On Tuesday, October 19, 2010, His Grace Tikhon (Stepanov), bishop of Archangelsk and Kholmogory, reposed in the Lord, at age 47.
Archbishop Tikhon (Stepanov) was born March 2, 1963, in Kostroma. His Eminence studied at the Leningrad Theological Seminary from 1984–1986, at the Leningrad Theological Academy from 1986–1990, and at St. Vladimir's Seminary from 1990–1991. On August 28, 1991, Archbishop Tikhon took monastic vows and was ordained to the Holy Diaconate and Holy Priesthood on August 29 and September 1, respectively. On June 16, 1992, Archbishop Tikhon was elevated to the rank of igumen.
His Eminence was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite on January 1, 1996, and consecrated to the Holy Episcopacy as Bishop of Arkangelsk and Kholmogory on February 4, 1996, by the late Patriarch Alexy II in Moscow's Holy Epiphany Cathedral.
The entire seminary community is praying for the soul of Archbishop Tikhon.