Metropolitan Tikhon, Bishop Alexander and the OCA delegation drove yesterday to Sergiev Posad—about two hours from Moscow—to visit the Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra (founded by Saint Sergius of Radonezh), the Moscow Theological Academy and the ecclesiastical goods factory nearby at Sofrino.
We were met at the gates of the 15th century monastery—with bells ringing—by Archbishop Evgeny, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, and Archimandrite Alipy of the Lavra (representing Bishop Theognost, the abbot, who was away), and a large group of monks who sang us rapidly through the monastery from one chapel to the next, venerating relics as we went, beginning with Saint Sergius and ending with Saint Innocent of Moscow and Apostle to America.
