An anvil delivery system comprising: a delivery assembly including an adapter member, the adapter member defining a through bore and comprising a longitudinal guide feature; an anvil assembly including: a center rod assembly selectively securable to the adapter member, wherein said center rod assembly comprises a center rod wherein the proximal portion of the center rod includes a plurality of flexible arms, wherein slots are formed between each of the plurality of flexible arms; and a head assembly pivotally secured to the center rod assembly, the head assembly being pivotable between a first tilted position and an operative position, the head assembly including a housing and a first opening; and a suture for retaining the head assembly in the first tilted position, the suture having first and second end portions (S1a, S1b), wherein the suture extends through the through bore in the adapter member and includes a first knot securing the suture about the adapter member, wherein the first and second end portions (S1a, S1b) of the suture are received through the opening in the housing, wherein said first knot is tied in alignment with the longitudinal guide feature and wherein receipt of the longitudinal guide feature within the slot that is in alignment with the first opening of the head assembly aligns the first knot with the first opening, and wherein the first the knot is positioned about a central hub portion of the adapter member so that a first and a second length of the suture are adjacent from the adapter member to the head assembly, wherein the housing further defines a pair of openings having first and second openings (117a, 117b), the first end portion of the suture (S1a) being received through the first opening of the pair of openings and the second end portion of the suture (S1b) being received through the second opening of the pair of openings, and wherein the first and second end portions (S1a, S1b) of the suture form a second knot external of the first and second openings (117a, 117b). a delivery assembly including an adapter member, the adapter member defining a through bore and comprising a longitudinal guide feature; an anvil assembly including: a center rod assembly selectively securable to the adapter member, wherein said center rod assembly comprises a center rod wherein the proximal portion of the center rod includes a plurality of flexible arms, wherein slots are formed between each of the plurality of flexible arms; and a head assembly pivotally secured to the center rod assembly, the head assembly being pivotable between a first tilted position and an operative position, the head assembly including a housing and a first opening; and a center rod assembly selectively securable to the adapter member, wherein said center rod assembly comprises a center rod wherein the proximal portion of the center rod includes a plurality of flexible arms, wherein slots are formed between each of the plurality of flexible arms; and a head assembly pivotally secured to the center rod assembly, the head assembly being pivotable between a first tilted position and an operative position, the head assembly including a housing and a first opening; and a suture for retaining the head assembly in the first tilted position, the suture having first and second end portions (S1a, S1b), wherein the suture extends through the through bore in the adapter member and includes a first knot securing the suture about the adapter member, wherein the first and second end portions (S1a, S1b) of the suture are received through the opening in the housing, wherein said first knot is tied in alignment with the longitudinal guide feature and wherein receipt of the longitudinal guide feature within the slot that is in alignment with the first opening of the head assembly aligns the first knot with the first opening, and wherein the first the knot is positioned about a central hub portion of the adapter member so that a first and a second length of the suture are adjacent from the adapter member to the head assembly, wherein the housing further defines a pair of openings having first and second openings (117a, 117b), the first end portion of the suture (S1a) being received through the first opening of the pair of openings and the second end portion of the suture (S1b) being received through the second opening of the pair of openings, and wherein the first and second end portions (S1a, S1b) of the suture form a second knot external of the first and second openings (117a, 117b).