San Francisco, November 21, 2025
Photo: Holy Trinity Cathedral
The Orthodox Church in America’s historic Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco hosted a hierarchical celebration honoring the life and missionary legacy of the Holy Patriarch St. Tikhon, Enlightener of America, on Monday, Nov. 17 and Tuesday, Nov. 18.
His Grace Bishop Vasily of San Franscisco presided at the festal Vigil on Monday evening and the hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Tuesday morning, with local clergy and faithful gathering from across the Pacific Central Deanery for the celebration marking the feast of St. Tikhon and the Holy Fathers of the 1917-1918 Russian Local Church 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,” Bp. Vasily said in the diocesan announcement for the services, 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.”
2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the falling asleep of St. Tikhon on April 7, 1925. The centennial has been festively celebrated throughout the year, with OCA and ROCOR delegations concelebrating in Chicago in February and delegations from five jurisdictions coming together in New York in April, among other festivities.
The celebration at Holy Trinity Cathedral was the second diocesan event hosted by Bp. Vasily. 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 St. Sebastian (Dabovich). From Holy Trinity Cathedral, St. Tikhon visited parishes across North America.
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,” Bp. 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.”
The Vigil and Divine Liturgy were live streamed by the cathedral:
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