On May 24, 2025, Saturday of the 5th week after Easter, the day of remembrance of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Methodius and Cyril, in the Church of the Three Hierarchs in Garfield, New Jersey, the participants of the XV Congress of the Clergy and Laity of the Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA, headed by the temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, jointly honored the memory of the Holy Teachers of the Slavs and the 100th anniversary of the death of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow. The ark with a particle of his holy relics was brought to the church by Bishop Matthew at the beginning of the service.
At the entrance to the church, the archpastor was warmly welcomed by the rector of the parish, Archpriest George Konev, and Matushka Alexandra, the acting president of the parish council, Reader George Konev, and Sunday School students.
Bishop Matthew was joined in concelebration by a host of clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA; praying at the service were parish delegates of the 15th Assembly held the day before, parishioners of Three Saints Church and pilgrims from nearby parishes of other Orthodox jurisdictions.
After the entrance prayers and vesting, Bishop Matthew tonsured readers: for Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Passaic, New Jersey — Donald Friedman; for St. Innocent of Irkutsk Church in Redford, Michigan — Anthony McKay; and for Holy Trinity Church in Baltimore, Maryland — Nicholas Klochkov.
At the Little Entrance, with the blessing of His Holiness KIRILL, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’, for diligent pastoral ministry and in connection with jubilee dates, the archpastor bestowed liturgical awards: the right to celebrate the Liturgy with the Royal Doors open until the Lord’s Prayer — on the rector of St. Andrew Cathedral in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Archpriest Mark Shinn; the right to wear the palitsa and the jeweled pectoral cross — on the rector of St. Nicholas Church in Brookside, Alabama, Priest Paul Davis; the right to wear the jeweled pectoral cross — on the rector of St. Nicholas Church in Chester, Pennsylvania, Archpriest Alexis Bocharnikov; the right to wear the palitsa — on the abbot of the Monastery of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica, Massachusetts, Hieromonk Savvaty (Ageev), the cleric of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York, Hieromonk John (Shefler), and the retired cleric Hieromonk Stephen (Bushman).
During the service, fervent prayers were offered for His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on his name day.
During the Liturgy, Bishop Matthew ordained the cleric of St. John Chrysostom Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Subdeacon Seraphim Kracker, to the diaconate.
The liturgical hymns were sung by a combined choir of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA under the direction of choir director Alla Kerko.
The sermon before Communion, devoted to the labors of St. Tikhon in North America, was delivered by the cleric of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York, Hieromonk John (Shefler).
After Holy Communion, the archpastor and concelebrating clergy sang the glorification and prayer to St. Tikhon before the reliquary with a particle of his holy relics.
After the dismissal, the rector of the church, Archpriest George Konev, greeted Bishop Matthew and the guests of the parish. In turn, the bishop warmly congratulated those present on the feast of the Equals-to-the-Apostles enlighteners of the Slavs, which falls during the days of Paschal joy, and on the memory of the great hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church and heavenly patron of America — St. Patriarch Tikhon, the 100th anniversary of whose repose our Church prayerfully honors throughout this jubilee year.
Bishop Matthew gave thanks to the Risen Lord for the opportunity to hold the 15th Assembly of Clergy and Laity and to share the joy of prayerful communion on the name day of the Ruling Hierarch of the Moscow Patriarchate parishes in the USA — His Holiness KIRILL, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’. The archpastor conveyed His Holiness’s blessing to his North American flock and his gratitude for their diligent service to the Holy Mother Church.
Then Bishop Matthew, with the blessing of the Primate, presented high awards of the Russian Orthodox Church to clergy marking jubilee dates: the Order of St. Innocent of Moscow, 3rd class — to Archpriest George Konev on his 60th birthday and the 30th anniversary of his service at Three Saints Church; the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, 3rd class — to the rector of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Archpriest Basil Mysak, on the 50th anniversary of his pastoral ministry; the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, 3rd class — to the cleric of Three Saints Church in Garfield, Protodeacon Daniel Sudol, on his 90th birthday.
In gratitude for many years of unpaid labor as assistant to the Administrator and editor of the official website of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Bishop Matthew awarded a hierarchical certificate to the president of the parish council of the Garfield parish, Reader George Konev. The archpastor also expressed particular gratitude to the rector, clergy and staff, and to the president and members of the parish council, for the hospitality shown to the participants of the 15th Assembly of Clergy and Laity and for the opportunity to hold the diocesan liturgical celebration at a high level.
After the service, a festive reception was held at the parish center, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the repose of St. Tikhon and the name day of His Holiness Patriarch KIRILL. At the end of the meal, the 15th Assembly of Clergy and Laity of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA was declared closed. The bishop once again thanked the organizing committee and the participants of the Assembly for their fruitful work.
