Biography of His Grace Bishop Michael of Boston

Timothy James Crowley, son of Charles and Margarita Crowley, was born on April 19, 1949. He was raised in the Roman Catholic Church.

In 1963, he graduated from St Michael's Catholic School. In 1967, he graduated from Stonington High School in Stonington, CT. In 1971, he graduated from Boston University, Massachusetts, with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature.

In March 1973, he joined the MANS Order (Mysterion, Agape, Nous, Sophia), a non-denominational Christian community. In September 1977, he was ordained as a priest in this group. In April 1979, he married Nancy Nixon. In 1980, he was transferred to Indianapolis, IN, to serve as the Regional Director of the Midwest.

In 1988 – he was baptized by Abbot Herman (Podmoshchensky), who at that time had been suspended from priestly service by Archbishop Anthony (Medvedev), the successor of St John (Maximovich) in the Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. In the same year – he was ordained by a certain Greek Old Calendar “Metropolitan Pancratius” in New York and sent to a small mission in South Portland, ME.

In May 1994, he graduated from Bangor Theological Seminary, receiving a Master of Theological Studies degree.

About his transition to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Archpriest Mchael writes:

“As I reached the end of my degree program, I became completely uneasy with our leadership. During Bright Week of 1994 I expressed my disquiet to my friend Fr Basil Arabatzis of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese who in turn invited me to speak with the Elder Ephraim who was visiting a parish in New Jersey. He would translate for me. After listening to my story, the Elder told me to go to Bishop Hilarion of ROCOR, “He knows me, tell him I sent you.” After corresponding and meeting with the future Metropolitan, I was “regularized,” ordained to the priesthood on September 22, 1994 (New Calendar) at the ROCOR Synod. I continued serving at our small mission in South Portland until I was called to be the pastor of St Xenia Orthodox Church in Methuen, MA, in September, 2002. My Matushka, well loved and respected by all who knew her, passed away after forty-two years of marriage on March 5, 2021 (NS). I am now in my twenty-third year in the parish. All of my daughters are married to Orthodox husbands. I have eighteen grandchildren.

Since coming to the ROCOR I have volunteered many Summers at St Seraphim Camp, and at various S. Herman Youth Conferences, hosting the conference at St Xenia’s in 2009. My now adult daughters and I have a continuing commitment to Orthodox youth.”

On December 11, 2025, he was elected Bishop of Boston, Vicar of the East American Diocese. On Friday, February 6, on the day of the commemoration of Blessed Xenia of Petersburg, he was tonsured a monk with the name Michael, in honor of St Michael, the first Metropolitan of Kiev. On Sunday, February 8, on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son and the day of the commemoration of the Assembly of New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church, he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite.

On Sunday, February 15, on the Sunday of Meat-fare and the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, his consecration was performed as Bishop of Boston, vicar of the East American Diocese.