Saint Tikhon in America
An online lecture by Matthew Namee
St. Tikhon was a transforming figure in American Orthodoxy. Born Vasily Ivanovich Bellavin, he was a Russian church leader who later became the first Patriarch of Moscow (the head of the Russian Orthodox Church), when this position was brought back in 1917 after being abolished for 200 years. Earlier, St. Tikhon served as Bishop of the Aleutians and North America, where he worked to build churches, translate liturgical texts into English, and establish Orthodox parishes for immigrants and converts across the US.
In this lecture, Matthew Namee will explore St. Tikhon’s remarkable life and legacy.
We will cover St. Tikhon’s early years and his brief but impactful tenure in Poland, where he guided Uniates (members of Eastern Catholic Churches) back to Orthodoxy. The lecture will mainly focus on St. Tikhon’s pivotal role as bishop of the Diocese of the Aleutian Islands and North America, where he built up the diocese through his sacrificial, visionary leadership.
The lecture will highlight St. Tikhon’s innovative proposals, such as advocating for English-language liturgical resources to engage non-Orthodox Americans. The talk will also touch on personal aspects, including the tragic loss of his brother Michael.
About the Speaker
Matthew Namee is a lawyer and historian who has run Orthodox Studies Institute since 2009. He’s given numerous talks on church history over the years at most of the major Orthodox institutions and venues in the United States. He authored the book Lost Histories: The Good, the Bad, and the Strange in Early American Orthodoxy (Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024). In his day job, Matthew is an attorney working exclusively on Orthodox Church matters for a nonprofit ministry. He lives in Washington state with his wife Catherine and their seven children.
Connecting with Zoom
This virtual lecture is presented live via Zoom. Registered users will be emailed a link to join this Zoom program. To get started, please download Zoom on your chosen device and explore the Frequently Asked Questions.
This program will be recorded and posted to the museum’s YouTube channel.