His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon Presides at Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Saint Herman and 205th Anniversary Molieben

On Sunday, August 9, 2026, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon presided at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, DC, for the Feast of the Glorification of Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America .

Concelebrating with His Beatitude were Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America and Dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Archpriest David Bozeman, Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America and Associate Priest of the Cathedral, and Archpriest Valery Shemchuk, Associate Priest. Also serving was Deacon Igor Panyutin.

Following the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude presided at a Molieben of Thanksgiving for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America , in accordance with the directive of the Holy Synod of Bishops .

Before the Molieben, His Beatitude offered remarks reflecting on the life of St. Herman and the meaning of Christian thanksgiving. His Beatitude noted that St. Herman’s life unfolded during the same years in which the United States was coming into being, though in a very different way.

“We should not draw any straight line between these two histories,” His…