South Canaan, Pennsylvania, March 24, 2025

Photo: St. Tikhon’s Seminary

An historic first took place at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania, this past week, with the celebration of the Presanctified Liturgy in the former cell of St. Nikolai (Velimirović).

The great saint of America served in various capacities at St. Tikhon’s from 1951 until his repose in the seminary building on March 18, 1956. His former cell was recently turned into a shrine in his honor, and now, a Liturgy has been served there for the first time, the seminary reports.

Photo: St. Tikhon’s Seminary

The service was celebrated by seminary Dean Archpriest John Parker and Dean of Academic Affairs Fr. Paul Witek. The faithful in attendance lined the seminary hallway outside the cell-shrine.

Following the Presanctified Liturgy, those in attendance enjoyed a meal and fellowship at the St. Nikolai Dinner, with a presentation by Protinica Lela Powell.

“We give thanks to God for this blessed gathering and to all who joined in prayer and fellowship. Through the prayers of St. Nikolai, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us!”

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Read about St. Nikolai’s time at St. Tikhon’s in the article, “The Final Years of St. Nikolai VelimirovichBishop Nikolai’s classes, sermons and conversations were always geared to his audience, whether they be students, professors, theologians or simple parishioners, and his vocabulary never extended itself beyond the comprehension of his hearers. For him, class could be any time. Anything said to him could be turned around and assigned a deeper meaning. He would always take examples from conversations in class, at the dinner table, or that which occurred as he walked about the grounds, and would always introduce examples from Holy Scripture, relating them to life at hand.