St. Tikhon’s Seminary Century Association hosted Hospitality ala Russe on Sunday, May 6th at St. John’s Center in Mayfield, PA. The festival featured a magnificent “Russian Table” including zakushki (appetizers) of potato pancakes, eggplant caviar, pirozhki, kielbasa, marinated mushrooms, entrees of beef Stroganoff, chicken ala Russe, halupki, halushki, pierogis, and delicious homemade desserts. 

Matushka Nina Stroyen was present to sign copies of the newly published cookbook, “HANYA’S KITCHEN: The Orthodox Herald Recipe Collection”, and St. John’s Bookstore offered a wide variety of Russian collectibles. 

Entertainment featured the St. John’s Children’s Folkdance Ensemble dancing traditional folk dances and the Podoben chorus, directed by Masha Pavuk, presenting a selection of Paschal liturgical hymns and folk songs.

The Association expresses sincere appreciation to Father John and Matushka Alexandra Sorochka for supervising the event, to St. John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Cathedral for graciously allowing the Association to use their facilities, to the members of St. John’s parish who setup, cooked, served, baked decadent desserts and cleaned up, and to Father Joseph and Matushka Gloria Martin for orgaizing the theme basket raffle and preparing appetizers and entrees for the event. Thank you to the merchants who provided door prizes, to the donors of tickets, raffle prizes and theme baskets, to our platinum, gold and silver sponsors, to the Festival committee and the members of the Association for donating food, time and talent, and to all of our guests who enjoyed a delightful afternoon of superb food, excellent entertainment, and wonderful fellowship.

Through this tremendous outpouring of generosity and the combined effort of all of our contributors and volunteers, President Sarah Jubinski, on behalf of the Century Association, presented to Arch-Priest Alexander Atty, Dean of St. Tikhon’s Seminary, the Association’s second installment check in the amount of $25,000.00.