Special 100t Your Diocese Alive in Christ

84 Pages·2006·3.66 MB·English

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The Magazine of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania, Orthodox Church in America Volume XXI, No. 2 Summer, 2005
New bells ring in a new century
at St. Tikhon’s Monastery
Paul Chernay Donates $500,000 to the Bethlehem Parish!
BETHLEHEM, PA -- Mr. Paul Chernay, longtime parishioner and very active member of St.
Nicholas Church in Bethlehem, recently donated $500,000 to the parish here.
The gift was earmarked toward the mortgage of the parish’s educational and recreational center.
The all-purpose facility for church activities in Bethlehem is named in honor of Mr. Chernay and
his late wife Betty Jo. In her loving memory, Paul generously offered the contribution towards
the more than $1 million cost of the parish facility.
This donation was presented by Mr. Chernay to the Very Rev. Archpriest Eugene Vansuch,
who was the rector of St. Nicholas Church until recently. Father Eugene and Paul, along with
other committee members, worked together tirelessly in the planning and the building of the
parish center.
Mr. Chernay is also very much involved in the life of St. Tikhon’s Seminary and Monastery.
A longtime member of the board of trustees of the theological school and a lifelong benefactor of
both the seminary and the monastery, Paul has worked closely with His Beatitude, Metropolitan
HERMAN when he was seminary rector, in both STS development and publications. Mr. Chernay
is also donating $50,000 each year for 20 years to St. Tikhon’s Seminary from a $1 million
charitable trust that he established.

Your Diocese
Alive in Christ
Volume XXI Number 2 Summer 2005
The Offi cial Magazine of the
Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania
Orthodox Church in America
In This Issue: Election of Bishop Tikhon — see
page 3
Bishop Tikhon Elected Diocesan Hierarch ..................................... 2
Monastery Observes Joyful Centennial ....................................... 5
Historical Refl ections on the Monastery ..................................... 9
We Believe: Symbol of the Faith - Part VI ..................................... 16
Barbecue, Flea Market Benefi t Seminary ..................................... 17
14th All-American Council in Toronto .......................................... 18
Student-Alumni Fellowship Picnic .............................................. 24
St. Cyril’s Commentary on St John’s Gospel - Pt. XX ..................... 25
“From Earth to Heaven” - 2005 Camp.......................................... 32 Valaam Icon Graces Monastery
Anniversary — see page 49
Teen Campers Achieve a Huge Success! ...................................... 40
Alaskan Camper Refl ects on Camp .............................................. 41
Obedience: the Orthodox Concept ............................................... 48
Your Diocese Alive in Christ
Monastery Anniversary Graced by Icon ....................................... 49 Produced by the Publications Department of
the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania, Orthodox
Russian Little Leaguers Welcomed ............................................... 52 Church in America (Diocesan Center, South
Canaan, Pennsylvania 18459 (570-937-4686), under
Holy Ascension Church Marks 90th Year ....................................... 53
the direction of His Beatitude, Metropolitan
HERMAN.
Sister Anna Retreat Leader ......................................................... 56
Editor ................................... Fr. John Kowalczyk
Origen: the Denier of Human Freedom - Part I ............................. 58 Photography ............................... Martin Paluch
Staff ....................................... Fr. David Mahaff ey
St. Michael’s Center Benefi ts Robert Muchal ................................ 64 Circulation ...................................... F r. Leo Poore
8th Annual Golf Tournament ........................................................ 66
Editorial and Subscription Offi ce: Alive in
Christ, Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania, South
Wilkes-Barre Deanery Youth Activities ......................................... 80
Canaan, Pennsylvania 18459 Phone (res.): 570-
876-1241.
Departments Alive in Christ is distributed free of charge
within the Diocese. Those living in other areas
All in the Diocesan Family ........................................................... 73
may subscribe for $12 per year.
Daily Devotions ........................................................................... 65
Deadline for the next issue of Your Diocese Alive
Graduates ................................................................................... 42 in Christ is November 22, 2005. Please submit
all articles (typed) pictures, parish news, etc.,
Education Bulletin ...................................................................... 56 on disc to Alive in Christ, Diocese of Eastern
Pennsylvania, Box 130, South Canaan, PA
18459, or e-mail to [email protected].
1
Bishop Tikhon
Elected Ruling
Hierarch of the
Diocese of
Philadelphia
and Eastern
Pennsylvania
Celebration of the Divine Liturgy
A
t a special session of the Holy
Synod of Bishops of the Ortho-
dox Church in America held at
Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery here
Friday, May 27, 2005, His Grace, Bishop
Tikhon of South Canaan and auxiliary to
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, was
elected Bishop of the Philadelphia and
Eastern Pennsylvania.
Bishop Tikhon’s election followed a
special assembly of the Diocese of Phila- Service of intercession
delphia and Eastern Pennsylvania held at
the monastery two days earlier, during 29, 2005 at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, fol- two decades. He continued to oversee its
which he was nominated to the vacant lowed by a reception at the nearby Philm- life after his election as OCA Primate in
episcopal see by parish clergy and lay ont Country Club. July 2002. The see was declared vacant at
delegates. Metropolitan Herman, who chaired the the Holy Synod’s spring 2005 session, at
The new diocesan bishop’s installa- Holy Synod’s special session, had headed which it was announced that Metropoli-
tion will take place on Saturday, October the Eastern Pennsylvania diocese for over tan Herman would assume duties as rul-
2
Bishop Tikhon Elected
Registration of delegates
A prayer is off ered before the election
Fr. John Onofrey explains process of voting
ing, Pa., where he graduated from Wyo- following year he entered Saint Tikhon’s
missing High School in 1984. In 1988 Monastery as a novice.
he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in After receiving his Master of Divin-
ing bishop of the newly formed Diocese French and Sociology from Franklin and ity degree from Saint Tikhon’s Seminary
of Washington and New York on May 1. Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa., after in 1993, he was appointed instructor in
Bishop Tikhon was born in Boston, which he moved to Chicago. Old Testament at the seminary. He sub-
Mass. on July 15, 1966, the son of Francis In 1989 he was received into the Or- sequently served as senior lecturer in Old
and Elizabeth Mollard. After brief periods thodox faith from Episcopalianism and, Testament and taught master level courses
living in Connecticut, France, and Mis- in the fall of the same year, he began in the prophets, the psalms, and wisdom
souri, he and his family settled in Read- studies at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary. The Continued on page 4
3
Bishop Tikhon Elected
Continued from page 3
literature. He also served as an instructor
in the seminary’s extension studies pro-
gram, offering a number of courses re-
lated to the Old Testament.
Archimandrite Tikhon collaborated
with Igumen Alexander [Golitzin] in the
publication of The Living Witness of the
Holy Mountain, published by Saint Tik-
hon’s Seminary Press, by illustrating this
classic book about Mount Athos.
In 1995 he was tonsured to the lesser
schema and given the name Tikhon, in
honor of Saint Tikhon, Enlightener of
North America and Patriarch of Mos-
cow. Later that year he was ordained to
the holy diaconate and priesthood at Saint
Tikhon’s Monastery. In 1998 he was el-
evated to the rank of igumen, and in 2000 uty abbot. session. His consecration was celebrated
to the rank of archimandrite. In December Archimandrite Tikhon was elected to on February 14, 2004 at Saint Tikhon’s
2002, he was appointed by Metropolitan the episcopacy by members of the Holy Monastery.
Herman to serve as the monastery’s dep- Synod of Bishops at their October 2003 —OCA Communications
The results are tallied Metropolitan Herman announces the election results
Offi cial
Appointed
Archpriest John Kowalczyk — Chancellor of the Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pa.
Priest Victor Gorodenchuk — Priest-at-Large to represent the Philadelphia Deanery on the Diocesan Council
Assigned
Priest Victor Gorodenchuk — Acting Rector of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Philadelphia, Pa.
Priest Timothy Hojnicki — Acting Rector of Holy Apostles Church, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Priest Miroslaw Kulik — Acting Rector of St. John the Baptist Church in Edwardsville, Pa.
Priest Barnabas Fravel — Rector of Holy Ascension Church in Frackville, Pa.
4
St. Tikhon’s Monastery
Observes Joyful,
Prayerful Centennial
New Centennial Bells, cast in Voronezh, Russia in 2005
H
is Beatitude, Metropolitan Her- On Saturday morning, following the
On Saturday morning,
man, the Holy Synod of Bishops, Divine Liturgy during which Bishop-
and thousands of Orthodox clergy following the Divine elect Alejo was consecrated to the epis-
and faithful, including a 200-voice choir copacy, a set of new bells was blessed in
Liturgy during which
under the direction of Archpriest Sergei commemoration of the monastery’s cen-
Glagolev celebrated the Divine Liturgy Bishop-elect Alejo was tennial.
on Memorial Day at St. Tikhon’s Monas- “O Lord our God . . . look down mer-
consecrated to the
tery, South Canaan, Pennsylvania. cifully on the fervent supplication of us,
Following a tradition established by episcopacy, a set of Thine unworthy servants, and upon these
Orthodox Christian faithful a century bells, fashioned for the service of Thy
new bells was blessed
ago, thousands of clergy and lay pilgrims holy Church, and to the glory of Thy
joined the Church’s hierarchs over Memo- in commemoration magnifi cent and all-holy Name,” Metro-
rial Day weekend to mark the centennial politan Herman prayed before sprinkling
of the monastery’s
of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery the bells with holy water.
here May 27-30, 2005. centennial “With Thy heavenly blessing and the
Faithful from as far as Mexico and grace of Thine all-consecrating Spirit,
Canada passed through the monastery’s bless and consecrate them, and draw down
landmark arch to witness the consecra- day evening, May 27, with the celebration upon them the power of Thy grace, that
tion of a new bishop, the dedication of a of vespers and matins in the monastery Thy faithful servants, having heard the
museum, and the blessing of a set of bells church. During the service, Bishop-elect voice of their ringing, may be strength-
cast in honor of the centennial. Alejo was formally elected Bishop of ened in piety and faith [and] be led to the
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Mexico City by the Holy Synod of Bish- church in prayer and glorifi cation of Thy
opened the centennial pilgrimage on Fri- ops. Continued on the next page
5
Monastery Centennial
Acceptance of Bishop-Elect Alejo
Continued from page 5
holy Name.”
On Saturday afternoon, the 63th com-
mencement exercises of Saint Tikhon’s
Seminary were held. Metropolitan Her-
man, seminary president, presented de-
grees and diplomas to the graduates, while
His Grace, Bishop Thomas of Oakland,
Pa. of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian
Archdiocese of North America delivered
the commencement address.
The recently completed Metropolitan
Theodosius Museum was blessed and of-
fi cially opened after the Divine Liturgy on
Sunday, May 29. In addition to housing
priceless icons, antique liturgical appoint-
ments, vestments, and other religious arti-
facts from around the world, the museum
features numerous items bequeathed to
the monastery by His Beatitude, Metro-
politan Theodosius, retired OCA Primate.
The building also houses the new semi-
nary bookstore.
On Sunday evening, over 500 hier-
archs, clergy, and faithful enjoyed the cen-
tennial banquet at the Genetti Convention to the fi rst pilgrimage to Saint Tikhon’s monastery. But in the spirit of those who
Center, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., at which the 100 years ago. embarked on foot from the train station
seminary graduates were honored. “Another century-old tradition is the to the monastery grounds 100 years ago,
Monday, May 30, opened with the cel- pilgrim’s procession to the monastery,” the pilgrims made a symbolic procession
ebration of an early liturgy in the monas- said the Very Rev. John Kowalczyk, Jer- from South Canaan Corners to the mon-
tery church — a tradition that dates back myn, Pa. “Today’s pilgrims drive to the astery pavilion for the celebration of the
6