Pocono News Section

Annual Pilgramage to St. Tikhon

Annual Pilgramage to St. Tikhon - Monday, May 31, 2010 at 04:08AM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Monday May 31 2010

SOUTH CANAAN TWP., WAYNE COUNTY -- Some people spent this holiday weekend in prayer. They gathered at St. Tikhon's Monastery in Wayne County for the annual pilgrimage.

St. Tikhon of Zadonsk: America's oldest Orthodox monastery right here in South Canaan. Hundreds flocked to the monastery for its annual pilgrimage, but for John Pavlakos, it's a family affair. "It's an important pilgrimage for us to come out here. It's a beautiful day. More importantly it's a day we want to spend remembering our faith and spending it with other Orthodox sects," he said.

Pavlakos brought his son and brother from Brookyn to what's considered the center of the orthodox faith in America. Alexander Demolias said, "It's an opportunity to gather, communion as Christ taught his disciples and to preach to the world that we have an opportunity to come here."

Within the 106 year-old monastery, people prayed at what's called a healing icon. Its a special picture of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus. Believers say it's cured blindness and even cancer.

Father Sergius said, "The spirit seems right that the lord has blessed us and that every body who has come has helped and blessed and hopefully found what they were looking for."

That could have been at one of many stations here on this pilgrimage. A tribute to saints within the orthodox religion and more, all part of this holy journey.