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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The historic Holy Trinity Cathedral here will host a hierarchical celebration honoring the life and missionary legacy of the Holy Patriarch Saint Tikhon, Enlightener of America on Monday, Nov. 17 and Tuesday, Nov. 18.
His Grace, Bishop Vasily will preside at the festal vigil on Monday evening, beginning at 6 p.m. and the hierarchical divine liturgy on Tuesday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. with local clergy and faithful gathering from across the Pacific Central Deanery for the celebration. Clergy are invited to bring red vestments.
St. Tikhon and the Holy Fathers of the 1917-1918 Council
“Our diocese is blessed to have a number of churches which St. Tikhon visited or established while serving as our bishop in the early 20th century,” Bishop Vasily said, noting, “It is fitting that today, we celebrate his legacy in building up the Orthodox Church in North America at Holy Trinity Cathedral which was once his diocesan cathedral. May this celebration further inspire us, clergy and faithful, to continue St. Tikhon’s labors by preaching the gospel of Christ throughout our Diocese of the West.”
The year 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the falling asleep of Saint Tikhon on April 7, 1925.
The celebration at Holy Trinity Cathedral will be the second diocesan event hosted by His Grace, Bishop Vasily as part of the Orthodox Church in America’s centennial churchwide celebration of St. Tikhon this year. In September, Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Denver hosted a hierarchical liturgy in the church which St. Tikhon himself consecrated in 1905.
In December 1898, St. Tikhon arrived at the original Holy Trinity Cathedral where he was greeted by his predecessor, Bishop Nicholas (Ziorov) and Archimandrite, now Saint, Sebastian (Dabovich). From Holy Trinity Cathedral, St. Tikhon ventured across North America visiting parishes from Alaska to Texas and from Canada to New York.
While serving as archpastor for the North American Missionary diocese from 1898 to 1907, St. Tikhon elevated the Missionary School in Minneapolis to be the first Orthodox Seminary in North America, established the first Orthodox monastery dedicated to St. Tikhon of Zadonsk in South Canaan, PA, and reorganized the diocesan structure to meet the needs of the growing number of immigrants and converts to the Orthodox Faith.
“St. Tikhon was tireless in his labors to build up the Orthodox Faith across these lands,” Bishop Vasily explained, “His vision was for the Church to be a manifest witness to our Lord Jesus Christ, providing people of all backgrounds the opportunity to grow closer to God.”
Clergy and faithful are invited to carpool or utilize mass transit to the Cathedral at 1520 Green St. in San Francisco. During the Monday evening vigil, limited parking spots will be available at St. Brigid School.
Holy Trinity Cathedral, the oldest Orthodox Cathedral community in the contiguous United States, is the seat of Bishop Vasily of San Francisco and the Diocese of the West, Orthodox Church in America. For questions, please contact the Cathedral Dean, Archpriest Kirill Sokolov, at frkirill@holy-trinity.org.
The Diocese of the West is the geographical district of the Orthodox Church in America consisting of the Western United States. The diocese has active parishes in Montana, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii. San Francisco is home to the diocese’s cathedral, Holy Trinity, as well as the Chancery offices. The diocese is led by His Grace Vasily, Bishop of San Francisco and the West.
