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Theophilus (Pashkovsky) of San Francisco

758 bytes added, 04:43, October 11, 2013
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[[Image:Theophilus Pashkovsky.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Metr. Theophilus (Pashkovsky) of San Francisco]]
His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan '''Theophilus (Pashkovsky) of San Francisco''' succeeded Metr. [[Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York|Platon ]] upon his death in 1934 as leader of the [[OCA|North American diocese ]] of the [[Church of Russia ]] and guided it through the continued turmoil resulting from the Bolshevik revolution and of World War II. He oversaw the restart of theological education in the diocese that had ended with the closing, in 1924, of the [[seminary]] at TeneflyTenafly, New Jersey.
==Life==
Theodore Nicholaevich Pashkovsky was born in the province of Kiev on [[February 6]], 1874. He was born into a [[priest]]ly family. He attended the Kiev Theological Seminary Preparatory School where he was noted as a disciplined and hard working student. The curing of a bone infection he developed while still a young student was to guide him in his future career. After doctors believed that the infection was not curable, prayers for Theodore by the already famous [[John of Kronstadt]], when he visited the school, resulted in a complete healing. In gratitude, Theodore vowed to become a [[novice]] at the Kiev [[Lavra]]. This he fulfilled in 1894. But, events would change this choice.
Theodore Nicholaevich Pashkovsky was born in When Bishop [[Nicholas (Ziorov) of the province Aleutians|Nicholas]] of Kiev on the North American [[February 6diocese]]visited the Lavra to recruit workers for his mission, 1874. He Theodore was born into a [[priest]]ly familyinvited to America. He attended the Kiev Theological Seminary Preparatory School where he was noted assigned as a disciplined and hard working student. The curing the secretary of a bone infection he developed while still a young student was to guide him the mission administration after arriving in San Francisco in his future careerlate 1894. After doctors believed that Soon after he met and married Ella Dabovich from the infection Serbian community. She was not curable, prayers for the Theodore by the already famous John niece of KronstadtFr. [[Sebastian Dabovich]]. Then, on [[December 4]], 1897, when he visited the school, resulted in was ordained a complete healingpriest following his earlier [[ordination]] as [[deacon]]. In gratitudeOn June 20, Theodore vowed to become 1900, his wife delivered him a son, Boris, who would be remembered during World War II as Colonel [[noviceBoris T. Pash|Boris Pash]] at , the leader of the Alsos Mission in Europe under the ''Manhattan Project'' and as the Foreign Liaison Officer under General Douglas MacArthur during negotiations on the future of the Kiev [[LavraChurch of Japan|Japanese Orthodox Church]]. This he fulfilled in 1894. But, events would change this choice1945-47.
When Bishop then-Archbishop [[Nicholas (Ziorov) Tikhon of the AleutiansMoscow|Nicholas]] of the North American [[dioceseTikhon]] visited the Lavra returned to recruit workers for his missionRussia in 1906, Fr. Theodore was invited to America. He was assigned as accompanied him with his family and worked in the secretary administration of the mission administration after arriving in San Francisco in late 1894Warsaw-Vilna Diocese. Soon after he met and married a lady from the Serbian community. Then, on [[December 4]], 1897, he was ordained a priest following his earlier [[ordination]] as [[deacon]]. On June 20, 1900, his wife delivered him a son, Boris, who would be remembered during During World War II as Colonel Boris PashI, Fr. Theodore worked in the leader Famine Relief Program of the Alsos Mission in Europe under the Young Men''Manhattan Project'' and as the Foreign Liaison Officer under General Douglas MacArthur during negotiations s Christian Association on the future of the Volga River. During these years in Russia his wife died [[Church of Japan|Japanese Orthodox Church]1917] in 1945-47.
When Archbishop Tikhon returned to Russia in 1906As the chaos of the Bolshevik regime settled over the Church, Fr. Theodore accompanied him he met often with his family and worked in was advised and instructed by Patriarch Tikhon on the administration future of the Warsaw-Vilna DioceseNorth American diocese. During World War I, these meetings Patr. Tikhon also expressed the desire that Fr. Theodore become a [[bishop]]. Fr. Theodore worked returned to the United States in 1922 and was soon [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] with the Famine Relief Program name of ''Theophilius''. Then, under direction of the Young Men’s Christian Association [[Holy Synod]] [[Hieromonk]] Theophilius was consecrated on the Volga River. During these years in Russia he wife died[[December 3]], 1922, as Bishop of Chicago.
As the chaos Bp. Theophilius remained in Chicago until he was transferred in 1931, to become Bishop of the Bolshevik regime settled over the ChurchSan Francisco. After Metr. Platon's death in 1934, he met often with and Bp. Theophilius was advised and instructed elected jointly by Patriarch [[Tikhon of Moscow|Tikhon]] on the future council of assembled bishops and the North American diocese. During these meetings Patr. Tikhon also expressed full Council as the desire that Fr. Theodore become a new [[bishopmetropolitan]]. Fr. Theodore returned to by the United States in 1922 and was soon Fifth [[tonsureAll-American Sobor]]d a [[monk]] with the name of Theophilius. Thenthat convened in Cleveland, Ohio, under direction of the [[Holy Synod]] [[Hieromonk]] Theophilius was consecrated on [[December 3November 20]], 1922 as Bishop of Chicago1934.
Bp. Theophilius remained in Chicago until he was transferred in 1931, to become Bishop of San Francisco. After Metr. Platon’s death in 1934, Bp. Theophilius was elected jointly by the council of assembled bishops and the full Council as the new metropolitan by the Fifth [[All-American Sobor]] that convened in Cleveland on [[November 20]], 1934.  Under Metr. Theophilius American Church continued to journey into a state of stability. Episcopal relationships improved as the threat of the ''Living Church'' subsided. Although , although new challenges arose. Attention was given to improving church education programs, including re-establishing a seminary. A metropolitan [[cathedral]], the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, in New York City, was acquired. Yet, a residue of the chaos and ''episcopal problems'' of the 1920s were to remained remain through World War II and through to Metr. Theophilius' death. He died on [[June 27]], 1950.
==Works==
Continued stability came to the Church in North America as the 1930s unfolded. Relationships with other elements of the Russian church, including the [[Patriarch]]ate of Moscow were still volatile. Metr. Theophilius provided leadership through the many twists and turns during the years he was metropolitan. He participated in a consultation convened by Patriarch [[Varnava (Rosic) of Serbia|Varnava of Serbia]] in 1936 of representatives of Russian dioceses and exiles not administered by the Patriarchate of Moscow. The agreements entered into by Metr. Theophilius at this consultation were confirmed at the All-American Sobor (Council) of 1937 including stressing again that the [[autonomy]] of the Church in America was not impaired in any way by these agreements. As the Soviet regime relaxed control over the Russian patriarchate during World War II, a reproachment was initiated that soon foundered over the political implications of the demands by the patriarchate. With the backing of the Seventh All-American Sobor of 1946, the American Church under Metr. Theophilius affirmed that the "present autonomous status and the right to self-government" was to be retained.
Continued stability came to the Church in North America as the 1930s unfolded. Relationships with other elements of the Russian church, including the Patriarchate of Moscow were still volatile. Metr. Theophilius provided leadership through the many twists and turns during the years he was Metropolitan. He participated in a consultation convened by Patriarch Varnava of Serbia in 1936 of representatives of Russian dioceses and exiles not administered by the Patriarchate of Moscow. The agreements entered into by Metr. Theophilius at this consultation were confirmed at the All-American Sobor (Council) of 1937 including stressing again that the autonomy of the Church in America was not impaired in any way by these agreements. As the Soviet regime relaxed control over the Russian patriarchate during World War II, a reproachment was initiated that soon foundered over the political implications of the demands by the patriarchate. With the backing of the Seventh All-American Sobor of 1946, the American Church under Metr. Theophilius affirmed that the “present autonomous status and the right to self-government “ was to be retained.  The political "battles" did not deter Metr. Theophilius from initiating efforts to improve the life of the American Church. Among his leadership initiatives was that of improving education at the local level, especially church schools. Also a major program was developed under Metr. Theophilius to re-establish an institution for training of clergy. Under the program, as approved by the All-American Sobor of 1937, a plan was formed for establishment of two institutions, one, [[St. Vladimir’s Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Seminary]] that would provide Orthodox priests and workers an education based upon principles of a liberal arts college education as the foundation of their theological training, and the second, [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)|St. Tikhon’s Tikhon's Pastoral School ]] that would provide [[pastoral]] training. By this move the Church began its exit from the educational desert that began with the closing of the [[St. Platon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Tenafly, New Jersey)|St. Platon's Seminary]] at Tenefly in 1924.
{{start box}}
title=Archbishop of Chicago|
years=1922-1931|
after= [[Paul (Gavrilov)of Chicago|Paul (Gavrilov)]]}}
{{succession|
before=[[Alexis (Panteleev)of Alaska|Alexis (Panteleev)]]|
title=Archbishop of San Francisco|
years=1931-19341950|
after=[[John (Shahovskoy) of San Francisco|John (Shahovskoy)]]}}
{{succession|
years=1934-1950|
after=[[Leonty (Turkevich) of New York|Leonty (Turkevich)]]}}
{{end box}}
==Sources==
Constance J. Tarasar, ''Orthodox America 1794-1976 Development of the Orthodox Church in America'' Syosett, New York, The Orthodox Church in America, 1975
[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Chicago]]
[[Category:Bishops of San Francisco]]
[[Category:Metropolitans of the OCA]]
[[Category:20th-century bishops]]
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