Archbishop Tikhon (Sharapov) is the last administrator of the Alma Ata diocese during the period of open persecution of the Church

Abstract

The purpose of the study. The article explores the life, ministry, literary and spiritual legacy of Archbishop Tikhon (Sharapov). Methodology. The use of a systematic approach made it possible to consider them in the general system of the history of the pre-revolutionary and Soviet periods; the principle of historicism made it possible to consider them as a single process in formation and development. The results of the study. The conducted research shows that Vladyka Tikhon from his youth was a man who aspired to monastic life, had a keen interest in history and literary works. The integrity of the personality and sincere faith of the future bishop made him one of the few military priests who in 1917 were able to maintain their authority among the soldiers, and at that time Hieromonk Tikhon became perhaps the only one of them who, in parallel with the events of the October revolution, created an Orthodox brotherhood in the regiment. Father Tikhon actively opposed the introduction of the new style and the proclamation of autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Poland, and enjoyed the confidence of Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow and All Russia, who predicted his martyrdom during his episcopal ordination. The possibilities of Vladyka Tikhon's pastoral ministry in Belarus and Kazakhstan were limited by historical conditions, based on them, he did everything in his power, becoming the last administrator of the Alma Ata diocese during the period of open persecution of the Church.