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On Saturday, April 4, and Sunday, April 5, 2026, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon visited St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, NY, where he celebrated Lazarus Saturday and the Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem with the seminary community.
On Saturday morning, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Archpriest Michael Nasser, Director of Spiritual Formation, together with student clergy. During the Divine Liturgy, the kontakion and koinonikon were sung by the children’s choir under the direction of Laura Ionescu. Following the Liturgy, a community potluck meal was held, accompanied by festive crafts and activities for the seminary youth. That evening, His Beatitude presided at the Festal Vigil, during which he blessed and distributed palms.
On Sunday morning, His Beatitude presided at the Divine Liturgy for the feast. Concelebrating with him were Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Rector of Three Hierarchs Chapel, Fr. Michael, and Archpriest Bogdan Bucur.
In his homily, His Beatitude reflected on the Palm Sunday hymn, “The grace of the Holy Spirit…,” and its meaning both in its historical context and in the life of the Church today. He said:
“Everything that happens is in accord with God’s providence, and every good that occurs is thanks to His grace. But God’s grace has also called us together in a more specific way. Whether we are fully initiated Orthodox Christians, or those preparing for illumination, or catechumens, or inquirers — the grace of the Holy Spirit has gathered us together to worship and, starting from wherever we may be at this moment, to enter more fully into the mystery of the faith.”
The Divine Liturgy concluded with a procession around the seminary chapel.
