On April 7, 2025, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and the commemoration of the repose of Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow (†1925), celebrations were held at St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York — a church built and consecrated by Saint Tikhon himself in 1902 — in his memory.
The Divine Liturgy on this festive day was celebrated by the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, Tikhon. Concelebrating with His Beatitude was a gathering of hierarchs and clergy from Orthodox jurisdictions in North America: First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York Nicholas; Archbishop Irénée, ruling hierarch of the Archdiocese of Ottawa and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America; Bishop Irinej, head of the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA; Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Acting Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada; Protopriest Igor Vyzhanov, rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York; Protopriest Thomas Zain, Vicar General of the Antiochian Archdiocese; Priest Alessandro Margheritino, Acting Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America; Protopriest Seraphim Gan, chancellor of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad, along with clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and the Russian Church Abroad.
The deacons were led by Deacon Alexei Golubov, head of the Hierarchical Protocol Office. Liturgical hymns were performed by a combined choir of the cathedral and Patriarchal parishes, directed by Kseniya Afanasyeva.
Many faithful and guests attended the service, including the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the USA, A.N. Darchiev; Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, V.A. Nebenzya; Russian Consul General in New York, A.K. Zakharov; and other members of the Russian diplomatic missions.
Also present was Pastor Gilford Monrose, Director of the Office of Faith and Community Partnerships of New York City and faith advisor to Mayor Eric Adams.
Following the Communion verse, Mitred Protopriest Georgy Konev, rector of the Church of the Three Hierarchs in Garfield, New Jersey, read the Patriarchal address on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the blessed repose of Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia..
After the Holy Communion, the hierarchs and concelebrating clergy sang praises for the feast before a reliquary containing a relic of Saint Tikhon. This holy relic was brought to the U.S. with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. During this jubilee year, the relic will visit many parishes of the Russian and other Orthodox Churches in the U.S., after which it will be gifted by the Patriarch to the St. Tikhon Church in Cambridge, in the Canadian Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
At the conclusion of the service, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh warmly greeted the distinguished guests: “I warmly welcome all of you gathered here to honor the memory of Patriarch Saint Tikhon on the 100th anniversary of his repose, on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, on behalf of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church — His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia! Today, this cathedral, built by Saint Tikhon, unites hierarchs and clergy from different jurisdictions under one roof, forming a multinational Orthodox diocese of North America, which Saint Tikhon led over a hundred years ago. The tragic events of the turbulent 20th century forced our predecessors to take different paths in developing church life in America, experiencing painful separation and disagreement.
By God’s mercy and the intercessions of Saint Tikhon and all the American saints, today we partake of the Holy Eucharist from the same Chalice, in unity of mind and brotherly love, and with one heart and one voice glorify the beginning of our salvation and the blessed repose of the great hierarch of the Church of Christ and our father — Saint Tikhon. I sincerely thank all of you — Your Beatitude, dear hierarchs, fathers, brothers and sisters, esteemed representatives of the Russian Federation and New York City — for this prayerful celebration, worthy of the memory of Saint Tikhon, the praise and foundation of the Orthodox Church, by whose labors we live and move today (from the Akathist to Saint Tikhon).”
As a token of the celebration, Bishop Matthew presented a holy panagia to Metropolitan Tikhon and liturgical phelonions with images of the saint and the cathedral he built to all hierarchs and priests. All participants received small souvenirs featuring the name of the street where the cathedral is located — “Saint Tikhon Way,” a name officially given to East 97th Street by city authorities in January 2022.
Metropolitan Tikhon also addressed those gathered: “Today, as we celebrate the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and the centennial of the repose of the great Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and Enlightener of North America, I am filled with joy to be here at St. Nicholas Cathedral, built with initial funds from the martyr Tsar Nicholas II and consecrated by the hand of Saint Tikhon himself. At the beginning of the last century, he governed the Church in America from this very cathedral. Though tirelessly engaged in missionary travel, this was his headquarters. Thus, it is fitting that on this day, in this place, bishops of the Orthodox Church in America celebrate together with bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church. The legacy of Saint Tikhon is our shared heritage — a guiding light for both of our autocephalous Churches, the Moscow Patriarchate and the Orthodox Church in America. As Bishop of New York, he laid the foundation for the American Church. As the first Patriarch of Moscow in over two centuries, he profoundly shaped the ethos of the Russian Church, setting a direction for the Church during and after the Soviet persecutions.”
Metropolitan Nicholas, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, also offered greetings:
“It brings me particular joy to greet all of you on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos in this majestic and historic Patriarchal Cathedral, surrounded by the faithful heirs of the mission and witness of Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.
I express our heartfelt gratitude for the love and truly fraternal spirit shown to us! May Holy Orthodoxy flourish in North America and may our brotherly love in Christ grow stronger as we honor the blessed memory of our common father — Saint Tikhon! May the Lord bless us to further build up the Church here so that, through the grace-filled cooperation of Orthodox faithful, divisions among us and in society may be overcome, and people may find the path to peace, well-being, and eternal salvation!”
As a gift to St. Nicholas Cathedral in honor of the celebration, Metropolitan Nicholas presented Bishop Matthew with an icon of the Mother of God “The Sign,” flanked by Saints Tikhon of Moscow, John of Shanghai, and Jonah of Hankou — new martyrs, confessors, and ascetics of the Russian diaspora — painted for the centenary of the Russian Church Abroad.
Собравшихся приветствовал Чрезвычайный и Полномочный Посол России в США Александр Никитич Дарчиев: «Сегодня мы собрались в этом прекрасном соборе, дабы отдать дань памяти столетию со дня блаженной кончины святителя Тихона, чья деятельность пользуется глубоким уважением в православном мире.
The gathering was also addressed by Russian Ambassador to the United States Alexander Nikitich Darchiev: “Today we gather in this beautiful cathedral to pay tribute on the 100th anniversary of the blessed repose of Saint Tikhon, whose life and work are deeply revered in the Orthodox world. Under his leadership, the diocese became a true spiritual home for all Orthodox Christians in America, helping our compatriots preserve their faith, native culture, and the great Russian language. Saint Tikhon shepherded his flock with wisdom and kindness, bringing the light of Orthodoxy and spirituality even to the most remote corners of the American land. Thanks to his tireless labors, this cathedral was built, and through his righteous life he continues to give us strength and hope to overcome adversity and the modern temptations of godlessness and permissiveness. I especially want to highlight the fruitful cooperation between Russian diplomats and Orthodox parishes in America. I am grateful for your contribution to the unity of the Russian-speaking community. May your devoted service continue to bring the faithful true faith and good hope!”
Following the service, an official reception was held in the cathedral refectory. Greetings were offered by Bishop Irinej of the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Protopriest Thomas Zain of the Antiochian Archdiocese, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Alekseyevich Nebenzya, and Pastor Gilford Monrose, representative of the Mayor of New York.
