Orthodox in U.S. enthrone Metropolitan Tikhon

(Photo: Orthodox Church in America)Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America (center), is seen at his enthronement day at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Washington D.C. on January 27, 2013.

The Orthodox Church in America enthroned its newly elected primate, Metropolitan Tikhon, on Sunday in Washington, DC.

An installation Divine Liturgy was held Saint Nicholas Cathedral and was attended by leaders of the church, including its Holy Synod of Bishops. Guests included hierarchs and clergy representing several sister Orthodox churches, the OCA said in a statement.

His formal title is His Beatitude, the Most Blessed Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada. He was elected as the church's primate in November of last year.

Guests from other Christian denominations attended including representatives from the Armenian Orthodox Church in America, the World Council of Churches, the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, and a New Jersey congressional representative.

The Metropolitan was also presented with relics and icons by guests.

Metropolitan Tikhon, born Mar R. Mollard in Boston, MA in 1966. He has served as a senior lecturer in Old Testament at St. Tikhon's Seminary in Pennsylvania. He was awarded the Master of Divinity degree from the seminary in 1993.

He was previously the ruling hierarch of the Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania. He was elevated to the rank of Archbishop last May.

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