On the Sunday of the Veneration of the Life-Giving Cross, the Abbot of St. Tikhon's Monastery visited Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Lorain, Ohio and St. Theodosius' Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio. The Monastery was blessed by the kindness of the faithful who came to see and pray before the Icon of our Lady "Who is Quick to Hear." In two weeks, the Icon and Abbot from St. Tikhon's will be at St. Herman's Parish in Gradyville, Pennsylvania. As God and time permits, we look forward to one more visitation to another part of the country before the year is finished.
Historic Visit to Mayfield
Recently on March 3rd, 2010, the Abbot of St. Tikhon's Monastery, Fr. Igumen Sergius, was invited to serve with Metropolitan Hilarion in Mayfield for the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts. It was the first time in almost 30 years that the head of the St. Tikhon's Monastery has visited the Mayfield Parish.
On Tuesday, March 2nd, a historic visit took place of Metropolitan Hilarion, Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, Bishop George of Mayfield, and a delegation of over 75 clergy from the Russian Church Abroad to St. Tikhon's Monastery. His Eminence was greeted by the Abbot, Fr. Sergius, at 9:00 a.m. and the Hierarchs and clergy were given a tour of the Monastery, Icon Repository, and Museum. The delegation then had a luncheon which was also attended by Bishop Tikhon, Bishop Melchizedek, and 35 clergy from the Dioceses of Eastern Pennsylvania. This event had tremendous significance in so many ways and hence was a joy for the Brotherhood and community which can only be epitomized by the Palm Sunday Hymn: "Today, the Holy Spirit has gathered us together, and taking up Thy Cross we sing: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord!" A very special thanks to the Mayfield Parish of St. John the Baptist for providing and serving a beautiful lunch.
Metropolitan Hilarion, Bishop George, Bishop Tikhon, Bishop Melchizedek, Bishop Jerome, Fr. Igumen Sergius, the Monastic brotherhood and clergy from the Church Abroad. A joyful and historic day in the life of the Monastery and the Church in America.
The Monastery is in dire need of new Lenten vestments (both black and purple) for Monastic. Community, and Seminarian Priests, Deacons, and Altar servers. All of the current vestments in use are in an almost unspeakably deplorable condition. Please consider donating for this project through our Pay-pal system or by mail. The cost for an entire set of new vestments (five for priests, five for deacons, and five for altar servers) in one color (we need two colors) is $5,000.00 (including the shipping from Russia.) Please consider donating this Lent for this great need from your home or parish for the Monastery.
Special thanks to all those who helped with the installation of the 16th Abbot of St. Tikhon's Monastery. The event was historical, beautiful, and blessed. Pray for us as we begin a new chapter in the life of America's Oldest Orthodox Monastery. More pictures will be posted soon.
By the mercy of God and through the donations of Fr. Dn. Michael and Mat. Arlene Pasonick, along with several other of our parishioners, we were able to renovate our Monastery Trapeza Dining Hall. The renovations included new windows, new doors, new floor, new tables and chairs, and repainted and tiled bathrooms. Special thanks to all of our parishioners who donated money for new windows and especially to Fr. Dn. Michael and Mat. Arlene Pasonick who have been so generous and kind to the Monastery and Seminary for so many years. Also, we give thanks to Corinne Dovekas who purchased new tables and chairs for the Monastery Trapeza Dining Hall. May God remember you all in His Kingdom for remembering us!
We have finally moved into our new house! Thanks be to God and to all of our faithful friends of St. Tikhon's Monastery who made this possible (especially to Pete Gianopoulos, Mary Romanchuk, Paul Koronchik, and the ever-memorable Archpriest Ilya and Matushka Ludmilla Adamov, and Irene Gianopoulos.) May God always remember them for their kindness to us.
The Monastery is hand making its own 100% Beeswax Candles to support the cost of daily operations. Please consider supporting America's Oldest Orthodox Monastery through this important service we are now offering. E-mail us with your order at monasteryinfo@gmail.com or fax it to 570-937-9070. Thank you for your support!
Please notice the new section to the left about our Icon of the Mother of God, "She Who Is Quick To Hear" and a provisional copy of our new video on the Museum and Icon Repository.
Our weekly Bulletin with the schedule of services is now available on the drop down menu to the left.
Our own seasonal St. Tikhon's Monastery Honey is now available for purchase. A 9 fluid oz./approximately one pound jar is $10.00. Click here to purchase.
We, the monks and community at St. Tikhon's, are dedicated to whole-heartedly serving the Lord and helping the Church in America as best as we possibly can. Many projects and services have been and will be initiated at the Monastery to help bring us to financial and spiritual stability. Nevertheless, the most important of these, liturgical and personal prayer for the salvation of all mankind, has been the primary and continuous work here for the past 105 years. However, we are still in great need of your prayers and support. Historically, St. Tikhon's has always helped the Church by here by giving its very life blood and yet we are still in need of the good will and help from all the faithful of the Orthodox Church in America. We are working very hard at St. Tikhon's Monastery not only to build up the monastery and immediate community but also for the entire Church in America, especially through our Seminary work and publications. Eventually, we desire to build a new facility where a vast number of visitors could come to find spiritual and physical refreshment. Currently, we do have nice guest facilities for up to 7 men and 4 women and are always open to the general public. We warmly extend a friendly invitation to all to visit, to pray, to stay and to help us in a new beginning as we start to renew America's oldest Orthodox Monastery. Also, we are currently accepting new vocations. Click here to read an article about the ancient and contemporary value of Monasticism. Further, we are also currently visiting parishes and giving retreats and talks through America. To have us come to your parish, please contact the Monastery at 570-937-4067.
Throughout the history of Christ's Church, monasteries have served as centers of spiritual enlightenment, strongholds of Orthodox truth and piety, havens for those seeking salvation through ascetic struggle, prayer, and humility, and places of pilgrimage for those desirous of inner renewal, reflection, and spiritual guidance.
This has been the mission of the Monastery of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk for over one hundred years, since its establishment in 1905 as the first Orthodox monastery in North America. With God's help, the monastery has steadfastly sought to fulfill this holy purpose, and by doing so, has proven indispensable to the life and growth of the Orthodox Church on this continent.
It is our hope that this website will serve not only as introduction to the monastery for those unfamiliar with its rich history and significant impact on the Church in America, but also as means for the further glorification of God and His Saints who have walked these hallowed grounds.
All those who are interested in Orthodox monastic life are welcome to contact the Monastery's Abbot, Fr. Sergius, at abbotsergius@gmail.com. The Monastery has a new guest house and hopefully, God willing, we will in the future build a new complex for more monks and visitors. May God bless you and be assured of your continued prayers for you and for all Orthodox Christians alive and asleep in the Lord here in America and throughout the world.
Cemetery Plots are now available for purchase for $1250.00 per plot. Prayers are offered daily at the monastery Church for the departed and our graves are blessed every year. Please call us if you are interested at 570-937-4067 or e-mail monasteryinfo@gmail.com.
Announcements
The Icon of the Theotokos "Softener of Evil Hearts" visited St.Tikhon's Monastery on Thursday, October 1st. Click here to see more.
We have a new candle factory and need your support...Please consider buying St. Tikhon's Candles!
The Orthodox Monastery of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk 175 St. Tikhon's Rd. Waymart, PA 18472 570-937-4067 monasteryinfo@gmail.com
From St. John of Kronstadt: "Prayer is spiritual breathing; when we pray we breathe in the Holy Spirit; "praying in the Holy Spirit" (Jd. 1:20). Thus, all church prayers are the breathing of the Holy Spirit; as it were spiritual air and also light, spiritual fire, spiritual food and spiritual raiment." (My Life in Christ; Holy Trinity Monastery pg. 174.)
His Beatitude spoke to St. Tikhon's seminarians between divine services on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 15th and 16th. This is the first of the four talks he gave.
