The annual pilgrimage was established by St. Tikhon of Moscow in 1905, to take advantage of the faithful having the day off from work in order to make pilgrimage to the monastery he founded in honour of his heavenly patron, St. Tikhon of Zadonsk. This year, Met. Tikhon – St. Tikhon’s successor as the primate of the Orthodox Church in America – invites us all to join him in participating in St. Tikhon’s 121st Annual Memorial Day Pilgrimage. Pilgrimage events include Hierarchical Divine Liturgies, a Moleben for Healing for the Pilgrims (with the choir directed by our own Fr. John), the blessing of the new Arts Center Building, and a concert on Sunday evening celebrating the Arts Center’s grand opening.

The main event is the 10am Primatial Divine Liturgy on Memorial Day itself. More info can be found online. As with previous years, Fr. John will be departing immediately after Liturgy on Sunday to attend the pilgrimage. For those joining, Fr. John suggests making arrangements to stay at the Anthracite Hotel, Carbondale, PA (where there is a group rate for St. Tikhon’s, but you must call and make your reservation over the phone), or Comfort Inn Pocono Lakes, Hamlin, PA.