His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon has awarded St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVOTS) Alumnus Very Rev. Michael Koblosh (’68) the miter in recognition of his decades of service to the Orthodox Church. Father Michael was elevated to the dignity of mitered archpriest during the Divine Liturgy Sunday, January 5, 2020 at the mission parish of All Saints of North America, Alexandria, VA.
Father Michael and his wife, Matushka Nadia, serve at All Saints and were integral to the beginning of the mission in 2008. They have also served in a number of other parishes including Holy Trinity in East Meadow, NY; Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Terryville, CT; Holy Ghost Church in Bridgeport, CT; Christ the Savior Mission in Southbury, CT; and St. Nicholas Church in Whitestone, NY. During his time in Connecticut, Fr. Michael was dean of the Connecticut Deanery.
“Together with your wife, Matushka Nadia, you have taken the talent that was nurtured in your heart, harnessed the wisdom that you and her, together with your children, have accumulated over your many years of service, and brought it to visible fruition in your work as missionary priest here in Alexandria,” said His Beatitude during the awarding of the miter. “Here, there have been many trials and difficulties as you strive to find a permanent place of worship for this community, and it is your wisdom as a pastor, your insight as a confessor, and your calm and peaceful demeanor that have, with God’s grace, brought this community to its present place of stability.”
Father Michael graduated from St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in 1964 before pursuing a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from St. Vladimir’s Seminary. He taught at St. Tikhon's in liturgical theology for many years during the 1970s.
Also serving at the Divine Liturgy at All Saints January 5 was another SVOTS alumnus, Mitered Archpriest Michael Westerberg (’75), who was celebrating his 45th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood.
Axios, and may God grant many years to Archpriest Michael and Matushka Nadia Koblosh and Archpriest Michael and Matushka Lydia Westerberg!
(*Much of the information and the photos for this article were provided by the Office of the Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America.)
