On August 25th, His Eminence, Archbishop Tikhon of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, presided at the celebration of the the 35th anniversary of the founding of Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church, Binghamton, NY.
His Grace, Bishop Melchisedek of Pittsburg and Western Pennsylvania; His Grace, Bishop Michael of New York and New Jersey; and His Grace, Bishop Matthias of Chicago and the Midwest shared the joy of this great event by concelebrating the Hierarchical Divine liturgy that day along with many local clergy.
His Eminence, Archbishop Tikhon bestowed the jeweled cross upon the Abbess, Mother Raphaela, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of her monastic profession and presented the Monastery with a Synodal Gramota in recognition of the 35th Anniversary of the Monastery. Mother Raphaela and Mother Michaela (who celebrates the 50th anniversary of her monastic tonsure) also received diocesan gramotas which were presented by His Grace, Bishop Michael.
The celebration of the anniversary of the founding of Holy Myrrhbearers concluded with a banquet held after the Divine Liturgy at Saint Michael’s Center (American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese).