July 9, 2009
Lakewood, NJ: Parish Feast Day of the Church of Our Lady of Tikhvin

On July 9th (new style), the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the appearance of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God. This feast day celebrates the miraculous appearance of the icon on Lake Ladoga; its transfer, from the Second Rome at Constantinople, to the Third Rome, Moscow. This wonderful, miraculous icon protected our homeland from sorrows and strife for hundreds of years, and is the symbol of Holy Russia. On July 8-9, the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Lakewood, NJ, formerly the  St. Alexander Nevsky Church, celebrated its feast day. The church was founded in 1936 by the ever-memorable Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko), and in 1948 hosted the hierarchal consecration of Archbishop Nikon (Rklitsky). In 1994, when a new cathedral was built in honor of St. Alexander Nevsky, the old church was renamed in honor of the Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God, and from that time, parishioners commemorate the church's feast day on July 9. The All-Night Vigil was served by Priest Leonid Goferman, co-served by Deacon Nicholas Lukianov and Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky. On Thursday, July 9th, the aforementioned clergy, along with Priest Vadim Arefiev, celebrated the Divine Liturgy followed by a procession. A festive luncheon was held in the parish hall. 

Troparion, 4th tone:
Today, your icon appears in the sky like the eternal sun, O Theotokos, enlightening the world with rays of mercy, accepting the heavenly gift from above, this land honors you as the Mother of God. We praise Christ our Lord Who was born of you. Pray to Him, O sovereign Queen and Virgin, that all Christian cities and lands be guarded in safety. And that He will save those who venerated His divine, and your holy, image, O unwedded Bride.”

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese