In an unprecedented expression of unity, the Bishops of Philadelphia (OCA) and Mayfield (ROCOR) concelebrated the Vigil and the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of St Tikhon of Zadonsk. The celebration took place at St Tikhon’s Monastery on Friday and Saturday, August 12-13.  His Grace Bishop Tikhon, of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, was pleased to welcome His Grace, Bishop George of Mayfield, and a group of clergy and lay people from the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. In addition, the Monastery was blessed by the presence of the miracle working Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God.

This celebration is the first time a hierarch from the Church Abroad has celebrated the Liturgy at the monastery church in almost 70 years.  This comes in the wake of the historic concelebration between the Primate of the OCA , His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah and the First Hierarch of ROCOR, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion on May 24th, in New York City.