New Russian Orthodox archbishop looks to past, lives in present

New Russian Orthodox archbishop looks to past, lives in present - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

New Russian Orthodox archbishop looks to past, lives in present

Not exactly from the cyber generation himself, the new 67-year-old Orthodox hierarch of the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania opened a Facebook page a year ago.

"It's communication. It's about meeting up with friends and staying in touch with other people," said Archbishop Melchisedek, whose Facebook page says he is a fan of fantasy writer J.R.R. Tolkein, St., Michael the Archangel and the music of J.S. Bach and Sergei Rachmaninoff.

The region's first new Russian Orthodox archbishop in three decades was consecrated Saturday in an ancient and elaborate three-hour service at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in McCandless that was filled with chants, music and the heavy scent of incense.

He replaces Archbishop Kyrill, who passed away in 2007. He will oversee some 42 parishes in an area that includes the western half of Pennsylvania along with sections of West Virginia and southern Ohio.

"Each parish has a feast — almost one every week. I'll be in the car a lot," said the archbishop, who will live in Cranberry.

He was selected after a two-year search by a committee that looked at 28 candidates, four of whom visited Pittsburgh for interviews, said Greg Nescott, a member of the church's diocesan council for most of the past 30 years. Nescott helped run the committee that selected Archbishop Melchisedek.

"It is a time of great joy and great hope for this area, He has a fascinating background. He has done everything from being a parish priest to being in a monastery," Nescott said.

Archbishop Melchisedek was born Thomas Pleska in Dayton, Ohio, the son of immigrants from Russia and Ukraine, Archbishop Melchisedek studied music and philosophy as an undergraduate before working in a brokerage firm in Boston and also at his parents' real estate business.

He entered seminary when nearly 40 and was ordained in 1985. "I wanted to teach at the college level, and a priest prompted me to enter seminary," he said.

After graduation, Archbishop Melchisedek taught at St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, Wayne County. He also served as interim priest at several parishes in Pennsylvania and New York State during that time.

"As a parish priest, you see everything from divorce and alcoholism to death. Then there's the joy of the job. People grow up and they get married and have kids," he said.

Upon leaving teaching, Archbishop Melchisedek was rector at a Connecticut church for nine years. In the decade after, he served at two monasteries in Greece.

"The church has a belief system that came about and has been refined over 2,000 years. You have to look to the past to see where you came from and for guidance. But you must understand that you are living right now," he said.

Saturday's ceremony was presided over by Metropolitan Jonah, the head bishop of the Orthodox Church in America, who urged church members to work with their new spiritual leader.

"The work of a bishop can only be achieved in synergy with his people. A bishop himself is just a guy," Metropolitan Jonah said.

Yesterday's consecration was an inspiration to some current St. Tikhon's seminarians.

Joseph Lucas, who grew up in Monroeville, converted to the Orthodox faith at age 24 and hopes to return to Pittsburgh to work as a priest.

"It's quite a day. I happy to seen this," he said.

"The work of a bishop can only be achieved in synergy with his people. A bishop himself is just a guy," Metropolitan Jonah said.

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You gotta love Metropolitan JONAH!!!

It was such a joy yesterday to be able to proclaim: AXIOS! AXIOS! AXIOS!

Macarius said:

AXIOS!

I am SO SO SO happy this whole situation worked out for your diocese, Michael. MANY YEARS to your new hierarch!

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It is great to have a bishop back in Pittsburgh!

Wait 'till Vladyka sees the gift which I wrote for him!

The reporter who wrote the article totally messed up in calling Bishop Melchizedek "Russian Orthodox."

MariaRegina said:

In one of your pictures of the consecration, Michael, the newly consecrated Archbishop had a resigned look on his face that seemed to be praying: Thy Will be done.

Did he give a sermon, and if so, did anyone record or transcribe it?

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The sermon was given by Metropolitan JONAH. The talk that Bishop MELCHIZEDEK gave was at the luncheon afterwards. It was a very positive and uplifting talk.

News and Events - The Orthodox Church in America

News and Events - The Orthodox Church in America

Archimandrite Melchisedek [Pleska] consecrated Bishop of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania

Posted 06/30

PITTSBURGH, PA [OCA Communications] -- On Saturday, June 27, 2009, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah and the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America consecrated Archimandrite Melchisedek [Pleska] Bishop of Pittsburgh and the Diocese of Western Pennsylvania at Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Allison Park, PA.

The Consecration was preceded on Friday evening, June 26, with the Rite of Nomination and Proclamation, also held at the cathedral.

His Grace, Bishop Melchisedek was born Thomas Alexander Pleska in Dayton OH, on August 20, 1942. His father, Alexander Peter Pleska, was born near Brest-Litovsk, Belarus, and immigrated with his parents to the US in 1925. His mother Johanna [Eugenia Stachuk] Pleska was born in Cleveland, OH, of Ukrainian immigrant parents, and baptized in Saint Theodosius Cathedral.

At the time of his birth and childhood, there there was no Orthodox parish in Dayton. He and his sister received their Christian formation in local Protestant parishes, but were taken to the "Russian" Church in Cleveland for important holy days and other visits. It was as an adult that Father Melchisedek describes himself as becoming a member in the Orthodox Church at Christ the Saviour Church, Cincinnati, OH, under the pastorship of Father Daniel Rentel.

After graduating from high school, he first attended the University of Michigan School of Music and then Miami University, Oxford, OH, where he completed a BA with a major in philosophy. At the time, he had aspirations to pursue doctoral studies and enter the teaching field. Instead, he he entered the business world, first at a stock brokerage and later in real estate.

In the early 1980s, he enrolled at Saint Vladimir's Seminary, from which he received the Master of Divinity degree. Under the deanship of Protopresbyter John Meyendorff, he was encouraged to consider ordination. Through several encounters with monastic spiritual fathers, including Elder Dionysios of the Simono-Petras Monastery on Mount Athos and Archimandrite Dimitry [Egouroff], a monk of Old Valaam, he accepted the call to monasticism after ordination.

He was ordained to the diaconate on November 21, 1985, on the Great Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple, by His Grace, Bishop Job. On March 25, 1986, on the Great Feast of the Annunciation, he was ordained to the priesthood by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Theodosius.

In the fall of 1986, he accepted the position of Instructor of Dogmatic Theology at Saint Tikhon's Seminary. In addition to teaching, he served as chaplain at Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery, Otego NY, and as interim pastor of Holy Trinity Church, Pottstown, PA; Saint Michael Church, Old Forge, PA; and Saint Basil Church, Simpson, PA. It was also at this time that he made acquaintance with the Elder Sophrony and his monastery in Essex, England.

From 1989 to 1998, he served as rector of Saints Peter and Paul Church, Meriden, CT.

In 1998, he traveled to Greece, where he served at the Monastery of the Holy Cross, an international women's community in Thebes. In 2003, he was transferred to serve as chaplain at the women's monastery of Saint George the Great Martyr and to serve his own brotherhood at the Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Petras.

In 2004, he was tonsured to the Great Schema, taking the name Melchisedek, and elevated to the rank of Archimandrite.

On April 2, 2009, Archimandrite Melchisedek was elected Bishop of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America.

He returned to the US during Great Lent 2009, where he celebrated Holy Week and Pascha in parishes of the Diocese of Western Pennsylvania, began to familiarize himself with the diocese's parishes and institutions, and took on administrative duties in the diocese.

I posted that blurb from OCA.org on both threads on the bishop.