Episcopal ordination of Nikodhim to head Boston

(OCA) - On Saturday, September 16, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and other hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America gathered at Saint George Cathedral in Boston, MA, along with clergy and faithful of the Albanian Archdiocese and across the Orthodox Church in America, for the ordination to the Holy Episcopate of Bishop-elect Nikodhim (Preston), as Bishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese. The Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America elected Archimandrite Nikodhim as Bishop-elect of Boston at their regular Spring Session on April 25, 2023.

On Friday evening, His Beatitude led the hierarchs in a Service of Thanksgiving and the Nomination and Proclamation of a Bishop. Before the service began, Priest Mark Doku, Chancellor of the Albanian Archdiocese, read the official announcement of election. Following the service, a festive banquet was held to mark the conclusion of the Albanian Archdiocese Assembly, which had been held at St. George Cathedral on Thursday and Friday.

On the morning of September 16, concelebrating the Primatial Divine Liturgy presided by Metropolitan Tikhon were His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the Diocese of the West, His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, His Eminence Archbishop Melchisedek of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, His Eminence Archbishop Irénée of Ottawa and the Archdiocese of Canada, His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest, along with numerous priests and deacons, among whom Archpriest Andrew Jarmus, Chancellor of the Bulgarian Diocese who represented His Eminence Archbishop Alexander. His Grace Bishop John of Worcester was also present on Friday night.

Before the liturgy, Bishop-elect Nikodhim offered his statement of faith, proclaiming the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, and offered a detailed explanation of the Church’s Trinitarian and Christological doctrines in the presence of Metropolitan Tikhon and the assembled hierarchs, clergy, and faithful. He pledged his commitment to uphold the Church’s canons and the teachings of the Holy Fathers and to preserve unity with his brother bishops. During the singing of the Trisagion at the Divine Liturgy, Bishop-elect Nikodhim was led to the altar by Archpriest Alexander Rentel, OCA Chancellor, and Priest Mark Doku, Albanian Archdiocese Chancellor.

In his homily, Metropolitan Tikhon emphasized our calling to do nothing but the will of God the Father as Christ did. He called on all to always be filled with God’s activity, offering ourselves and our whole life to Christ, so that we too may be little Christs. He noted that, in doing this, we will indeed find eternal joy.

After the Divine Liturgy, the hierarchs and clergy assembled on the ambo where Metropolitan Tikhon welcomed the gathered bishops and addressed the newly-ordained bishop. Metropolitan Tikhon congratulated Bishop Nikodhim on behalf of the Orthodox Church in America, and welcomed him to the Holy Synod of Bishops. He reminded His Grace that he is not alone and that he must rely on the prayers of his brother bishops and those who have gone before him. Lastly, His Beatitude urged Bishop Nikodhim to entrust himself to the most holy Theotokos. Read Metropolitan Tikhon’s full address here . Metropolitan Tikhon then presented the pastoral staff to Bishop Nikodhim who ascended his throne and blessed the clergy and faithful.