St. Tikhon’s Monastery announces Memorial Day Pilgrimage Schedule

SOUTH CANAAN, PA [OCA] – April 2016

The community of Saint Tikhon’sMonastery and Seminary extends a cordial invitation to all faithful to attend the 112th Annual Pilgrimage May 27-30, 2016—Memorial Day weekend.

“It is always a joy to welcome hierarchs, clergy and faithful from the Orthodox Church in America, other Orthodox jurisdictions and guests from near and far,” said Archimandrite Sergius, Abbot of Saint Tikhon’s Monastery.

The Pilgrimage will officially open on Friday, May 27 at 3:30 p.m. with the greeting of the Hawaiian Myrrh Streaming Icon of the Iveron Mother of God 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.  All pilgrims are invited to dinner in the monastery dining hall following Monday’s services.

The 74th annual Commencement of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary will be held on Saturday, May 28.  The day will open with the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Monastery Church at 9:00 a.m., followed by a meal in the dining hall.  Commencement Exercises will begin at 1:00 p.m.  The Resurrection Vigil will be celebrated at 4:00 p.m., followed by dinner in the dining hall.

The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 29, followed by a meal in the dining hall.  Vespers and Matins will be celebrated at 4:00 p.m.

On Memorial Day, May 30, the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the Monastery Church at 7:30 a.m.  The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., followed by a Panikhida for Veterans at All Saints Bell Tower at 12:15 p.m.  The Akathistos Hymn to Saint Alexis will be celebrated in the Monastery Church at 1:30 p.m., while the Molieben to the Most Holy Theotokos with the Anointing of the Sick, Infirm and All Pilgrims will be celebrated at the Monastery Bell Tower at 2:30 p.m.  The Pilgrimage will close with the celebration of Vespers and Matins at 4:00 p.m.

A highlight of this year’s Pilgrimage will be the historical exhibition, “Russian America: The Alaskan Native Spiritual Legacy,” which pilgrims are invited to view at the Monastery Museum.  Organized in conjunction with the 45th Anniversary of the Glorification of Saint Herman of Alaska and offering a glimpse into Orthodox Christianity’s spiritual legacy in Alaska, the exceptional exhibition opened on January 22, 2016 at Villanova University, where it runs through May 16.  [See related story.]

Concurrent with the Pilgrimage, the Patriarch Tikhon Russian-American Music Institute [PaTRAM] will hold its First Annual Memorial Day Young Singers’ Conference at the Monastery.  PaTRAM recently released the first recording by its Patriarch Tikhon Choir, titled “Praise the Lord, All Ye Nations.”  Under the direction of Maestro Vladimir Gorbik, the 30-voice mixed choir includes vocalists and choral musicians from the US, Canada and Russia.  Conference participants will sing the liturgical responses during the Pilgrimage.  Detailed Conference information may be accessed on PaTRAM’s web site.

Additional Pilgrimage information, including lodging recommendations, is available on the Monastery’s web site.

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