Thousands celebrate centennial of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery

Published by the Orthodox Church in America, June 3, 2005

SOUTH CANAAN, PA [OCA Communications] — Following a tradition established by Orthodox Christian faithful a century ago, thousands of clergy and lay pilgrims joined the Church’s hierarchs over Memorial Day weekend to mark the centennial of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery here May 27-30, 2005.

Faithful from as far as Mexico and Canada passed through the monastery’s landmark arch to witness the consecration of a new bishop, the dedication of a museum, and the blessing of a set of bells cast in honor of the centennial.

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, opened the centennial pilgrimage on Friday evening, May 27, with the celebration of Vespers and Matins in the monastery church. During the service, Bishop-elect Alejo was formally elected Bishop of Mexico City by the Holy Synod of Bishops.

On Saturday morning, following the Divine Liturgy during which Bishop-elect Alejo was consecrated to the episcopacy, a set of new bells was blessed in commemoration of the monastery’s centennial.

“O Lord our God... look down mercifully on the fervent supplication of us, Thine unworthy servants, and upon these bells, fashioned for the service of Thy holy Church, and to the glory of Thy magnificent and all-holy Name,” Metropolitan Herman prayed before sprinkling the bells with holy water.

“With Thy heavenly blessing and the grace of Thine all-consecrating Spirit, bless and consecrate them, and draw down upon them the power of Thy grace, that Thy faithful servants, having heard the voice of their ringing, may be strengthened in piety and faith [and] be led to the church in prayer and glorification of Thy holy Name.”

On Saturday afternoon, the 63th commencement exercises of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary were held. Metropolitan Herman, seminary president, presented degrees and diplomas to the graduates, while His Grace, Bishop Thomas of Oakland, PA of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, delivered the commencement address.

The recently completed Metropolitan Theodosius Museum was blessed and officially opened after the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, May 29. In addition to housing priceless icons, antique liturgical appointments, vestments, and other religious artifacts from around the world, the museum features numerous items bequeathed to the monastery by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Theodosius, retired OCA Primate. The building also houses the new seminary bookstore.

On Sunday evening, over 500 hierarchs, clergy, and faithful enjoyed the centennial banquet at the Genetti Convention Center, Wilkes-Barre, PA, at which the seminary graduates were honored.

Monday, May 30, opened with the celebration of an early Liturgy in the monastery church – a tradition that dates back to the first pilgrimage to Saint Tikhon’s 100 years ago.

“Another century-old tradition is the pilgrim’s procession to the monastery,” said the Very Rev. John Kowalczyk, Jermyn, PA. “Today’s pilgrims drive to the monastery. But in the spirit of those who embarked on foot from the train station to the monastery grounds 100 years ago, the pilgrims made a symbolic procession from South Canaan Corners to the monastery pavilion for the celebration of the main Divine Liturgy, at which Metropolitan Herman, members of the Holy Synod of Bishops, visiting hierarchs, and dozens of priests and deacons concelebrated.”

Nearly the entire body of faithful received the Eucharist – a genuine sign of commitment to the unity Orthodox Christians find in Christ and a visible pledge to continue the work initiated by the monastery’s founders.

Months before the pilgrimage, faithful from OCA parishes were invited to join what was to have been a 100-voice choir to sing the responses at the centennial Liturgy. Music had been distributed well in advance, and local rehearsals were organized. To the delight of everyone, the choir that led the faithful in prayer consisted of over 200 singers, rather than the anticipated 100, under the direction of the Very Rev. Sergei Glagolev. A recording of the Liturgy is slated to be released later this year. As one pilgrim enthusiastically stated after the Liturgy, “the choir was nothing less than magnificent!”

Following the Liturgy, the traditional Memorial for all faithful departed was celebrated at the grave of the late Metropolitan Leonty. The Memorial was especially moving because 2005 marks the 40th anniversary of the saintly Metropolitan’s repose. Located behind the monastery church, his grave stands to the left of the mausoleum in which Saint Alexis Toth’s relics rested until they were enshrined in the church proper.

Countless pilgrims also participated in the Service of Intercession to the Mother of God and anointing of the sick and infirm celebrated at the monastery bell tower. The celebration of Vespers and Matins marked the centennial pilgrimage’s official closing. But the faithful lingered until sunset as they offered prayers for their loved ones in the cemetery, enjoyed delicious food prepared by members of area parishes, and enjoyed fellowship with one another.

“The centennial pilgrimage was a fitting tribute to the monastery’s visionary and holy founders and an expression of intense gratitude to those – especially Metropolitan Herman, who has made the monastery his home for four of its ten decades – have built upon the founders’ vision spiritually, as well as with wood, bricks, and mortar,” said the Very Rev. John Matusiak, OCA communications director. “In an era in which statisticians claim that the average life-span of the typical American religious ‘institution’ is less than 90 years, the monastery’s ongoing growth stands as a testimony to its past and serves as the very foundation upon which its next century of witness and ministry as a center of spiritual refreshment is being built.”

The four-day celebration was organized by a specially appointed centennial commission under the direction of His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania. Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick, OCA chancellor, and the Very Rev. Daniel Donlick, retired dean of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, cochaired the commission, composed of dozens of dedicated volunteers who meticulously planned every aspect of the historic occasion.

In addition to Metropolitan Herman and Bishops Tikhon, Thomas, and Alejo, hierarchs concelebrating at the centennial Liturgy included His Eminence, Metropolitan Onufrey of Chernovtsy and Bukovina, Ukraine; His Eminence, Archbishop Kyrill of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania; His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas and the South; His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate; His Eminence, Archbishop Job of Chicago and the Midwest; His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the West; His Grace, Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada; His Grace, Bishop Nikolai of Sitka, Anchorage, and Alaska; His Grace, Bishop Nikon of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese; His Grace, Bishop Mark, former Bishop of Boston, retired; and His Grace, Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the US. Among the other guest concelebrants were Archimandrite Gerasimos [Makris], who represented His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the Very Rev. Michael Roscoe, who represented His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas of the American-Carpatho Russian Diocese.

Click here for photos of the St. Tikhon's Monastery centennial weekend.



Volume 7 Number 23 - Tuesday, June 7th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY