As reported earlier, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon and a delegation representing the Orthodox Church in America traveled to Moscow for services and related events marking the 70th birthday of His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. See related story, which lists the members of the OCA delegation and their itinerary.
On Friday, November 18, 2016, Metropolitan Tikhon and the delegation were welcomed by Patriarch Kirill at his residence in Moscow’s Danilov Monastery. After exchanging gifts and greetings, copies of Patriarch Kirill in His Own Words, published simultaneously in the US in English by Saint Vladimir’s Seminary Press and in Russian, were presented to His Holiness by His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion [Alfeyev] of Volokolamsk and Archpriest Chad Hatfield, CEO of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, who edited the collection. The book was released in conjunction with the Patriarch’s birthday. See related story.
Later that day, Metropolitan Tikhon and the delegation visited Moscow’s Donskoy Monastery, where they venerated the relics of Saint Tikhon of Moscow, which are enshrined in the “Great Cathedral.” It was in this monastery that Saint Tikhon fell asleep in the Lord in 1925.
Metropolitan Tikhon concelebrated the Divine Liturgy at the OCA’s Representation Church of Saint Catherine the Great Martyr on Saturday, November 19. Concelebrating with Metropolitan Tikhon were His Grace, Bishop Daniel of Santa Rosa, a member of the OCA delegation; His Grace, Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA; clergy of the OCA delegation and Saint Catherine parish; and other local clergy. In attendance at the Divine Liturgy was the Canadian Ambassador to the Russian Federation, John Kur, who spoke with Metropolitan Tikhon at the reception which followed. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, a 40-day Memorial was celebrated for the repose of the soul of Archimandrite Alexander [Pihach], the OCA’s Representative to the Moscow Patriarchate, who unexpectedly fell asleep in the Lord in October. See related story.
On Sunday, November 20, Metropolitan Tikhon concelebrated at the Divine Liturgy in Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral with Patriarch Kirill, the Primates and hierarchs representing the Sister Orthodox Churches, and numerous bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church. A gallery depicting the Liturgy and related services and events will be posted on the OCA web site in the immediate future.
