Biography
of Archbishop Nikon (Rklitsky)
Archbishop Nikon
was born on December 4/16, 1892, in the town of Borki, Chernigov, in
Russia (present-day Ukraine). In the world he was known as Nicholas
Pavlovich Rklitsky, the son of Father Paul Rklitsky and Matushka
Elisabeth Korsakevich. "Father Paul was the parish priest in
Borki, as well as the local dean" (1). Vladyka recalled once that
growing up "he knew all the priests of the area, and remembered
how, when his father was alive, they all took an interest in him and
were friendly to him, but after his father’s repose, no one paid
much attention to him anymore" (2). One could say that Vladyka
lived a "normal" childhood in Borki. However, he remembered
that "when he was a boy he had a motorcycle, which in those days
was a great rarity" (3).
In regard to
Vladyka’s family name "Rklitsky," "he said it was a
Slavic root, and had been traced back to the River Rklik in what is
now the Czech Republic. Rklitsky is the adjective form of Rklik; it
meant someone from that area. It is possible that long ago, one of
Vladyka’s ancestors moved from Bohemia or Czechia to the area around
Chernigov" (4).
As a teenager,
Nicholas Pavlovich entered the Chernigov Theological Seminary,
"which was across the road from the famous Eletsky
Monastery" (5). In 1911, he graduated the Seminary, and four
years later he graduated from the University of St. Vladimir in Kiev,
receiving a law degree. That same year, he was commissioned as
assistant military Examining Magistrate. "He took courses at the
Nikolaevsky Artillery School there, and was a student at the
Alexandrovsky Military-Juridical Academy in St. Petersburg. Nicholas
also completed the missionary-theology course in Belgrade, Serbia, at
the Russian Diocesan Administration" (6). Afterwards, "he
took part in the war from 1914-1917 as an artillery officer, and in
the Civil War from 1918-1920. In 1920, he was finally evacuated from
the Crimea and lived in Belgrade until 1944" (7).
While in Yugoslavia,
he was "continuing the struggle against communism with his pen,
as the editor of the ‘Voennyy Vestnik’ (‘Military Herald’) and
then, being of legitimist-monarchist persuasion, editing the
monarchist organ ‘Tsarskiy Vestnik’ (‘Royal Herald’)"
(8). From the years 1921 to 1941, he was a journalist. "During
this time, he was also a very close co-worker of Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky)
in the church-literature sector. Nicholas wrote down and published the
works of Metropolitan Anthony, and also wrote many articles in various
publications on church administration and theological questions. He
took an active part in church life in the years of church troubles,
publicly coming forward in defense of the canonical Church position,
about which he wrote in polemical articles and in various
publications. He wrote a biography of Metropolitan Anastassy"
(9). When reflecting on his youth, Vladyka said that "there was a
period when he was a young man that he was distracted from the Church
and less active; but then he was close to Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky),
and once again became very much active in church life" (10).
The now 48-year old
Nicholas decided to devote the rest of his life to the Church, and on
October 7, 1941, in Belgrade he was tonsured into monasticism with the
name Nikon by Metropolitan Anastassy. "On the 1/14 October of
that same year he was ordained a hierodeacon, and on 21 November/4
December of that same year, a hieromonk. Attached to Holy Trinity Church in
Belgrade, he fulfilled the spiritual commission placed upon him by
Metropolitan Anastassy. In 1944, he was evacuated from Belgrade to
Germany and was in Carlsbad on the orders of Metropolitan Anastassy.
In April 1945, he joined up with the Brotherhood of Venerable Job of
Pochaev and departed with them to Switzerland. During the years 1945
and 1946, Vladyka was the personal secretary to Metropolitan Anastassy.
He carried out crucial orders for the maintenance of ties between
Metropolitan Anastassy, those seeking refuge in Germany and parishes and
dioceses in Western Europe, and North and South America in the most
critical, transitional time of the resumption of activities of the
Hierarchal Synod of the Church Abroad after the war. In May 1946, he
was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite" (11).
"In February
1942, Fr. Nikon, under orders to the Russian Corps, was appointed
chaplain of the Reserve battalion in Belgrade. At the time of the
battle for the town of Chachak in October 1944, already being igumen,
Fr. Nikon was slightly wounded, but the deacon with him was killed. On
January 1, 1945, he was appointed Senior Chaplain of the Russian
Corps" (12).
In December 1946,
he came to the United States and was appointed secretary to Archbishop
Vitaly (Maximenko) and the Diocesan Council of the North American and
Canadian Diocese. "He was also assigned to the duty of organizing
parishes" (13). On June 27, 1948, Archimandrite Nikon was
consecrated Bishop of Florida; one year later, he was elevated to the
rank of Archbishop, and made ruling archbishop of the Eastern American
Archdiocese. He would also be made the Archbishop of Washington and Florida, as well as the Vice President of the Synod of Bishops.
During his time in
the episcopate, Vladyka was very active in his diocese, as well as in
the entire Church Abroad. "On June 15/28, 1948, a conference of
bishops was held at the Diocesan Administration in the Bronx to
discuss the founding of Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY Among the list of
professors at the onset of the Seminary was
Bishop Nikon, who taught moral and pastoral theology" (14).
Vladyka also traveled extensively as part of his duty as a hierarch.
He frequently visited the Holy Land, Geneva, South America, and
Greece.
"It is
impossible to single out the individually missionary-enlightening and
charitable activity of Archbishop Nikon. As the crown of his
publishing activities appears the multivolume work compiled by him:
"Zhizneopisanie Blazhenneishago Antoniya, Mitropolita Kievskago i
Galitskago" ("Biography of Blessed Anthony, Metropolitan of
Kiev and Galicia"), dedicated to his spiritual mentor-Abba"
(15).
After the repose of
Archbishop Vitaliy (Maximenko) in 1960, Archbishop Nikon continued the
construction of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ, which was
begun by Vladyka Vitaliy.
Vladyka Nikon
reposed peacefully in his sleep on 21 August/4 September, 1976, at the
age of 84. He was at the rectory of the Holy Ascension Cathedral in
Bronx. His death was attributed to coronary artery disease. His
funeral services were held on 24 August/7 September at the Synodal
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign in Manhattan. Archbishop Nikon was
interred in the lower church of St. Vladimir Memorial Church,
alongside his predecessor, Archbishop Vitaliy. Both of these hierarchs
are visited by the faithful up to this very day, who ask for their
guidance and holy prayers.
Archbishop Nikon is
remembered as a kind and humble servant of God who dedicated himself
to our Church. On the 34th anniversary of his repose, we reflect on
his life and work, and pray that future generations will keep his
memory alive.
Memory eternal!
1.Bishop
Jerome (Shaw).
Personal Interview.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko). "Curriculum Vitae of
Archimandrite Nikon;" unsigned Synod archives.
7. Maximenko.
10. Shaw.
11. Maximenko.
12. "Nashi Vesti" obituary for Archbishop Nikon; Sept.-Oct.
1976.
13. Maximenko.
14. "Orthodox Life," Issue #3, 1998; page 8.
15. "Nashi Vesti."
