On Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th of November, St. Tikhon Church in Blountville, TN jubilantly celebrated its patronal feast day ‒ kept annually on the anniversary of St. Tikhon’s election as Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia in 1917. This year, the celebrations were officiated by His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

The celebrations began with the festive greeting of the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora ‒ the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God ‒ on Friday evening, followed immediately by the All-Night Vigil, sung antiphonally by two choirs under the direction of Reader Peter Loban and Nicholas DeGaramo.

Vigil was served by Priest Peter Markevich (rector of Holy Trinity Church in Mebane, NC). Metropolitan Nicholas served the Polyeleos, with parish rector Archpriest Matthew Williams and other area clergy. A multitude of faithful were in attendance, with many confessing during Vigil.

Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Saturday morning. Serving alongside Metropolitan Nicholas were: Archpriests Matthew Williams, Mark Tyson (rector of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Tobaccoville, NC), Christopher Stanton (cleric of St. Peter of Krutitsy Mission in Lebanon, TN), and Jonah Campbell (rector of Christ the Savior Church in Wayne, WV), Priests Steven Webb (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Fletcher, NC) and Peter Markevich, Protodeacon Jeremiah Davis (cleric of Christ the Savior Church), and Deacon Joseph Sirko (cleric of Holy Innocents & St. Nina Church in Bristow, VA).

During the Eucharistic Canon, Subdeacon Steven Mitchell was ordained to the diaconate. The newly ordained Deacon Steven will serve the Old Rite community of the Ascension of Christ in Wentworth, MO.

Liturgy concluded with a prayer of supplication to St. Tikhon, after which His Eminence delivered a sermon along with words of encouragement to the parish.

Having concluded the feast with fellowship, the clergy and pilgrims departed to their respective parishes to serve the Saturday evening services. Heeding Metropolitan Nicholas’ reminder that Sunday is the Lord’s Day, a large number of parishioners returned for Sunday Liturgy, celebrated by Fr. Matthew and the newly ordained Fr. Steven.