"Saint John's Holy Russia" Photo Exhibit to Open in San Francisco

[June 27, 2009] With the blessing of His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and His Eminence Kyrill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America, a photo exhibit Saint John's Holy Russia: Russia's Revival of Faith in Photos by Vladimir Hodakov will open at San Francisco's Holy Virgin Cathedral exhibition hall (6210 Geary Boulevard) on Sunday, June 28. The exhibit marks the 15th anniversary of the canonization of St. John (Maximovitch), Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco and consists of photos by one of Moscow's best known church photographers, Vladimir Hodakov. This is Vladimir Hodakov's second exhibit in the West, following last year's London viewing.

Exhibit hours are:
June 28: 1:00-5:00 PM.
June 29 & 30: 5:00-8:00 PM.
July 1 & 2: 5:00-9:00 PM. ...more

Myrrh-streaming Icon to Visit Holy Resurrection Church in Santa Barbara

[June 22, 2009] The newly revealed Hawaiian Myrrhstreaming icon of the Theotokos will be present at the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Resurrection Church in Santa Barbara on Saturday, June 27. Liturgy begins at 9:00 am. The church is located at 411 Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.

The Celebration of the 15th Anniversary of Saint John's Glorification

[June 21, 2008] 2009 is the year the Orthodox Church marks the 15th anniversary of the glorification of St. John, the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco. This year St. John's feastday will be celebrated on Saturday, July 4 (closest Saturday to July 2). The schedule of the solemn celebration of the 15th canonization anniversary at the Holy Virgin "Joy of All Who Sorrow" Cathedral in San Francisco, where St. John's relics are kept, is as follows:

Thursday, July 2
At 7:30 pm, following the daily Vespers and Matins (6:00 pm), St. John's relics will be transferred to the middle of the cathedral and an Akathist to St. John will be chanted before them.

Friday, July 3
Confessions will be heard beginning at 5:00 pm. All-Night Vigil at 6:00 pm. Clergy from Local Orthodox Churches will concelebrate.

Saturday, July 4
Greeting of Archbishop KYRILL of San Francisco and Western America and the Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am. After the Liturgy a Service of Intercession to St. John (Molieben) and procession. Festal luncheon for clergy and faithful in the cathedral fellowship hall.

A New Film on the Life of Saint John (Maximovitch) is Released in Los Angeles

[June 20, 2009] With the blessing of His Eminence Kyrill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America and in conjunction with the 15th anniversary of the glorification of Saint John, the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco, a new film (in English) about this ascetic and great God-pleaser has been released. The concept of the film was developed by Priest Peter Shashkoff, the Rector of the Dormition Mission in Los Angeles. The new DVD contains rare footage of St. John, the glorification services and first hand accounts by people who personally knew Vladika John and can attest to his love, service and ascetic feats. To order the new DVD, please send a check in US funds ($25.00 for US and Canada orders including shipping; $30.00 for all other orders) made out to Holy Dormition Church and mail it to: ...more

Western American Diocese's Senior Subdeacon Reposes

[June 19, 2009] Today the senior subdeacon of the Western American Diocese, a clergyman of the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco and member of the St. Ignatius Brianchanov Brotherhood, Vyacheslav Shoomiloff, passed away. He was 92 years old. Subdeacon Vyacheslav served for the evermemorable St. John (Maximovitch), Bishop Nektary (Konzevitch) and Archbishop Anthony (Medvedev), as well as for the present ruling diocesan hierarch, Archbishop Kyrill. The panikhida for the newly-reposed Subdeacon Vyacheslav is scheduled for Sunday, June 21 at 7:30 pm at Holy Virgin Cathedral and the funeral for Monday, June 22 at 10:00 am.

Diocesan Clergy Serve at Holy Sites of the Jerusalem Patriarchate

[June 9, 2009] It took two years from the time of the historical restoration of unity in the Local Russian Orthodox Church in order for the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia to be able to serve at the holy sites under the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem Patriarchate. For the first time in over 60 years (since 1948) clergy of the Church Abroad celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the altars of the Church of Jerusalem. By God's mercy the first priests to serve were two clergymen from the Western American Diocese who were in the Holy Land with a pilgrimage group organized by the diocese. On Saturday, May 2, 2009 Archpriest Peter Perekrestov (San Francisco) and Priest Anatole Lyovin (Honolulu) celebrated the Liturgy at the Tomb of the Mother of God in Gethsemane, on May 4 at the Church of Our Lord's Nativity in Bethlehem and on May 5, together with Metropolitan Aristarkh of Constantine (Jerusalem Patriarchate) and Bishop Agapit of Stuttgart – at the Lifegiving Tomb of Christ in Jerusalem. Following the Liturgy at the Tomb Metropolitan Aristarkh invited Bishop Agapit, the concelebrating clergy and pilgrims from the Western American Diocese group to a reception. Vladika Aristarkh congratulated everyone with the historical joint Liturgy at the Tomb of Christ and remarked that the previous obstacles to concelebration were not of a dogamtic or canonical nature, but administrative. Now all administrative obstacles have been resolved and liturgical unity completely restored.

Letter From Mexico

[June 1, 2009] I want to inform the clergy and parishioners of the diocese that the money collected for our monastery has finally arrived to our account in America, and God willing by Wednesday (June 27th), we will finally be able to withdraw these funds in Mexico.

Since your help arrives in the most critical time for our Community and Mission, when we are facing the financial consequences of the three week quarantine, we wish to express our deepest gratitude to each one of you who have contributed in any way to make this help available to us.

May our Resurrected Lord reward your gifts of love, fellowship and generosity, with many Gifts from Above. Thank you for all your prayers, expressions of solidarity, and moral support.

Sincerely,

Igumen Nektariy and Brotherhood
Holy Trinity Skete, Mexico

Around the Diocese: May 2009

[May 31, 2009] On Sunday, May 31, His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill, in accordance with the Ukaze of the Synod of Bishops, bestowed the shield award (palitza) to Archpriest Yaroslav Belikow (20 years of the priesthood) of Holy Virgin Cathedral.

• St. Martin the Merciful Church in Corvallis, Oregon sponsored an Orthodox Youth Event Saturday, May 30 for the faithful of the Willamette Valley. Over 40 youth and 30 adults, representing six parishes, participated in the event. After an opening moleben, the youth were divided into three age groups, and participated in a rotating program of church skill and craft activities and spiritual talks, including bell-ringing classes and candle-making workshops. A picnic lunch was served by the parish between the morning and afternoon sessions. The day ended with closing prayers. The event was enthusiastically received by the youth, many of whom inquired about attending similar events in the future.

• The Western American Diocese was represented by Archpriest Yaroslav Belikow at the "Days of Slavic Literature and Culture 2009" in Saratov, Russia. Fr. Yaroslav presented a report entitled "The Parishes Schools of the Russian Diaspora" at the scholarly and practical conference "The Slavic World: Commonality and Diversity."

• On May 21, 2009 the Diocesan Council (both clergy and laity) met at the Diocesan Administration. The main topic on the agenda was the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the canonization of St. John, the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco. A decree and complete schedule are pending. The next meeting of the Diocesan Council is scheduled for October 1, 2009.

The Diocesan Cathedral Gets a New Holy Table For Pascha

[May 27, 2009] Two new items, a wooden carved holy table and a table of preparation were installed at the main altar of the Holy Virgin Joy of All Who Sorrow Cathedral in San Francisco for the feast of Pascha. They are a gift from Moscow's Petrov family (Oleg, Tatiana and Alexandra) in loving memory of Patriarch Alexy and Metropolitan Laurus and in gratitude for the restoration of unity in the Russian Church. The holy table and table of preparation are the work of the Holy Trinity Brotherhood in the Kursk region of Russia. V. R. Ershov from Moscow took upon himself all the expenses to have the items air shipped to California. May God bless all those who contributed to this memorial of an event of great historical importance, and of two great hierarchs.

Patriarch Kyrill's Letter to the Clergy of the Western American Diocese

[May 24, 2009] To His Eminence Kyrill, the Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America (Russian Church Abroad)

Your Eminence!

I would like to express my gratitude to you and all the participants of the Pastoral Conference of the Western American Diocese of the Russian Church Abroad for your kind greetings on the occasion of my elevation to the Moscow Patriarchal Throne and on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of my ordination to clerical orders. I thank you for your kind wishes and foremostly for your holy prayers which are such a source of support in my service as First Hierarch.

I wish Your Eminence, His Grace Bishop Theodosy of Seattle and all the clergy of the Western American Diocese the strength to complete Great Lent and greet Christ's Bright Resurrection.

I remain yours in Christ's love,

† KYRILL
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

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