Epistle of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the Fifth Anniversary of the Signing of the Act of Canonical Communion

[May 17, 2012]

Dear in the Lord Reverend Archpastors, Honorable Presbyters and Deacons, 
God-loving Monks and Nuns, Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, 
from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ 
in sincerity.” (Ephesians 6:23-24)

Today the Russian Orthodox Church marks the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion. This document brought to an end many years of division between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. We remember a great and significant event which marked the overcoming of one of the tragic consequences of Russia’s XX century political and spiritual catastrophes. ...more

An Epistle of the Ruling Archbishop of the Western American Diocese

[May 15, 2012]

EPISTLE on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion

Reverend Fathers, Pious Monastics, Faithful Sons and Daughters of the Church,

CHRIST IS RISEN!

As we continue to celebrate the joyous Feast of Holy Pascha, in which we marvel that our Risen Lord has called the whole world to Himself and brought the dead to life, we are given, by the grace of this same Lord our God, another cause for rejoicing. On the Feast of the Holy Ascension of our Lord, 17 May 2007, the Act of Canonical Communion was signed and the first joint celebration of the Divine Liturgy performed by two hierarchs, now of blessed memory: His Holiness Patriarch Alexeii II of Moscow and All Russia, and His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. We have now come to the fifth anniversary of this blessed event, by which the unity of the Church was restored and the healing of the wounds of generations brought to its next divinely-guided step. ...more

Decree № 10E/2012

[May 14, 2012]

Regarding the 5th Anniversary of the Re-Establishment of Unity in the Local Russian Orthodox Church: to all parishes, monasteries and missions of the Diocese

1. On the 17th of May 2007, on the feast of the Lord’s Ascension, His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Alexei II, and the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan Laurus, signed the Act of Canonical Communion in Christ the Saviour Cathedral – Moscow. This Act put an ehttp://www.wadiocese.com/pm/index.php?sx=&m=weblog&p=new#nd to the divide of the Local Russian Church. This year, 2012, marks the 5th year of the re-establishment of the unity of the Russian Church.
...more

Fifth Anniversary of Russian Orthodox Church Unity to be Marked in San Francisco

[May 13, 2012] On May 17, 2007, the Feast of Ascension, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia and His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, signed the Act of Canonical Communion at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. This Act put an end to the division in the Local Russian Orthodox Church. In 2012 the fifth anniversary of the restoration of Russian church unity is marked. ...more

Foundation Stone for a New Church Laid in Salt Lake City

[May 9, 2012] On May 5 and 6, His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America visited the mission parish of the Great-martyr and Trophy-bearer George in Salt Lake City, Utah on the occasion of the parish feastday. The celebration was especially festive this year, as the community laid the foundation stone for a new church. The Vigil service on Saturday, served by His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill together with the parish priest Fr. Michael van Opstall and Deacon Andrei Garine, was held in the open air on the site of the future church. After the reading of the Matins Gospel, Vladika blessed the foundation stone, which was subsequently buried with a capsule commemorating the founders of the church. On Sunday, the Liturgy was followed by a festal moleben, at which the parishioners prayed again to their heavenly protector for his aid in the completion of the forthcoming construction.

AROUND THE DIOCESE: April 2012

April 30, 2012] With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America the Diocesan Council has created an official Facebook page for the Diocese.

• This year the services of Holy Week and Pascha at the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Los Angeles were celebrated by His Grace Bishop Nikolai (Soraich).

• Due to an infection it has been necessary for Archdeacon Ambrose (Taratuchin) to have his left leg amputated below the knee. He is presently undergoing therapy and hopes to be walking soon and returning to his res­ponsibilities at Holy Virgin Cathedral.

• On Bright Saturday the Divine Liturgy at San Francisco's Holy Virgin Cathedral was celebrated by His Grace, Bishop Theodosy of Seattle. At the service he tonsured two new readers for St. Tikhon's Church: Alexander Semizarov and Edward Mansanger.

Bishop Pavel of Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut to Serve in Parishes of the Western Amercian Diocese

[April 27, 2012] His Grace Pavel, Bishop of Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut (Moscow Patriarchate) will take part in the Vigil service at the Church of All Russian Saints in Burlingame (California) on Saturday, April 28 and will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at San Francisco's Holy Virgin Cathedral on Sunday, April 29 (greeting of the bishop is at 9:45 am). Vladika Pavel served in San Francisco from 2003-2007. This is his first visit to the Western America Diocese in the episcopal rank (he was consecrated bishop in 2011).

Concert: "Treasures of Russian Sacred Music"

[April 23, 2012] The Vallejo Choral Society under the direction of Cyrill Deaconoff will present a concert of Russian Sacred Music from the Liturgy (Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Chesnokov, Archangelskiy, etc.) in San Francisco (Friday, April 27 at 8:00 pm at St. John's Presbyterian Church, 25 Lake Street at Arguello) and Vallejo (Sunday, April 29 at 3:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 1350 Amador Street).

Diocesan Council Holds Spring Meeting

[April 16, 2012] On March 15, 2012 the Diocesan Council (clergy and laity) met at the Diocesan Administration for its spring session. The meeting began with a prayer and Archbishop Kyrill's report. Vladika spoke in detail about the upcoming in May and August, 2012 services at Fort Ross in light of the celebration of Fort Ross' 200th anniversary. Hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church (MP and ROCOR) and the Orthodox Church in America plan to serve at the Liturgy on Saturday, August 25. His Grace Bishop Benjamin of the Diocese of the West (OCA) hopes to have the Sitka Icon of the Theotokos form Alaska present at the August celebration. ...more

Paschal Epistle of His Eminence Kyrill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America

CHRIST IS RISEN!

What can we say of the joy that all Christian people feel on this radiant day? What words could we add, or what exhortations could bring more joy, than the simple words of the angel that shake the universe: "He is not here, for He has risen" (Mark 16:6)? ...more

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