[[Image:Met_Sergius(port).jpg|thumb|left|Metropolitan Sergius of Tokyo and All Japan]]He was born Georgy Alexeevich Tikhomirov (Георгий Алексеевич Тихомиров) 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 [[ordination|ordained ]] a [[deacon]] in the Isakievsky Isakievskii 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 an uncommonly young age at the time for entry into the episcopacy.

In 1908, Bishop Sergius was assigned to be the assistant of Archbishop [[Nicholas of Japan|Abp. Nicholas of Japan ]] and his eventual successor. He arrived in Japan on [[June 27]], 1908 as the Bishop bishop of Kyoto. Already proficient in a number of languages, including Greek, Hebrew, German, Latin, English, German, Arabic, and the Slavic languages, Bishop Sergius immediately began to get acquainted with Japan and its culture and language, and within a year he began preaching [[Orthodox Christianity]] among the Japanese people. He engrossed himself in missionary efforts, visiting widely, from the southern part of Sakhalin, that Japan had gained from Russia after the Russo-Japanese war, to Kuril Islands, Manchuria, Korea, and Formosa.

Bishop Sergius was at Archbishop Since all previous assistants sent to Japan to help Abp. Nicholas's side during returned to Russia, the last latter asked Sergius if he intended to remain in Japan permanently or to return in a few years as those earlier had. Sergius affirmed that he had come dedicating himself to remain for the rest of his life, and after Nicholas's death in February 1912, Bishop . Over the next few years Sergius was named involved himself deeply in May 1912 the new ruling bishop church and mission and gradually assumed management of the Orthodox [[Church of Japan]] as Archbishop of Japanorganization, allowing Nicholas to devote his time to the seminary and his extensive translation work. Well familiar with Archbishop Nicholas's Sergius engrossed himself particularly in missionary workefforts, visiting widely, Archbishop Sergius continued Nicholas's steps including publication from the southern part of theological books through Sakhalin that Japan had gained from Russia after the Tokyo SeminaryRusso-Japanese war, to Kuril Islands and Manchuria.

Within some six Sergius was at Nicholas's side during the last yearsof his life, howeverand after Nicholas's death in February 1912, Archbishop Sergius had to contend with a different and difficult world. With was named in May 1912 the Russian Revolution new ruling bishop of 1917 and the subsequent takeover by the Bolsheviks, funding for the Japanese mission budget was cut offOrthodox Church of Japan as Archbishop of Japan. AlthoughWell familiar with Nicholas's missionary work, this meant that the new archbishop had to severely cut the activities continued Nicholas's steps including publication of theological books through the mission[[Tokyo Orthodox Seminary (Tokyo, it nonetheless survivedJapan)|Tokyo Seminary]].

On [[September 1]]Within some six years, 1923however, Tokyo was hit by the Great Kanto Earthquake. The earthquake caused serious damage Sergius had to the [[Holy Resurrection Cathedral (Tokyo, Japan)]] (Nikolai-do) at the mission's headquarters in Surugadai Kanda in Tokyocontend with a different and difficult world. The main bell tower collapsed onto With the central dome severely damaging the building Russian Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent fires burned much what was left of takeover by the interior. ThusBolsheviks, Archbishop Sergius had inherited adversity greater than would be expectedfunding for the Japanese mission was cut off. Rebuilding Nicolai-do became central for Sergius and in Although this he did not give up. He toured throughout Japan asking for donations. He asked a young musician, Victor A. Pokrovsky, a refugee of meant that the defeated White Army, archbishop had to develop and lead cut the cathedral choir which toured Japan to raise money for the re-construction activities of the cathedral. Through these extraordinary efforts Nikolai-do was re-built and re-consecrated in just a little over six years. The re-consecration was held on [[December 15]], 1929 with 5,000 guests present including Archbishop Nestor from Harbin. Then, in 1931mission severely, Archbishop Sergius was elevated to Metropolitan of All Japan by the [[Holy Synod]] in Moscowit nonetheless survived.

ThenOn [[September 1]], 1923, as Tokyo was hit by the Japanese church began its recovery under Great Kanto Earthquake. The earthquake caused serious damage to the leadership of Metropolitan Sergius[[Holy Resurrection Cathedral (Tokyo, Japan)|Holy Resurrection Cathedral]] (Nikolai-do) at the specter of militaristic nationalism began to rise mission's headquarters in Surugadai Kanda in JapanTokyo. Under this new climate pressures increased on all that The main bell tower collapsed onto the central dome severely damaging the building and the subsequent fires burned much what was foreign and Christianleft of the interior. EventuallyThus, in 1940, the pressures Sergius had inherited adversity greater than would be expected. Rebuilding Nicolai-do became too great central for Sergius and Metropolitan Sergius, his choir directorin this he did not give up. He toured throughout Japan asking for donations. He asked a young musician, [[Victor Pokrovsky|Victor A. Pokrovsky]], a refugee of the defeated White Army, to develop and others not Japanese were removed from their positions with lead the Japanese church. The metropolitan and his cathedral choir director were which toured Japan to spend raise money for the war years re-construction of World War II the cathedral. Through these extraordinary efforts Nikolai-do was re-built and re-consecrated in obscurityjust a little over six years. The re-consecration was held on [[December 15]], harassed1929 with 5, under suspicion 000 guests present including Abp [[Nestor (Anisimov) of being Russian/American spiesKamchatka]] from Harbin. Then, and arrested in the Spring 1931, Sergius was elevated to ''Metropolitan of 1945 All Japan'' by the the special police. Metropolitan Sergius, in mid 1945, ended up under house arrest, his health impaired, and died under unusual circumstances on [[August 10Holy Synod]], 1945, only five days before Japan's part in World War II endedMoscow.

With [[Image:MetSergiusJapanGrave.jpg|thumb|left|200pxl|Grave of Metr. Sergius in the Yanaka Cemetery, Tokyo, Japan in disorder ]]Then, as the war was endingJapanese church began its recovery under the leadership of Metr. Sergius, Metropolitan Sergius's body the specter of militaristic nationalism began to rise in Japan. Under this new political climate pressures increased on all that was carried for the last rites foreign and burial Christian. Eventually, in 1940, the pressures became too great. In September of 1940, the government enacted a "honey bucket" cart, as he law that Japanese nationals had predicted to friends some years before when he pointed to such a cart that was passing themhead all religious organizations. Thus, Sergius, his choir director, Victor Pokrovsky, and other non-Japanese were removed from their positions in the church. The metropolitan was buried beside Stand his choir director were to spend World War II in obscurity, harassment, under suspicion of being Russian/American spies, and were finally arrested in the Spring of 1945 by the special police. Nicholas of JapanIn mid 1945, Sergius ended up under house arrest, his predecessorhealth impaired, and died under unusual circumstances on [[August 10]], 1945, only five days before Japan's part in the Tanaka Cemetery in TokyoWorld War II ended.

With Japan in disorder as the war was ending, Metr. Sergius's body was carried for the last rites and burial in a "honey bucket" cart, as he had predicted to friends some years before when he pointed to such a cart that was passing them. The metropolitan was buried beside St. Nicholas of Japan, his predecessor, in the Yanaka Cemetery in Tokyo. With the intervention of the Japanese militaristic government into the affairs of the Japanese Orthodox Church by forcing all non-Japanese born members out of the Church, the Church administration was thrown into chaos. After the forced ‘retirement’ "retirement" of Metropolitan Metr. Sergius, the government requested that a Japanese be placed as the ruling bishop. In 1941, under the direction of the military government the Archpriest [[Protopriest]] [[Nicholas (Ono) of Japan|John Ono sent ]] was obliged to separate from his wife to who became a nun at a [[monastery ]] in Harbin, Manchuria, then ruled by Japan. Nicholas Ono , and then was then consecrated , under the monastic name of Nicholas, as the ruling bishop of Japan by Archbishop Nestor of Harbin who was cooperating with the military government. SubsequentlyThus, Bishop Bp. [[Nicholas (Ono) of Japan|Nicholas (Ono)]] became the first Japanese Orthodox Christian to be consecrated a bishop, though it was under canonically suspect circumstances. Bp. Nicholas subsequently reconciled himself with the Japanese Orthodox Church before he died.

before=?[[Sergius (Stragorodsky) of Moscow|Sergius (Stragorodsky)]]|title=Bishop of IamburgJamburg|

after=?[[Theophan (Bystrov) of Poltava|Theophan (Bystrov)]]}}

before=?[[Andronik of Perm|Andronik (Nikolsky)]]|

years=1908-19311912|after=?[[Vladimir (Nagosky) of San Francisco|Vladimir (Nagosky)]]}}

years=19311912-(1941) 1945|after=[[Nicholas (Ono/) of Japan|Nicholas (Ono)]]<br>[[Benjamin(Basalyga) of Pittsburgh|Benjamin (Basalyga)]]}}