Library › St Tikhon of Moscow › Instructions and Teachings
Instructions and Teachings
St Tikhon of Moscow, Russian Orthodox American Messenger, 1898–1905
An Address Made on the Occasion of the Dedication of the Russian Orthodox Church in New…
I greet you, Russian Orthodox people, on the solemn occasion of the dedication of your church. The present day is as joyous for us, as once was the day for Israel, when, in the reign of Solomon, the temple of the Lord was erected instead of the tabernacle.
Truly enough, until now in New York we had but a tabernacle. Like the tabernacle carried from one town to another, our church also was moved from one place to another. And like David being sorry that he dwelt in a house of cedar but the ark of God dwelt within curtains (II Samuel 7. 2) we also many a time were sorry that our church was small, poor and uncomfortable. Today we put an end to regrets of this kind, the Lord took notice of our heartfelt longings, that, in this great city, there should be erected a church worthy of the Russian nation and answering to the greatness of the Orthodox faith.
It is true that in wealth our new church is inferior to many churches of the great Russian land, but, for a compensation, She, like the temple of Solomon, has a missionary importance: we trust that people of alien creeds will also hear of it, and will come to it and pray, lifting their arms towards Our Lord!
And so let us thank the Lord, who should Himself so gracious to us, in moving good Russian people to sacrifice, that this church should be erected, and in consecrating it to day with the grace of His Holy Spirit.
Now if so be ye have lasted that the Lord is gracious (I Peter 2, 3), having helped you to erect this stately stone building, you also brethren, in the words of St. Peter the Apostle, as lively stones are built up a spiritual house (2, 5), that is to say you compose a church community, as firm and as lasting as this church of years. Up to this day, so long as you had no regular church here, so long as you had but a temporary place for it, it seemed both to foreigners and to yourselves that possibly the work of the Orthodox Church in this country was also but temporary. But now that you have a regular church, these apprehensions are dissipated. I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16, 18), and so I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, amen (28, 20).
We believe and trust that these promises of Christ have reference to our work here as well and so do come to this church without fear, but gather around it daringly and form one unanimous family, tied with the bonds of faith and love.
You know that at home in Russia church and parish are intimately related to each other. Let it be the same way amongst you. Love your church and visit it often. Of old Russian people always were known for their piety and their love for the holy Churches of God: holy Russia is built on churches and is beautified by them. Unfortunately, there are Russians, who, once they got abroad, begin, through lack of moral courage, to be ashamed to preserve the good customs of the religion of their fathers, and think that by giving them up they will secure the respect of the foreigners. This is a bitter and a sad error: no one respects renegades! Needless to say, that it was about these that our Lord spoke: Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels (Mark 8, 38).
You should act differently: stand by the Orthodox faith, preserve the tradition of your fathers, and love the church of the Lord.
Gathering around the temple, build out of yourselves a spiritual house (I Peter 2, 5), so that to be able to give yourselves, your souls and your life to the service of God. Do not forget that both your church and church community have a missionary importance: you are a chosen generation, a peculiar people (I Peter 2, 9), so that you may announce to the foreigners around you the wondrous light of Orthodoxy.
In one of the beautiful prayers, which were said at the consecration of this holy edifice, we pray the Lord that the erected church should serve for the guidance of our lives, for the fulfilment of righteous living and for the realization of all truths.
And so I think it timely, at the dedication of your church, to implore you in the words of St. Peter, which can closely be applied to you also. Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lasts, which was against the soul, but lead a righteous life so that the followers of different creeds all around you should glorify God and your church by your good works, which they shall behold. For so is the will of God that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. As free and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God, obey all authorities, honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. And when you minister to each other, minister in the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
BISHOP TIKHON.
New York 10/23 November 1902.