At the invitation of His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, presided at the celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the Vatra Românească, the administrative headquarters and episcopal residence of the Orthodox Church in America’s Romanian Episcopate in Grass Lake, MI September 6-8, 2018.
The celebration coincided with the Episcopate’s 86th annual Church Congress and the patronal feast of the Vatra’s chapel, which is dedicated to the Nativity of the Mother of God.
Other hierarchs in attendance included His Eminence, Archbishop Michael and His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin.
Metropolitan Tikhon presided at the celebration of festal Vespers and the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, during which he delivered a stirring sermon. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, he presented Archbishop Nathaniel with the Order of Saint Innocent, Gold Class, on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of his ordination.
Services also were held in honor of the Hawaiian Myrrh Streaming Icon of the Iveron Mother of God, which was present throughout the celebration, and for the repose of the Episcopate’s hierarchs, clergy and faithful.
A detailed account, including the text of Metropolitan Tikhon’s festal homily, is available online.
Photo Credit: Subdeacon Roman Ostash
