Holy Trinity Cathedral to Host Celebration Honoring St. Tikhon, Enlightener of America

Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco. Photo: Holy Trinity Cathedral Parish

SAN FRANCISCO — The historic Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco will host a two-day celebration on Monday, Nov. 17, and Tuesday, Nov. 18, honoring the life and missionary legacy of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and Enlightener of America.

According to a release from the Orthodox Church in America's (OCA) Diocese of the West, His Grace Bishop Vasily will preside at the festal vigil on Monday at 6 p.m. and the hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m., joined by clergy and faithful from across the Pacific Central Deanery. Clergy are invited to bring red vestments for the occasion.

“Our diocese is blessed to have a number of churches which St. Tikhon visited or established while serving as our bishop in the early 20th century,” Bishop Vasily said. “It is fitting that today, we celebrate his legacy in building up the Orthodox Church in North America at Holy Trinity Cathedral which was once his diocesan cathedral."

The year 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of St. Tikhon’s repose on April 7, 1925. The celebration in San Francisco follows a similar diocesan event in Denver in September, where Bishop Vasily presided at Holy Transfiguration Cathedral — a church consecrated by St. Tikhon himself in 1905.

St. Tikhon served as archpastor for the North American Missionary Diocese from 1898 to 1907, during which he elevated the Missionary School in Minneapolis to the first Orthodox seminary in North America, founded St. Tikhon’s Monastery in South Canaan, Penn., and reorganized diocesan structures to serve the continent’s growing Orthodox population.

“St. Tikhon was tireless in his labors to build up the Orthodox Faith across these lands,” Bishop Vasily explained. “His vision was for the Church to be a manifest witness to our Lord Jesus Christ, providing people of all backgrounds the opportunity to grow closer to God.”

Clergy and faithful are encouraged to carpool or use public transit to the Cathedral. Limited parking will be available at St. Brigid School during the vigil.

Founded in the 19th century, Holy Trinity Cathedral is the oldest Orthodox cathedral community in the contiguous United States and serves as the seat of Bishop Vasily of San Francisco and the Diocese of the West of the OCA.

For more information, contact Cathedral Dean Archpriest Kirill Sokolov at frkirill@holy-trinity.org.

Previously, UOJ reported that Protodeacon Andrei Psarev, Professor of Theology, Patrology, and Canon Law at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville and founder of ROCOR Studies, offered a free webinar on the Life and Legacy of St. Tikhon of Moscow. 

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