Effective August 1, 2012, His Eminence, Archbishop Tikhon has resigned from his position as Rector of the Orthodox Theological Seminary of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk. His Eminence has issued a pastoral letter to the Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania (available here) in which he offers his thoughts on this matter.

On April 25, 2012, His Eminence submitted a letter of resignation to His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, and to the Holy Synod of Bishops. During the Spring Session of the Holy Synod (May 7-10, 2012), Metropolitan Jonah, with the concurrence of all the hierarchs, accepted His Eminence’s resignation, effective August 1, 2012. At the most recent meeting of the Lesser Synod, on July 5, 2012, Metropolitan Jonah appointed His Grace, Bishop Michael, as Interim Rector of St Tikhon’s Seminary.