Bishop of Podolsk Tikhon (Zaitsev): Here, in Russia, we have both Bethlehem and Golgotha

Tikhon (Zaitsev)
(born 1967), Archbishop of Ruza, vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, administrator of the Berlin-German diocese, member of the Inter-Council presence of the Russian Orthodox Church in the world Alexander Viktorovich Zaitsev, born April 13, 1967 in Moscow.

After graduating from high school, he entered a vocational school, which he graduated in 1985.

From June 1985 to May 1987 he served in the army.

In 1987 he entered the Moscow Theological Seminary, from which he graduated first class in 1991. In the same year he was admitted to the Moscow Theological Academy, from which he graduated in 1995, having defended a dissertation for the degree of candidate of theology in the Department of Patrology on the topic “Reverend Theodore the Studite - teacher of monasticism.”

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After completing his studies at the academy, he remained as a teacher at the Moscow Theological Seminary, where he taught liturgics, homiletics and ancient Greek.

On March 25, 1993, he was tonsured a monk with the name in honor of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia. The tonsure was performed by Archimandrite Venedict, the first vice-rector of Moscow theological schools.

On April 7, 1993, he was ordained to the rank of deacon in the Intercession Academic Church by Bishop Philaret of Dmitrov, rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary.

I passed the obedience of a senior deacon at the academy. In August 1995, he was appointed dean of the Intercession Academic Church.

On January 6, 1996, he was ordained to the rank of presbyter at the Intercession Academic Church by Bishop Eugene of Vereisky, rector of Moscow theological schools.

By the day of Holy Easter 1999 he was elevated to the rank of abbot.

Since 2002, at the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary, he was responsible for preparing candidates for holy orders, while simultaneously interrogating proteges before ordination.

Since December 24, 2004 - a member of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem, and since October 6, 2006 - its head.

On October 8, 2006, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite by Patriarch Alexy II in the Assumption Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

On March 31, 2009, he was appointed chairman of the Financial and Economic Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate with the dismissal of the head of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem. The Synod also appointed Archimandrite Tikhon (Zaitsev) to be Bishop of Podolsk, Patriarchal Vicar.

On April 9 of the same year he was appointed rector of the Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki.
On April 25, 2009, he was named bishop, and the next day, April 26, he was consecrated Bishop of Podolsk, vicar of the Moscow diocese. The ordination in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was led by Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev), he was concelebrated by Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington and New York (Orthodox Church in America), Archbishops Hilarion (Alfeev) of Volokolamsk, Seraphim (Storheim) of Ottawa and Canada (Orthodox Church in America) ), Vereisky Evgeniy (Reshetnikov), Orekhovo-Zuevsky Alexy (Frolov), Sergiev Posadsky Feognost (Guzikov), Borispolsky Anthony (Pakanich), bishops of Krasnogorsk Savva (Volkov), Dmitrovsky Alexander (Agrikov), Lyubertsy Veniamin (Zaritsky), Gatchinsky Ambrose (Ermakov), Bronnitsky Ignatius (Punin), Sourozhsky Elisey (Ganaba), Solnechnogorsk Sergius (Chashin).

Since July 27, 2009 - member of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church.

On March 22, 2011, he became a member of the newly formed Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church [1] ex officio.

Since 2011, he has been caring for parish churches in the North-Eastern Administrative District of Moscow (Trinity Deanery).

On December 31, 2011, he was appointed manager of the North-Eastern Vicariate of Moscow and included in the Diocesan Council of Moscow ex officio [2].

On July 25, 2014, he was released from the post of chairman of the Financial and Economic Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate according to the submitted petition [3]. Accordingly, he was released from membership in the Supreme Church Council.

On October 22, 2015, he was appointed administrator of the Vienna-Austrian and Budapest-Hungarian dioceses [4].

On December 28, 2021, he was appointed administrator of the Berlin-German diocese, with release from the administration of the Vienna-Austrian and Budapest-Hungarian dioceses, with the temporary retention of the title “Podolsk” [5].
On January 9, 2021, he was released from the positions of manager of the Moscow North-Eastern Vicariate [6] and rector and chairman of the parish council of the Moscow St. Nicholas Church in Khamovniki [7].

On February 1 of the same year, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' at a liturgy in the cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow [8].

From April 13, 2021, he is called Archbishop of Ruza, in connection with the formation of an independent Podolsk diocese.

Russian Orthodox Church

Born on April 13, 1967 in Moscow. He graduated from high school and vocational school in 1985-1987. served in the Armed Forces.

In 1987 he entered the Moscow Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1991. In the same year he was accepted into the Moscow Theological Academy, from which he graduated in 1995, having defended his dissertation for the degree of candidate of theology in the Department of Patrology on the topic “Reverend Theodore Studit is a teacher of monasticism.”

After completing his studies at the academy, he remained as a teacher at the MDS, where he taught liturgics, homiletics and ancient Greek.

On March 25, 1993, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, Archimandrite Venedikt (Knyazev), the first vice-rector of MDAiS, was tonsured a monk with the name Tikhon in honor of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia.

On April 7, 1993, in the Intercession Academic Church, the rector of Moscow theological schools, Bishop Philaret of Dmitrov, was ordained a deacon. I passed the obedience of a senior deacon at the academy. In August 1995, he was appointed dean of the Intercession Academic Church.

On January 6, 1996, in the Intercession Academic Church, the rector of the Moscow Academy of Arts and Sciences, Bishop Eugene of Vereisky, ordained him to the rank of presbyter.

By the day of Holy Easter 1999 he was elevated to the rank of abbot.

Since 2002, at MDAiS he was responsible for preparing candidates for holy orders, while at the same time accepting the interrogation of proteges before ordination.

On December 24, 2004, by decree of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, he was appointed a member of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem.

On October 6, 2006, by decree of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, he was appointed head of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem.

On October 8, 2006, in the Assumption Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II elevated him to the rank of archimandrite.

Since 2008 - member of the Council of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, since 2009 - honorary member of the St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of March 31, 2009 (journal No. 18), he was appointed chairman of the Financial and Economic Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate with the dismissal of the head of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem. Elected Bishop of Podolsk, Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

By decree of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, he was appointed rector of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Khamovniki, Moscow.

On April 25, 2009 he was named Bishop of Podolsk. On April 26, during the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, which was performed by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah of All America and Canada, he was consecrated Bishop of Podolsk, Vicar of the Moscow Diocese.

Since 2011, he has been caring for parish churches in the North-Eastern Administrative District of Moscow (Trinity Deanery).

Since March 22, 2011 - member of the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.

By order of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill dated December 31, 2011, he was appointed manager of the North-Eastern Vicariate within the boundaries of the North-Eastern Administrative District of Moscow and included in the Diocesan Council of Moscow ex officio.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of July 25, 2014 (journal No. 64), he was relieved of the post of chairman of the Financial and Economic Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of October 22, 2015 (journal No. 62), he was appointed administrator of the Vienna-Austrian and Hungarian dioceses.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of December 28, 2021 (journal No. 116), he was appointed administrator of the Berlin-German diocese with release from the administration of the Vienna-Austrian and Hungarian dioceses and temporary retention of the title “Podolsk”.

By order of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill dated January 9, 2021, he was released from the management of the North-Eastern Vicariate of Moscow. By decree of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of January 9, he was relieved of his post as rector of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Khamovniki, Moscow.

On February 1, 2021, during the Liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill elevated him to the rank of archbishop.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of April 13, 2021 (journal No. 4), it was determined to be called Archbishop of Ruza.

Excerpt characterizing Tikhon (Zaitsev)

After everything that Napoleon told him, after these outbursts of anger and after the last dryly spoken words: “Je ne vous retiens plus, general, vous recevrez ma lettre,” Balashev was sure that Napoleon not only would not want to see him, but will try not to see him - the offended ambassador and, most importantly, a witness to his obscene fervor. But, to his surprise, Balashev, through Duroc, received an invitation to the emperor’s table that day. Bessieres, Caulaincourt and Berthier were at dinner. Napoleon met Balashev with a cheerful and affectionate look. Not only did he not show any expression of shyness or self-reproach for the morning outburst, but, on the contrary, he tried to encourage Balashev. It was clear that for a long time now the possibility of mistakes did not exist for Napoleon in his belief and that in his concept everything that he did was good, not because it coincided with the idea of ​​​​what is good and bad, but because he did This. The Emperor was very cheerful after his horseback ride through Vilna, in which crowds of people enthusiastically greeted and saw him off. In all the windows of the streets along which he passed, his carpets, banners, and monograms were displayed, and the Polish ladies, welcoming him, waved their scarves at him. At dinner, having seated Balashev next to him, he treated him not only kindly, but treated him as if he considered Balashev among his courtiers, among those people who sympathized with his plans and should have rejoiced at his successes. Among other things, he started talking about Moscow and began asking Balashev about the Russian capital, not only as an inquisitive traveler asks about a new place that he intends to visit, but as if with the conviction that Balashev, as a Russian, should be flattered by this curiosity. – How many residents are there in Moscow, how many houses? Is it true that Moscow is called Moscou la sainte? [saint?] How many churches are there in Moscow? - he asked. And in response to the answer that there are more than two hundred churches, he said: “Why such an abyss of churches?” “Russians are very pious,” answered Balashev. “However, a large number of monasteries and churches is always a sign of the backwardness of the people,” said Napoleon, looking back at Caulaincourt to evaluate this judgment. Balashev respectfully allowed himself to disagree with the opinion of the French emperor. “Every country has its own customs,” he said. “But nowhere in Europe is there anything like this,” said Napoleon. “I apologize to your Majesty,” said Balashev, “besides Russia, there is also Spain, where there are also many churches and monasteries.” This answer from Balashev, which hinted at the recent defeat of the French in Spain, was highly appreciated later, according to Balashev’s stories, at the court of Emperor Alexander and was appreciated very little now, at Napoleon’s dinner, and passed unnoticed. It was clear from the indifferent and perplexed faces of the gentlemen marshals that they were perplexed as to what the joke was, which Balashev’s intonation hinted at. “If there was one, then we did not understand her or she is not at all witty,” said the expressions on the faces of the marshals. This answer was so little appreciated that Napoleon did not even notice it and naively asked Balashev about which cities there is a direct road to Moscow from here. Balashev, who was on the alert all the time during dinner, replied that comme tout chemin mene a Rome, tout chemin mene a Moscow, [just as every road, according to the proverb, leads to Rome, so all roads lead to Moscow,] that there are many roads, and that among these different paths there is the road to Poltava, which Charles XII chose, said Balashev, involuntarily flushing with pleasure at the success of this answer. Before Balashev had time to finish the last words: “Poltawa,” Caulaincourt began talking about the inconveniences of the road from St. Petersburg to Moscow and about his St. Petersburg memories. After lunch we went to drink coffee in Napoleon’s office, which four days ago had been the office of Emperor Alexander. Napoleon sat down, touching the coffee in a Sevres cup, and pointed to Balashev’s chair. There is a certain after-dinner mood in a person that, stronger than any reasonable reason, makes a person be pleased with himself and consider everyone his friends. Napoleon was in this position. It seemed to him that he was surrounded by people who adored him. He was convinced that Balashev, after his dinner, was his friend and admirer. Napoleon turned to him with a pleasant and slightly mocking smile. – This is the same room, as I was told, in which Emperor Alexander lived. Strange, isn't it, General? - he said, obviously without doubting that this address could not but be pleasant to his interlocutor, since it proved the superiority of him, Napoleon, over Alexander. Balashev could not answer this and silently bowed his head. “Yes, in this room, four days ago, Wintzingerode and Stein conferred,” Napoleon continued with the same mocking, confident smile. “What I cannot understand,” he said, “is that Emperor Alexander brought all my personal enemies closer to himself.” I do not understand this. Didn't he think that I could do the same? - he asked Balashev with a question, and, obviously, this memory pushed him again into that trace of morning anger that was still fresh in him. “And let him know that I will do it,” said Napoleon, standing up and pushing his cup away with his hand. - I will expel all his relatives from Germany, Wirtemberg, Baden, Weimar... yes, I will expel them. Let him prepare refuge for them in Russia! Balashev bowed his head, showing with his appearance that he would like to take his leave and is listening only because he cannot help but listen to what is being said to him. Napoleon did not notice this expression; he addressed Balashev not as an ambassador of his enemy, but as a man who was now completely devoted to him and should rejoice at the humiliation of his former master. – And why did Emperor Alexander take command of the troops? What is this for? War is my craft, and his business is to reign, not to command troops. Why did he take on such responsibility? Napoleon again took the snuff-box, silently walked around the room several times and suddenly suddenly approached Balashev and with a slight smile, so confidently, quickly, simply, as if he were doing something not only important, but also pleasant for Balashev, he raised his hand to the face of the forty-year-old Russian general and, taking him by the ear, tugged him slightly, smiling with only his lips. – Avoir l'oreille tiree par l'Empereur [Being torn out by the ear by the emperor] was considered the greatest honor and favor at the French court. – Eh bien, vous ne dites rien, admirateur et courtisan de l'Empereur Alexandre? [Well, why don’t you say anything, admirer and courtier of Emperor Alexander?] - he said, as if it was funny to be in his presence anyone’s courtisan and admirateur [courtier and admirer] other than him, Napoleon. – Are the horses ready for the general? – he added, slightly bowing his head in response to Balashev’s bow. - Give him mine, he has a long way to go... The letter brought by Balashev was Napoleon’s last letter to Alexander. All the details of the conversation were conveyed to the Russian emperor, and the war began. After his meeting in Moscow with Pierre, Prince Andrey left for St. Petersburg on business, as he told his relatives, but, in essence, in order to meet there Prince Anatoly Kuragin, whom he considered necessary to meet. Kuragin, whom he inquired about when he arrived in St. Petersburg, was no longer there. Pierre let his brother-in-law know that Prince Andrei was coming to pick him up. Anatol Kuragin immediately received an appointment from the Minister of War and left for the Moldavian Army. At the same time, in St. Petersburg, Prince Andrei met Kutuzov, his former general, always disposed towards him, and Kutuzov invited him to go with him to the Moldavian Army, where the old general was appointed commander-in-chief. Prince Andrei, having received the appointment to be at the headquarters of the main apartment, left for Turkey. Prince Andrei considered it inconvenient to write to Kuragin and summon him. Without giving a new reason for the duel, Prince Andrei considered the challenge on his part to be compromising Countess Rostov, and therefore he sought a personal meeting with Kuragin, in which he intended to find a new reason for the duel. But in the Turkish army he also failed to meet Kuragin, who soon after the arrival of Prince Andrei in the Turkish army returned to Russia. In a new country and in new living conditions, life became easier for Prince Andrei. After the betrayal of his bride, which struck him the more diligently the more diligently he hid the effect it had on him from everyone, the living conditions in which he was happy were difficult for him, and even more difficult were the freedom and independence that he had so valued before. Not only did he not think those previous thoughts that first came to him while looking at the sky on the Field of Austerlitz, which he loved to develop with Pierre and which filled his solitude in Bogucharovo, and then in Switzerland and Rome; but he was even afraid to remember these thoughts, which revealed endless and bright horizons. He was now interested only in the most immediate, practical interests, unrelated to his previous ones, which he grabbed with the greater greed, the more closed from him the previous ones were. It was as if that endless receding vault of the sky, which had previously stood above him, suddenly turned into a low, definite, oppressive vault, in which everything was clear, but there was nothing eternal and mysterious.