His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon at Holy Transfiguration Monastery’s Annual Pilgrimage
On Saturday, August 5, 2023, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon traveled to the Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration in Ellwood City, PA, for the monastery’s annual pilgrimage and to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the consecration of the monastery church which took place on September 28, 1968.
Before the Festal Vigil, Mother Christophora, the abbess of the Monastery, greeted Metropolitan Tikhon on behalf of the monastic community, welcoming him to the monastery at the original entrance to the timber-frame church. Vigil was celebrated by Archpriest Alexander Rentel, OCA Chancellor, along with numerous local and visiting clergy. After the Matins Gospel, His Beatitude anointed the clergy, sisterhood, and pilgrims, greeting them in the joy of the feast.
On Sunday, August 6, the Feast of the Transfiguration, Metropolitan Tikhon presided at the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the outdoor pavilion as is the custom for the pilgrimage. Concelebrating with His Beatitude were His Eminence Archbishop Melchisedek, Archbishop of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, Father Alexander Rentel, and local and visiting priests and deacons.
In his homily, His Beatitude spoke of the feast and of the light of Christ, encouraging all to be filled with that light and to share it so it might be seen by others and celebrated.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, fruit was blessed followed by Metropolitan Tikhon addressing the clergy, monastics, and faithful, welcoming them and offering thanks to Mother Christophora and the monastic sisterhood for their hospitality.
Before the veneration of the cross, Archbishop Melchisedek read a prayer in front of the relics of Saint Herman for the safe travel of Metropolitan Tikhon and Deacon Vitaly Permiakov who were departing for the annual Saint Herman Pilgrimage in Alaska. The sisterhood provided lunch for all pilgrims following liturgy.
Before leaving for Alaska, Metropolitan Tikhon blessed the headstone cross recently placed at the grave of His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius, former primate of the Orthodox Church in America.