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[STOTS Communications, South Canaan, PA]  The 113th Memorial Day Pilgrimage began with the early Divine Liturgy at 7:30am, in the Monastery Church.  This is traditionally the Liturgy at which the graduating class gathers together to sing and serve.  This year, with all the ordained senior seminarians, this Liturgy was quite full.  Seminarians served with Hieromonk Herman, served in the altar, and assisted in singing the responses for this Liturgy.  The graduating class gathered together at the conclusion of the Liturgy for one more photo together.  May God grant them many years of fruitful service in our Lord’s vineyard!

The main Liturgy began with a procession to the Bell Tower Church for 10am.  His Beatitude led the concelebrating hierarchs, clergy, and faithful in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.  As on Sunday, St. Tikhon’s Choir and the PaTram Choir sang the responses.  Please see the full story on the day’s events on our OCA website, here.  

The second photo is of Archimandrite Pimen of the Diocese of Khust and Vinohradova of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who traveled to the United States for the pilgrimage to venerate Saint Alexis’ relics.  Metropolitan Tikhon presented relics of St. Alexis for him to take back to Metropolitan Mark, and remarked how wonderful it is that visitors come here to venerate the relics of Saints here in America!

Archimandrite Sergius, Monastery Igumen, shared his reflections during the Divine Liturgy, that in the midst of the rain coming down, those present surely were not “fair weather Christians!”  Those gathered participated in events throughout the course of the day.  

Thanks be to God for a most successful and meaningful weekend of St. Tikhon’s Seminary’s 75th graduation, and the 113th Monastery Pilgrimage!