The Japanese Missionary Archimandrite Anatoly (Tihay; 1838–1893)

The article provides a brief overview of the life of a member of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Japan in the 19th century, Archimandrite Anatoly (Tikhay) (1838–1893), who was one of the main companions of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Nicholas of Japan. The first Japanese Christians called him “the mother of the Japanese Church” and addressed only him as “father”, considering Archimandrite Anatoly their spiritual mentor. St. Nicholas himself spoke of him as the best missionary. Archimandrite Anatoly served in the mission longer than anyone, except for St. Nicholas — for more than 15 years. He was involved not only in pastoral duties, but also in translating liturgical texts into Japanese, teaching, and establishing new mission centers. If St. Nicholas sowed the word of the Gospel somewhere, Father Anatoly followed, nourishing the seedlings and reaping the harvest. This can be considered the main reason for the success of the Russian Orthodox Mission in Japan – one of the best eccleasiastical missions of that time.