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Published by the Orthodox Church in America, May
2004
Final Preparations
underway for 100th Pilgrimage
to St. Tikhon
Monastery
SOUTH CANAAN,
PA [OCA Communications] -- Final preparations
are currently underway for the 100th Pilgrimage to
St. Tikhon Monastery here May 28-31, 2004, at
which His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman will
preside.
 Located
in the rolling hills of northeastern Pennsylvania,
Saint Tikhon's Monastery is North America's oldest
Orthodox monastic community.
It was on July 29, 1905 that hundreds of Orthodox
Christians anxiously gathered in Mayfield, PA to
await the arrival of Bishop -- now Saint --
Raphael of Brooklyn for the first pilgrimage.
Within hours, the faithful set out on foot for the
10-mile trek to South Canaan, where they witnessed
Bishop Raphael dedicate the newly established
monastery in honor of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk.
"It was this historic event that was to become the
annual pilgrimage to the monastery," according to
the Very Rev. John Matusiak, OCA Communications
Director. "One can only imagine the hundreds of
thousands of Orthodox faithful from across North
America who have made the pilgrimage to St.
Tikhon's an annual occasion for prayer, worship,
fellowship, and spiritual refreshment."
Pilgrims also will have an opportunity to visit
the recently constructed Metropolitan Theodosius
Museum and Bookstore nearing completion on the
monastery grounds.
Metropolitan Herman and the members of the Holy
Synod of Bishops will formally open the pilgrimage
with the celebration of Vespers and Matins in the
Monastery Church of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk on
Friday, May 28. Pilgrims will have the opportunity
to venerate the relics of SS. Tikhon and Alexis
Toth, attend the 62nd annual Academic Commencement
of St. Tikhon Seminary, and join the hierarchs at
the Divine Liturgy and other liturgical services
on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
"While few, if any, of today's pilgrims journey to
the monastery on foot, the spirit which brought
together the first pilgrims 100 years ago will
surely permeate the weekend," Father Matusiak
added. "It will also underscore the central role
St. Tikhon's Monastery has played -- and continues
to play -- in the life of the Orthodox Church in
America."
A complete schedule of the pilgrimage's services
and other events may be found below.
Friday, May 28
4pm - Formal Opening of the Pilgrimage: Vespers
and Matins, Monastery Church
6pm - Procession around the Monastery Church and
Akathist to St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, followed by the
veneration of his relics.
Saturday, May 29
9am - Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
2pm - The 62nd Annual Academic Commencement of St.
Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary - Seminary
Auditorium
4pm - All-Night Vigil, Monastery Church
Sunday, May 30 - Great Feast of Pentecost
9am - Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, Pentecost
Vespers and Kneeling Prayers, Monastery Church
4pm - Matins, Monastery Church
Monday, May 31
7:30am - Divine Liturgy, Monastery Church
9:15am - Pilgrims' Procession to the Monastery,
Greeting of the Primate and Bishops, and vesting
of the Main Celebrant
10am - Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, Pavilion
2pm - Service of Thanksgiving to the Most-Holy
Theotokos and Anointing of the Sick, Infirm and
all Pilgrims, Monastery Bell Tower
4pm - Vespers and Matins, Monastery Church
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