St. Tikhon’s Pilgrimage Honors Faith, Sacrifice, and Legacy
Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard) leads 121st Memorial Day gathering at historic monastery
SOUTH CANAAN, PA—From May 23–26, 2025, St. Tikhon’s Monastery welcomed hundreds of pilgrims for its 121st annual Memorial Day Pilgrimage, presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon. The gathering commemorated the enduring legacy of Orthodox faith in North America and marked the 100th anniversary of the repose of St. Tikhon of Moscow.
The pilgrimage opened with the arrival of the miraculous Hawaiian Iveron Icon and a molieben on Friday evening. On Saturday, Metropolitan Tikhon celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy alongside Archbishop Michael of New York. Seminarian John Jovel was ordained to the diaconate, while clergy received honors, including the elevation of Fr. Ignatius Gauvain to archpriest.
Sunday continued with another Hierarchical Liturgy and the ordination of Tikhon Krueger. A concert later that day honored St. Tikhon, and Anna Arnold was recognized for completing the monastery’s music residency.
Memorial Day itself featured a final Hierarchical Liturgy with Bishop Matthew of Sourozh—Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA. Metropolitan Tikhon delivered a homily emphasizing the inseparable unity of the Cross and Resurrection: “The joy of Pascha can never be separated from the reality of the Cross,” he said.
To read Met. Tikhon's full homily, click here.
In honor of the St. Tikhon's legacy and the centenary of his repose, Metropolitan Tikhon wore refurbished vestments once belonging to St. Tikhon himself. Antiphonal choirs enriched the services, and pilgrims concluded the weekend with a healing service before the Hawaiian Icon, and evening prayers, united in faith and remembrance.
