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[[Image:Met_Sergius(port).jpg|thumb|left|Metropolitan Sergius of Tokyo and All Japan]]
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{{orthodoxyinjapan}}
Metropolitan '''Sergius (Tikhomirov) of Japan''' (1871-1945) was sent to Japan by the [[Church of Russia]] as the assistant to and successor to St. [[Nicholas of Japan]] as the ruling bishop of the [[Church of Japan|Japanese Orthodox Church]].
==Life==
[[Image:Met_Sergius(port).jpg|thumb|left|Metropolitan Sergius of Tokyo and All Japan]]He was born Georgy Alexeevich Tikhomirov on [[June 3]], 1871 (OS) in the village of Guzh near Novgorod, Russia into the family of a rural [[priest]]. His father, Alexei, was a popular and famous priest in the area. Georgy did well in elementary school and after graduation entered the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, graduating in 1896. Upon graduation he continued at the Academy teaching theology. During his time at the St. Petersburg Academy he was noted as a prolific preacher and author of many works on Church history in the Novgorod region.
Prior to his graduation from the Academy he took [[monastic]] vows on [[September 7]], 1895, taking the monastic name Sergius. Then, on [[December 2]], 1895, he was ordained a [[deacon]] in the Isakievsky Cathedral in St. Petersburg, and two days later he was ordained a priest. He was subsequently appointed inspector at the Academy. In December 1899, Father Sergius was raised to the dignity of [[archimandrite]] and was named Rector of the Academy. On [[October 8]], 1905, Archimandrite Sergius was awarded his Doctor of Theology degree. Then, one month later he was elevated to the episcopacy, being consecrated Bishop of Iamburg and [[auxiliary bishop|vicar]] to the archbishop of St. Petersburg. He was 35 years old, a common age at the time for entry into the episcopacy.
