounds, building living quarters and a refectory, and negotiating with municipal authorities for additional surrounding buildings. Sretensky received the status of a stravropegal monastery in 1996. Gradually both the brotherhood and the dedicated congregation grew to such proportions that they could not fit into the monastery church on Sundays and feast days. In 2011, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill officially blessed the construction of a new, large cathedral dedicated to the Resurrection of the Lord and the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. Construction was completed in 2017 and the church was solemnly consecrated on the feast of the Ascension. On this last Pascha, there were over 3000 people attending the midnight service.
Abbot Tikhon established and developed the Sretensky Theological Seminary on the monastery grounds, took over the operations of a collective farm in Ryazan province, establishing there a monastery skete and children’s home, built up a successful publishing house with hundreds of titles, launched the first Russian language Orthodox website (Pravoslavie.ru, still the leading religious website of Russia), started catechism classes for teenagers and adults, and inspired many other lesser known projects under the monastery’s auspices (including a theater school for people with Down’s syndrome). This is not to mention his role in the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia with the Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate.
We have provided what is of course a dry, brief description of what Vladyka accomplished outwardly over his twenty-five years as the monastery’s abbot. But we will not ignore his cultivation of the brotherhood’s inward life. He was the brothers’ confessor, and did not neglect to guide them continually in the monastic life, meting rebuke and edification in and out of season. His care covered every member of the monastery conglomerate—all the patrons, hired workers, and parishioners. He was accessible to all, and no one was too low on the totem pole for his fatherly attention. He paid careful attention to every detail of the monastery’s life, and wasted no time righting any wrongs.
Vladyka Tikhon is irreplaceable, his shoes can’t be filled and he will be a “tough act to follow”. However Sretensky Monastery will no doubt be functioning on his planning and energy for some time to come. His time as abbot having come to an end on the feast of the Ascension, these last few days have been proof positive of people’s sincere love for him. They have proven also the care that God has for all of us; for there have been so many heavenly hints and signs of God’s grace, which have sweetened the bitterness of our loss.
Vladyka served in the Christ the Savior Cathedral on the feast of the Ascension, at which His Holiness Patriarch Kirill bestowed upon him a white klobuk—the monastic headdress worn by metropolitans in the Russian Orthodox Church. Waiting for him at the monastery were the brothers in formation along with others close to the monastery. Vladyka received all the bouquets gathered to congratulate him on his new rank, and gave everyone a word about the changes that have occurred. “Sretensky Monastery is henceforth independent—of me. You have an acting abbot, Fr. John (Ludishev). His Holiness has agreed to appoint a monk from among the brotherhood, and I hope that eventually the Synod will confirm this choice. I am no longer in charge, and that is proper. But of course we will always be spiritually connected, and I will not abandon those whom I have received here in the tonsure.” He also conveyed his deepest gratitude to all the brothers, sisters, workers, and “incomparable parishioners” of Sretensky Monastery.
Photo: RIA-Novosti Vladyka mentioned first of all that this is not an easy time for him. After all, he has been here for twenty-five years. Nevertheless he cannot help but see God’s Providence in this new assignment. “It was a year ago, also on the feast of the Ascension, that the cathedral of the Resurrection and the Holy New Martyrs of Russia was consecrated…” (The consecration service was presided over by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, along with dozens of priests and bishops. Thousands of the faithful attended, and President Vladimir Putin gave a warm address at the end.) But there was another thing… When I arrived today at the service, Vladyka Sergei [(Chashin) archbishop of Solnechnogorsk] met me and gave me this panagia…”
Vladyka looked down at the panagia on his chest. The panagia is worn by hierarchs of the Church in place of a pectoral cross. It bears an image of the Mother of God, the “Panagia”—Greek for “All Holy”. “I looked at the inscription on its reverse side. It reads, ‘In honor of the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church, Ascension day, May 17, 2007’. I had forgotten, but the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia with the Moscow Patriarchate took place precisely eleven years ago. The feast of the Ascension fell that year on May 17, and it fell this year on May 17, and this is the day of my new appointment, by God’s Providence.” Vladyka mentioned that he will be living at least initially in the Pskov Caves Monastery. “When I had to leave the monastery as a novice for Moscow, I prayed to God that He would bring me back. Now, thirty-two years later, that prayer has been answered…” he added, with his characteristic sense of humor.
Photo: A.Goryainov / Pravoslavie.ru On Sunday, May 20, Metropolitan Tikhon served his farewell Liturgy in the new cathedral of the New Martyrs, before he left for his new cathedra. About 3000 people from all over Moscow attended it. Everyone wanted to have a last glimpse at Vladyka before he would be caught up in the “white cloud”… The Epistle and Gospel reading were as if God speaking to us about his servant Metropolitan Tikhon: Acts 20:16–18 and the Gospel of St. John 17:1–13. In the reading from Acts, the apostle Paul departs from Ephesus and gives his words of admonition in farewell to the brethren. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified (Acts 20:32). If you read on to verse 37-38, you can get understand the feeling that the disciples had as the apostle left: And they all wept sore… Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship. Our bishops are the successors to those very apostles whom the early Christians so loved, and it was uncanny to be as if participating in the same feelings that those people must have had as they watched their teacher alight his ship and sail onward to do the will of Christ in other regions…
Photo: A.Goryainov / Pravoslavie.ru Vladyka said to the thousands pressing forward to get a closer look at him when the service was completed:
“Today in the Apostolic reading we hear about the Apostle Paul’s farewell to his disciples in Asia. And in the Gospel according to John read today at the Liturgy we are told of the farewell of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself to His disciples and friends. Everything in the Holy Scriptures is an example for you. The examples are incomparable, and infinitely exalted!
“In today’s liturgical reading we hear the words of the apostle Paul:
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:28–35).
Metropolitan Tikhon of Pskov and Porkhov “The Lord Jesus Christ Himself as he parted with His disciples in the Gospel of John talks about this to us today: And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent (Jn. 17:3). To know only God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and strive only for Him. Then all problems without exception, all misfortunes, complexities, and trials will be easily overcome. Then with our own lives we will understand the Lord’s remarkable words:
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matt. 11:29–30).
“Again and again I thank all of you for these nearly twenty years we have spent together. We have labored together for the rebuilding of this monastery, for the building of the brotherhood and the parish, for the creation of the Sretensky Theological Seminary and the education of our students…
“In my heart and soul I take you all to Pechory. I will pray for you according to the measure of my strength. I hope to see you all in the Pskov Caves Monastery, in ancient Pskov, and the other monasteries and churches of Pskov diocese. I expect the most important thing from you—your prayers for us who are leaving Sretensky for the Pskov diocese.
Holy Dormition Pskov Caves Monastery “It just so happens that today is the feast of the Pskov Caves icon of the Mother of God. My spiritual father, Archimandrite John (Krestiankin), blessed me with this icon to serve in Sretensky Monastery. This icon is here next to us; we brought it her from our Sretensky church. It was one of the icons in Fr. John’s cell. Tomorrow, when I and my travelling companions arrive in Pskov, now as the ruling metropolitan of Pskov diocese, is also a very important day for me: the commemoration of the apostle John the Theologian, elder Archimandrite John’s (Krestiankin’s) heavenly patron.
“Let us lift up our hearts! Let each strive for the path along which the Lord leads us! May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”1
As difficult as it must be for Metropolitan Tikhon to part from his twenty-five-year-old child—the flourishing Sretensky Monastery in his native city of Moscow—the Lord and the Mother of God have placed him in his beloved first monastic dwelling, the Holy Dormition Pskov Caves Monastery, where monastic prayer has never ceased since its founding over 600 years ago. And we who are left behind are consoled by having been part of what we truly feel to be epic.
Many thanks for this wonderful article.