On the last day of August [2024], an unusual cross procession took place in the United States: priests of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), carrying the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God of Chicago, flew over the Chicago Diocese in an airplane. Fr. Nicholas Lokhmatov, priest of St. George Cathedral of the OCA in Chicago, shared his impressions of this celestial ministry.
Fr. Nicholas Lokhmatov with the Tikhvin Icon of Chicago —Fr. Nicholas, why did you decide to take the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God on an aerial cross procession?
—I set out with Fr. Alexander Koranda, dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral of the OCA in Chicago and guardian of the icon.
But first, let me tell you about the Tikhvin Icon itself. At one time it was taken out of Russia by the ever-memorable Archbishop John (Garklavs)—first to Latvia, and after the war, to Europe. Later, the bishop moved to Chicago, where the icon was kept for fifty years—first in his home, and later in Holy Trinity Cathedral.
In his will, Archbishop John wrote that the holy icon could be returned to Russia only when the revival of Orthodoxy had begun there and the Dormition Monastery in Tikhvin had been restored. In 2004, the bishop’s adopted son, Fr. Sergei Garklavs, then dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral, fulfilled his will and returned the icon to the Dormition Monastery in Tikhvin, to Bishop Mstislav of Tikhvin and Lodeynoye Pole.
Bishop Mstislav was deeply moved and overjoyed by the return of the icon, and he blessed the creation of an exact copy of it—and even designed the icon case (kiot) himself. That copy was consecrated upon the original and sent to us in Chicago.
Thus, last year we celebrated not only the twentieth anniversary of the return of the original Tikhvin Icon to its home, but also the twentieth anniversary of our Tikhvin Icon of Chicago. In honor of this occasion, for the feast day of the icon according to the New Calendar, our diocesan hierarch, Archbishop Daniel, invited the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, Metropolitan Tikhon, as well as other bishops. We celebrated the divine services and then held a cross procession through the streets of Chicago, from Holy Trinity Cathedral to our St. George Cathedral, where we served a moleben (supplicatory service) and hosted a festive meal.
Two weeks later, for the feast of the Tikhvin Icon according to the Old Calendar, Bishop Daniel and Fr. Alexander Koranda flew to Russia, where they served together with Bishop Mstislav and other archpastors.
The Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Chicago And so, we continued the celebration with an aerial cross procession. One of our parishioners, Randy West, owns his own airplane. We recalled how during the pandemic, priests flew icons over various dioceses. We also remembered that in the Akathist to the Tikhvin Icon, it is mentioned how the icon came from Constantinople to Russia and was seen by fishermen hovering above Lake Ladoga, borne by angels.
By God’s mercy, with our weak human efforts, we sought to imitate that miraculous event. The thought came to us to make such a flight with the Tikhvin Icon of Chicago, circling the major cities of our diocese—Chicago, Milwaukee, and especially flying over Lake Michigan. In the air, we read the Akathist and served a moleben. It was deeply moving. There arose a peaceful, grace-filled sense that the Mother of God was sanctifying our diocese and all the Orthodox parishes over which we flew.
—What is significant about the Tikhvin Icon of Chicago?
—First and foremost, it was a gift to us from Bishop Mstislav in gratitude for the return of the original holy icon from Chicago to Tikhvin. It is an exact handwritten copy, with the same golden riza (cover)—literally identical. It has now become the protectress of our Chicago Diocese.
The icon sometimes travels, is always present at clergy gatherings, and visits various parishes. But usually, people can come to Holy Trinity Cathedral in Chicago and venerate it there.
Over Lake Michigan —What was it like to take part in such an unusual cross procession?
—There was a deep sense of peace in the soul. Of course, I remembered that the very day of our flight—August 31st—is the feast of the Martyrs Florus and Laurus. My father, Protodeacon Viktor Lokhmatov, was for many years the cell attendant of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan Laurus (Shkurla). I simply felt that this journey was a gift from Vladyka Laurus to me—that on the day of his patron saint, I would rise into the heavens with the Mother of God and pray. Without a doubt, spiritually, Vladyka Laurus was connected to this event.
—What did you pray for while you were in the sky with the icon?
—For the well-being of our diocese, and not only for it, but for all the Orthodox churches in our region, and for the faithful. People are suffering—both here and elsewhere. Many in our parishes have relatives involved in the war, on one side or the other. Our duty as priests is never to become involved in politics, but on the contrary, to bring love, offer help, show compassion, and pray. As the petition in the Litany of Peace says:
“For the deliverance of His people from enemies visible and invisible, and that unity of mind, brotherly love, and piety may be established among us, let us pray to the Lord.”
—In your opinion, how important are such cross processions right now?
—They are absolutely essential. Who will intercede for us if not the Mother of God Herself? Upon whom can we rely in the final and most terrifying hour, if not God and His Mother? It is to Her that we turn for protection and help—both in this life and in the life to come.
