Faithful from across the US gathered at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, South Canaan, PA over Memorial Day weekend to participate in the 110th annual pilgrimage to America’s oldest Orthodox Christian monastic community.
The pilgrimage officially opened with the greeting of hierarchs at the monastery’s entrance archway and the celebration of Vespers and Matins in the Monastery Church of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk on Friday evening, May 23, 2014. Following the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning, Saint Tikhon’s Seminary held its 72nd annual commencement ceremony. [Additional information will be posted as it is received.]
On Sunday morning, May 25, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon and His Grace, Bishop David of Sitka and Alaska concelebrated the Divine Liturgy, during which Igumen Sergius [Bowyer], Abbot of Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, was elevated to the dignity of Archimandrite. Following the Liturgy, brothers Martin and John Paluch were presented with the Order of Saint Tikhon of Moscow in recognition of their decades of dedicated service to Saint Tikhon’s Monastery and Seminary. The Order, recently blessed by Metropolitan Tikhon, is given by the brotherhood to individuals who have especially helped the Monastery by sharing their time, talents and treasures.
On Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, Metropolitan Tikhon and Bishop David concelebrated the Divine Liturgy at the monastery bell tower chapel with His Eminence, Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the [Moscow] Patriarchal Parishes in the USA; His Grace, Bishop Mark of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania; His Grace, Bishop Michael of New York and New York and New Jersey; and numerous clergy. Also in attendance was His Grace, Bishop Sava, retired Bishop of Slavonia of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Throughout the Liturgy, the myrrhstreaming icon of the Mother of God, enshrined at Saint George Church, Taylor, PA, was available for veneration. Throughout the day other services, including a Memorial for all departed veterans, an Akathistos in honor of Saint Alexis Toth, and a Service of Thanksgiving honoring the Theotokos with the anointing of the sick, infirm and all pilgrims. Many pilgrims also visited the graves of their loved ones in the monastery cemetery.
