St. Tikhon's Monastery, the oldest monastic community in North America, celebrated its 120th anniversary in Pennsylvania. The celebrations took place on May 27, coinciding with the U.S. national holiday, Memorial Day.

The Divine Liturgy was led by Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada, alongside clergy from the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). At the invitation of Metropolitan Tikhon and with the blessing of Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Acting Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, the event was attended by Hegumen Nikodim (Baliasnikov), Acting Secretary of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, and Father Mark Rashkov, Head of the OCA Chancery.

Following the service, Metropolitan Tikhon met with representatives from the administration of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and the OCA Chancery. The meeting focused on preparations for the upcoming 100th anniversary of the repose of Patriarch Tikhon and the 55th anniversary of the OCA’s autocephaly, both set to be commemorated in 2025.

The monastery was founded by Hieromonk Arseny Chagovets in 1905, with the blessing of then-head of the Orthodox Diocese of North America, Archbishop Tikhon (Belavin), who later became Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. The monastery was built with donations from Eastern European immigrants, many of whom came to work in Pennsylvania’s coal and iron ore industries. In 1938, St. Tikhon’s Seminary was established at the monastery.

Photo: Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate / mospat.ru