Bishop Tikhon Travels to France - 06/03/09
From May 26th to June 3rd, His Grace, Bishop Tikhon travelled to France for a week-long visit to his family. He visited his relatives in Les Contamines-Montjoie (his father’s birthplace in the French Alps), in Lyon (home of St Irenaeus and several early Church martyrs such as St Blandine) and in Paris.
While in Paris, His Grace attended the Divine Liturgy at the Romanian Orthodox Church of the Holy Archangels in Paris, France. His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, invited His Grace to preside with him at the celebration of the Sunday Liturgy. Following the Liturgy, Metropolitan Joseph welcomed Bishop Tikhon, who offered a few words to the vibrant congregation (about 300 people) concerning the feast (the commemoration of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council) and the Orthodox Church in America.
Until very recently, the parish of the Holy Archangels (located at 9bis Rue Jean de Beauvais) was administered by His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of the Romanian Episcopate of the OCA and it was through his efforts that Bishop Tikhon made this visit. On May 10, 2009, the parish of the Holy Archangels returned to the omophorion of Metropolitan Joseph and the Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe (Romanian Patriarchate).
The slide show below includes pictures from all three places that Bishop Tikhon visited including some pictures of his grandmother (Marie-Helene) who is 102 years old.