Metropolitan Jonah visits New York’s St. Nicholas Cathedral

On September 18, 2011, the 14th Sunday after Pentecost, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, visited the Patriarchal Cathedral of Saint Nicholas here with the blessing of His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and on the invitation of His Eminence, Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA.  He presided at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, concelebrating with Archbishop Justinian and clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and the Orthodox Church in America.

After the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Justinian thanked Metropolitan Jonah for the joy of communion.  He also said that on the previous day, September 17, All Saints glorified in the land of Voronezh were remembered, among them Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

“It was in his honor that the future Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow and All Russia, the builder of this church, was named during his monastic tonsure,” said Archbishop Justinian.  “In the beginning of the last century, when serving in the American land, Saint Tikhon (Belavin) founded a monastery dedicated to this heavenly patron saint, Bishop Tikhon of Zadonsk.  It is not accidental that we see his icon among the holy images in the cathedral’s iconostasis created by the future Patriarch.”

Archbishop Justinian presented Metropolitan Jonah with a pectoral icon with an image of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

Metropolitan Jonah expressed gratitude to Patriarch Kirill for the blessing he gave to celebrate at the cathedral and offered thanks to Archbishop Justinian for the cordial welcome.

Photos may be viewed at www.mospat.ru.