Archbishop Nikon is an Albanian bishop who serves as the head of the Orthodox Church in America"s Albanian Archdiocese and New England diocese.
Background
Archbishop Nikon was born in New York City on October 9, 1945, the son of the late Evans J. and Helena P. Liolin. His father had served as lay chairman and founder in 1947 of the Diocesan Theological Student Fund. Foreign many years, his mother served as choir director at the family’s home parish of Saint Nicholas, Jamaica Estates, New New York
Career
Title: Archbishop Nikon of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese, Locum tenens of the Diocese of the South
Archishop Nikon pursued his elementary and secondary studies in New York City, where he developed an abiding interest in the theatre arts, securing leading roles in several high school productions, and in the biological sciences. Tonsured to the Order of Reader by Metropolitan Theophan (Noli), Archbishop Nikon studied at Saint Vladimir"s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, New New York Iona and Concordia College, New Rochelle, New New York
And the New School for Social Research and Political Science, New York City.
She served as choir director after his ordination to the Holy Diaconate by Bishop Stephen (Lasko) on July 5, 1969, and to the Holy Priesthood the following day. During his 33-year ministry Nikon served as rector of two parishes of the OCA’s Albanian Archdiocese: Saint Nicholas Church, Southbridge, Massachusetts, and Saint Thomas Church, Farmington Hills, Michigan.
In addition to his pastoral ministry, Archbishop Nikon served as President of the Greater Detroit Council of Orthodox Churches and Chaplain for the Wayne State University Orthodox Christian Fellowship. He also administered a health and hospitalization insurance plan for area clergy.
He also appeared on numerous live television and radio programs.
Metropolitan Theodosius presided at her funeral. Prior to his consecration, Nikon spent time at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary and Monastery, South Canaan, Pennsylvania, extending his studies, where he was tonsured to monastic orders prior to his episcopal consecration. Archbishop Nikon was consecrated Bishop of Baltimore and Auxiliary to Metropolitan Theodosius on May 24 and 25, 2002, in conjunction with the annual pilgrimage to Saint Tikhon Monastery.
Nikon was nominated as Bishop of Boston at the Albanian Archdiocesan Assembly at on October 10, 2003, and the Holy Synod elected him Bishop of Boston on October 22, 2003.
He served as administrator of the Diocese of New England and was elected ruling bishop during the fall session of the Holy Synod in October 2005. He was installed with a new title as Bishop of Boston, New England and the Albanian Archdiocese by Herman at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Boston on December 16 and 17 2005.
Bishop Nikon was elevated to Archbishop on May 9, 2012.