Faith in Action: The 13th Anniversary of Met. Tikhon's Primacy
On the 13th anniversary of his election, Met. Tikhon is celebrated for restoring trust after scandal, championing Ukraine’s canonical Church, canonizing St. Olga, recognizing Macedonian autocephaly, and leading Orthodox civic witness through March for Life and a landmark confessional seal victory.
NOVEMBER 13, 2025 — Today marks the 13th anniversary of Met. Tikhon’s election as primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). His Beatitude was called by the Holy Synod of the OCA at the 17th All-American Council in Parma, OH.
Met. Tikhon began his primacy during a period of institutional uncertainty. Confidence in Church leadership remained low following the financial scandal that rocked the OCA beginning in 2005. Met. Tikhon has developed a reputation as a quiet and capable leader—a peacemaker, though one who isn’t afraid to take decisive action when necessary.
He has emerged as a strong supporter of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). Last year, he led a delegation from the OCA to Ukraine, in order to “show support and solidarity to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy, the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the entire people of Ukraine,” as an OCA press release put it.
On the way back to the U.S. from Ukraine, Met. Tikhon and his delegation visited the Phanar and met with His All-Holiness Pat. Bartholomew of Constantiniople. This demonstrated Met. Tikhon’s ability to stand on conviction while maintaining peace with his fellow bishops.
In June, Met. Tikhon presided at the canonization of St. Olga of Alaska: the first female saint in the history of the American Church.
This past July, in response to a request from His Holiness Pat. Porfirije of Serbia, the OCA recognized the autocephaly of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. This was the first time the OCA was asked to acknowledge the autocephaly of another Orthodox church, reflecting the OCA’s increased standing in global Orthodoxy as well as Met. Tikhon’s standing among his fellow primates.
In the past, many have accused the Orthodox of falling behind our Protestant and Catholic neighbors in terms of civic engagement. During his primacy, Met. Tikhon has worked to correct that imbalance.
Met. Tikhon has attended every March for Life since 2013, often the only Orthodox primate present. He has been joined by growing contingents of OCA priests, seminarians, and youth. Also, in October, the OCA won a major lawsuit in Washington State defending a priest’s right not to violate the Seal of the Confessional.
On this 13th anniversary, we wish Met. Tikhon “Many Years!” May he continue to lead the OCA with courage and grace.
