His Eminence the Most Reverend Archbishop Nikon (de Greve) of Japan served the émigré Russian church in France and Belgium before, during, and after World War II. After arriving in the United States he served as Bishop of Philadelphia and Bishop of Toronto before leading the Japanese Church in the late 1950s and early 1960s. After his return from Japan he was assistant to Metr. Leonty before being appointed Archbishop of Brooklyn.
Life
The future Abp. Nikon was born Alexis de Greve on February 19, 1895 in Batoum in the Russian Caucasus. His education followed that for a military career. He attended the Tiflis Military School, in Georgia, followed by the St. Paul Military Academy in St. Petersburg. He served with the Russian army during World War I and then with the “White