{{orthodoxyinjapan}}[[Image:Bp_Seraphim_Sigrist2.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Bishop Seraphim (Sigrist)]]His Grace, the Right Reverend Bishop '''Seraphim (Sigrist) of Sendai''' is a retired [[bishop]] of the [[Church of Japan]]. He was born in Nyack, New York. He attended [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary]] in Crestwood, New York, graduating in 1967. After graduation he traveled to Japan to teach English within the Japanese Church, establishing his residence in September 1967. He was ordained [[deacon]] then [[priest]] and later took [[monasticism|monastic]] vows before Archbishop Vladimir on [[October 18]], 1969, receiving the monastic name of Seraphim. The following Sunday he was elevated to the rank of [[archimandrite]]. Subsequently, on [[December 18]], 1971 he was consecrated Bishop of Sendai, a city in northern Japan on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.

Although retired==Biography==Joseph Sigrist was born on [[December 13]], 1941, Bishop Seraphim maintains in Nyack, New York, and grew up a Presbyterian in Pleasantville, New York. Joseph was educated at Nyack College and, on completing his degree, was received into the Orthodox Church. Subsequently, he studied at [http://www[St.livejournalVladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St.com/~seraphimsigrist/ very active online journalVladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary]].

After he graduated in 1967, Joseph left New York for Japan in September of that year, where he was employed within the [[Church of Japan]] as an English-language teacher, and as a deacon at the Toyohashi parish. He was then [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] by [[Archbishop]] [[Vladimir (Nagosky) of Japan|Vladimir]] on [[October 18]], 1969, taking the name of Seraphim, [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[priest]]hood and, a week later, elevated to [[archimandrite]]. He became the [[parish]] priest in Nakanida. In Tokyo, on [[December 19]], 1971, he was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Bishop of Sendai and East Japan. Sendai is a city in northern Japan on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Bishop Seraphim served in this capacity for 19 years, returning to the United States in 1987. In the United States, he taught in the graduate department of religion at Drew University, wrote three books, and visited Russia frequently in support of mission, especially to youth in Russia. He also assisted the ministry of the Hosanna Community in Russia (part of Fr [[Alexander Men]]'s legacy). He maintains a [http://www.livejournal.com/~seraphimsigrist/ very active online journal]. In 2009, twenty-two years after his return to the United States, Bishop Seraphim was added to the list of retired bishops of the Orthodox Church in America.[http://www.oca.org/HSindex.html?SID=7] ==Books== *''Milky Way Railroad'' Translation from Japanese with D. M. Stroud (1996, Stone Bridge Press)*''Theology of Wonder'' (1999, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press)*''The Rainbow Sermon'' (2001, Light & Life Publishing)*''A Life Together: Wisdom of Community from the Christian East'' (2011, Paraclete Press). The author discusses his most recent book in an interview here: [http://easternchristianbooks.blogspot.com/2011/06/authorial-interview-bp-seraphim-sigrist.html] ==External links==*[http://www.livejournal.com/~seraphimsigrist/ Bishop Seraphim's Blog]*[http://praiseofglory.com/seraphimwonder.htm A Book Review of ''A Theology of Wonder''] {{stubstart box}}{{succession|before=—|title=[[Church of Japan|Bishop of Sendai and East Japan]]|years=1971-1987|after=[[Seraphim (Tsujie) of Sendai|Seraphim (Tsujie)]]}}{{end box}}