111th Annual Pilgrimage to St. Tikhon’s Monastery opens Friday – May 22

SOUTH CANAAN, PA [OCA]

The 111th Annual Pilgrimage toSaint Tikhon’s Monastery here will open officially on Friday, May 22 at 3:30 p.m. with the greeting of the Hawaiian Myrrh Streaming Icon of the Mother of God at the entrance arch and the celebration of a Molieben, followed by Vespers and Matins, in the Monastery Church of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.  The icon will be available for veneration throughout the Pilgrimage.

“We live in a world which is seeking healing, not just physical, but also emotional and spiritual,” Archpriest John Kowalczyk told reporters in a May 17 interview in the Scranton Times-Tribune.  “Being in the presence of this most holy relic penetrates the terrestrial with the celestial intercession which is given freely for those who have faith.”

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, will be the main celebrant at the Divine Liturgy on Memorial Day Monday, May 25.  Concelebrating will be His Eminence, Archbishop Melchisedek of Pittsburgh; His Eminence, Archbishop Michael of New York; His Eminence, Archbishop Mark of Philadelphia; His Grace, Bishop Thomas of Charleston, Oakland and the Mid-Atlantic (Antiochian Archdiocese); His Grace, Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk (Moscow Patriarchate).

In addition to liturgical services and opportunities for fellowship throughout the weekend, tours of the Metropolitan Museum of the Orthodox Church in America and the Guzey Icon Repository will be offered under the direction of Archpriest John Perich, curator.  The newly expanded bookstore and gift shop also will be open.

Saint Tikhon’s Monastery is the oldest Orthodox Christian monastic community in North America.

An interesting interview with Archimandrite Sergius, Abbot of Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, on the brotherhood’s preparations for the Pilgrimage may be accessed here.

In related news, Saint Tikhon’s Seminary will hold its 73rd annual commencement exercises on Saturday, May 23, at 1:00 p.m.  The day will open with the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m., with a formal commencement banquet scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Genetti Manor, Dickson City, PA.

Schedule for the 111th Annual Pilgrimage to Saint Tikhon’s Monastery

Friday, May 22
3:30 p.m.—Greeting of Official opening with Molieben to Saint Tikhon in the monastery church
4:00 p.m.—Vespers and Matins in the monastery church.  All pilgrims are invited to a dinner in the monastery dining hall following services.

Saturday, May 23
9:00 a.m.—Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.  A meal for all pilgrims will follow in the monastery dining hall.
1:00 p.m.—73rd annual Academic Commencement of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary.
4:30 p.m.—Greeting of the Hawaiian Myrrh Streaming Icon in the monastery church, Vigil.  All pilgrims are invited to a dinner in the monastery dining hall following services.
6:00 p.m.—Formal Commencement Banquet at Genetti Manor, Dickson City, PA.

Sunday, May 24
9:00 a.m.—Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.  A meal for all pilgrims will follow in the monastery dining hall.
4:00 p.m.—Vespers and Matins in the monastery church.

Monday, May 25
7:30 a.m.—Divine Liturgy in the monastery church.
10:00 a.m.—Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.
12:15 p.m.—Veterans’ Panikhida at All Saints Bell Tower.
1:30 p.m.—Akathistos Hymn in honor of Saint Alexis Toth in the monastery church.
2:30 p.m.—Molieben to the Most Holy Theotokos and Anointing of the sick, infirm and all pilgrims at the monastery bell tower.
4:00 p.m.—Vespers and Matins in the monastery church.

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