The Dean

There's a new dean at St. Tikhon's; Father Alexander Atty. He graduated from St. Vladimir's Seminary, another Orthodox Seminary located in New York City, over 30 years ago. Back then there were only half a dozen or so Orthodox books in English. Seriously. It is easy to forget for us younger generations but it is a reminder how young Orthodoxy still is on this continent. And how much the Church here in America has changed in the past few decades.

Father Alexander is from the Antiochian Archdiocese (an archdiocese Arab in origin, but today encompassing those of many ethnic backgrounds) He is Lebanese in ethnicity and is married to a woman of Russian heritage, Khouria Olga. Khouria jokes that when she was young no one else was named Olga except old ladies, and now she is an old lady! Father has only served in one parish in his priesthood, St. Michael's in Louisville Kentucky.

When he arrived at the parish 30 years ago there were less than 100 in attendance on a Sunday (at one point the church had had hundreds of members) and had been through 20 some priests in its already 40 year history. Today its has over 900 in Sunday attendance and built a free standing chapel (in an Anthonite style) in which the parish conducts daily services; matins in the morning and vespers at night.

So far Father Alexander has brought some welcomed order and improvement of facilities. For example, the seminary is in the process of purchasing some much needed married student housing less than a mile from campus. I think St. Tikhon's has a bright future. I look forward to seeing where the school is in three-years time.

I think I am fortunate, as is all the student body, to have a man with so much pastoral experience. It will be good to learn from someone who has labored and suffered for many years, who knows how to build a community, and Shepard souls.

If you want to check out Father Alexander's old church in Louisville go to www.stmichaelorthodoxchurch.org