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On Friday March 25th 2022, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon traveled to the Diocese of Alaska to preside at the Enthronement of His Grace Bishop Alexis, Bishop of Sitka and Alaska.
Upon his arrival to Anchorage, His Beatitude was greeted at the airport by His Grace Bishop Alexis and the clergy and faithful of the diocese.
On Saturday, March 26th, His Beatitude traveled to Palmer, AK where he visited Archangel Michael Candles Church Supply. His Beatitude then continued on to Wasilla where he visited Saint Juvenaly and His Companion Mission. Priest Timothy Kolb, acting rector welcomed His Beatitude and gave him a tour of the mission.
Later that day, His Beatitude returned to Anchorage to preside at the Vigil service at Saint Innocent Cathedral followed by dinner with the local clergy.
On Sunday, March 27th, His Beatitude presided at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and the Enthronement of His Grace Bishop Alexis. Concelebrating was also His Grace Bishop Gerasim, Bishop of Forth Worth and Auxiliary to the Diocese of the South. During the Liturgy, on behalf of His Grace Alexis, His Beatitude awarded Archpriest Stephan Heckman, Rector of Holy Transfiguration Church in Pilot Station, the right to wear the mitre.
Read His Beatitude’s sermon at the Divine Liturgy
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Tikhon welcomed all those gathered including a number of esteemed guests, and congratulated Bishop Alexis exhorting him “to always remember that he is not alone and that there is a great cloud of witnesses of Alaskan and ecumenical saints to help you. And there is the wider church in America. All of the faithful of America feel family pride and family concern for our mother diocese, and we stand ready to support you, the shepherd of Sitka and Alaska”. With those words, he presented the archpastoral staff to Bishop Alexis who ascended the cathedra to bless the gathered clergy and faithful.
A festive luncheon following in the church hall along with the presentation of many gifts to His Grace Bishop Alexis.
May God grant many years to His Grace Bishop Alexis and the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Alaska!
