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2013 Memorial Day Pilgrimage - 05/27/13

Each year the St. Tikhon’s Monastery and Seminary Community opens its arms in dramatic fashion to the greater Orthodox and non-orthodox community. This is a labor of love, the preparation for which is several weeks long and involves every person associated with the Monastery and the Seminary as well as many friends and families, volunteers from neighboring parishes, and long-time supporters.

This labor of love is, in many ways, an iconic representation of our relationship with the world and an articulation of our place it that world. Each year we open up our lives to everyone who wishes to come and take part in the pilgrimage and each year we are surprised by the response.

This year, thousands of Pilgrims turned out to spend Memorial Day with the St. Tikhon’s Community. This was the 109th Memorial Day Pilgrimage and was particularly special this year because it was also the year that St. Tikhon's Seminary is celebrating the 75th Anniversary of its founding.

The Pilgrims took part a great number of Divine Services, including a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the All Saints of America Bell Tower Chapel, during which Seminarian Moses McPherson was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin. After the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon presented a Grammata to the Archpriest John Perich for his extraordinary service for many years to God’s Holy Church.

Pilgrims were also able to participate in memorials for the departed and Holy Unction for the healing of soul and body. They enjoyed a wide variety of food from vendors stationed around the Monastery grounds. They beheld and venerated relics, ancient icons, and priceless treasure of the Church at the St. Tikhon's Metropolitan Museum. They immersed themselves in the rich history of the Seminary through the 75th Anniversary Tikhonaire, which chronicles the entire history of the Seminary and Monastery and includes photos of each graduate, faculty, and staff member who has ever attended or worked at St. Tikhon's.

The Memorial Day Pilgrimage is an opportunity to reunite with friends and loved ones as they come here and for all of us to pray together, one for another - to share stories with one another, to teach one another, and to remember together.

Thank you for allowing us to share our lives with you.

Thank you for sharing each of your lives with us, and God willing we hope to see you again next year.

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Hospitality Ala Russe 2013 - 05/26/13

On Sunday, May 26, 2013, in a true spirit of hospitality, guests mingled with family and friends, filled plates with zakushki, and feasted on traditional delicacies that left no room for dessert. For those of us who always have room for dessert, our friends from St. John’s provided an awesome selection of sweets.

Perhaps the sweetest treat of the evening came in the form of the Podoben Choral Ensemble. This remarkable chorus entertained guests with a selection of folk songs that brought both joy and tears to so many who have not heard this music for years, and who rejoice in the fact that these beautiful melodies are being preserved.

The St. John’s Children’s Dance Ensemble, in full costume, dazzled guests with an amazing performance of ethnic dances that left everyone smiling, clapping, and standing on their feet. Many Years to the children of our church!

ST. TIKHON’S CENTURY ASSOCIATION invites each of you to join us in 2014 for Hospitality ala Russe V.

The St. Tikhon’s Century Association has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to help our beloved St. Tikhon’s Seminary in its mission of providing the highest quality of theological education and spiritual formation to men who are preparing for Ordination to the Holy Priesthood. Alumni also serve the church in educational and musical positions, helping to strengthen the bonds of Orthodox fellowship throughout the world.

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Memorial Day Weekend Sunday - 05/26/13

On Sunday, May 26, 2013 the St. Tikhon’s Community celebrated a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. Tikhon’s Monastery Church . During the Liturgy Seminarian Moses Mcpherson was ordained to the Subdiaconate and Seminarian Alexis Baldwin who was ordained to the Holy Diaconate.

Serving at the Liturgy were Metropolitan Tikhon, President of the Seminary; Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco; Bishop Michael of the Diocese of New York & New Jersey, the Rector of the Seminary; Bishop Mark of Baltimore, the Administrator of the Diocese of Eastern PA; Archpriest John Jillions the Chancellor of the OCA; the Reverend Igumen Sergius, Abbot of St. Tikhon’s Monastery and Interim Dean of St. Tikhon’s Seminary; and Arch Priest John Kowalczyk, Chancellor of the Diocese of Eastern PA and Director of Field Education for St. Tikhon’s Seminary.

Serving with them were representative from St. Tikhon’s Monastery, St. Tikhon’s Seminary as well as alumni and friends from the greater Orthodox Community.

Following the Divine Liturgy, a number of the clergy, administration, faculty, and staff of St. Tikhon’s Seminary attended the St. Tikhon’s Century Association Benefit, Hospitality ala Russ which was held at St. John’s Hall at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Mayfield, PA.

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Graduation Banquet Honoring the Class of 2013 - 05/25/13

On the evening of Saturday, May 25, 2013 the St. Tikhon's Community gathered at the St. Michael's Parish Hall in Jermyn, PA for the Annual Banquet honoring this year's graduating class. Students and their families were admitted free courtesy of generous donations from both His Grace, Bishop Michael, Rector of the Seminary, and the Rev. Igumen Sergius, Abbot of St. Tikhon's Monastery and Interim Dean of the Seminary.

Attendees enjoyed a wonderful dinner prepared by the faithful of St. Michael's Parish who graciously prepared the hall and served the 100+ guests including students and their families, out of town visitors, members of the Board of Trustees, Administration, Faculty, Staff of the seminary and memebers of the St. Tikhon's Monastery Brotherhood.

After a few short words of introduction by His Grace Bishop Michael, Igumen Sergius, and Archpriest John Kowalczyk, the graduating seminarians each approached the podium to convey their feelings about their time at St. Tikhon's and impart final words of thanks and encouragement to the Seminary Community. Afterwards, a benediction was offered by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon.

The St. Tikhon's Community extends its gratitude to all who helped make this wonderful evening possible and its congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2013! May God Bless each of you as you continue your ministry in whatever capacity you are called.

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Memorial Day Weekend Saturday - 05/25/13

On Saturday, May 25, 2013 the St. Tikhon’s Community began the second day of its Annual Memorial Day Pilgrimage with Liturgy in the Monastery Church. During the Liturgy Seminarian Ignatius (Robert) Gauvain was ordained to the Holy Diaconate as well as Seminarian Alexis Baldwin who was ordained to the Sub-diaconate.

Serving at the Liturgy were Metropolitan Tikhon, President of the Seminary; Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, representative of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow; Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco; Bishop Michael of the Diocese of New York & New Jersey, the Rector of the Seminary; Bishop Mark of Baltimore, the Administrator of the Diocese of Eastern PA; Archpriest John Jillions the Chancellor of the OCA; the Reverend Igumen Sergius, Abbot of St. Tikhon’s Monastery and Interim Dean of St. Tikhon’s Seminary; and Arch Priest John Kowalczyk, Chancellor of the Diocese of Eastern PA and Director of Field Education for St. Tikhon’s Seminary.

Serving with them were representative from St. Tikhon’s Monastery, St. Tikhon’s Seminary as well as alumni and friends from the greater Orthodox Community.

After the Liturgy the hierarchs processed from the Seminary Chapel to the steps of the All-Saints of North America Bell-Tower Chapel for the graduation ceremony.

Directly following the graduation ceremony there was a banquet honoring the graduating class of 2013 at St. Michael’s Hall in East Jermyn, PA.

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2013 Commencement - 05/25/13

On Saturday, May 25th, 2013 in honor of the 75th Anniversary of St. Tikhon’s Seminary this year’s Commencement ceremony took place where it had been historically held for many years, on the monastery grounds, at the steps of the All-Saints of North America Bell-Tower Chapel.

Present at the ceremony were Metropolitan Tikhon, President of the Seminary; Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, representative of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow; Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco; Bishop Michael of New York, the Rector of the Seminary; Bishop Mark of Baltimore, the Administrator of the Diocese of Eastern PA; Archpriest John Jillions the Chancellor of the OCA;the Reverend Igumen Sergius, Abbot of St. Tikhon’s Monastery and Interim Dean of St. Tikhon’s Seminary; the seminary’s Board of Trustees, the Administration, and distinguished Faculty and Staff. Also present for the commencement ceremony by invitation was the former Rector of the Seminary and previous Metropolitan of All-America and Canada his Beatitude Herman (Swaiko) (STOTS 1963).

The Commencement speaker, Archpriest Daniel Donlick (STOTS 1965), Dean Emeritus and Trustee Emeritus, gave an inspiring address to the graduates during which he recounted highlights of his 50 years of service to the Seminary Community. Fr. Daniel explained that the past of the seminary is directly tied to its present and future in a way that is more tangible than concepts and slogans. He explained that “the past leaders and members of the community who have fallen asleep still remain with us today as a great ‘cloud of witnesses,’ supporting the community with their prayers and intercessions.”

The Seminary was pleased to acknowledge the tremendous work and achievements of Seminarian Simona Irime, the first female recipient of the Master of Divinity degree, as well as the school’s first female valedictorian. In her address, Ms. Irime urged her brothers to follow the examples of the apostles and saints of the Church who displayed Christ-like love for others by putting the salvation of the world before their own needs and desires.

The seminary was also pleased to honor the years of dedicated service of Trustee Emeritus Paul Chernay by awarding him the Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa for his continual support of the St. Tikhon’s Community and selfless dedication to the building up of the Orthodox Church.

Words were also offered by the President of the Alumni Association, Archpriest Theodore Boback (STOTS 1972). Fr. Boback encouraged the graduates to always remember their years at St. Tikhon’s and to cultivate the relationships that were began during their time at the seminary. He added that these relationships will be the ones that will help support and sustain them through difficult times in the future.

At the end of the Commencement Archbishop Justinian extended greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, and presented the seminary with a beautiful Icon of Our Lady of Kazan on behalf of His Holiness and the entire Russian Orthodox Church.

May God grant the graduating class of 2013 many years and may He guide and protect them as they leave our humble community to serve the faithful of Christ wherever He directs their lives.