Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Western American Diocese and beyond,

His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill blessed the opening of the "Bishop Theodosius Transitional Fund" in March of this year. To date, $21,000 has been collected. His Eminence is appealing to our diocesan community to bring this collection to $30,000, as His Grace Bishop Theodosy will be shipping the remainder of his possessions towards the end of this summer. This collection closes on August 15, 2026. No offering is too small. 

The Very Reverend Archpriest John Ocaña, founding priest of the St Herman of Alaska Russian Orthodox Church in Sunnyvale, CA, reposed this morning - July 21, 2026.

A lifelong resident of Sunnyvale, Fr John was born on May 18, 1942. Graduating from Sunnyvale High School, Fr John entered St Peter Chanel Seminary in San Rafael. During his studies there, he became interested in Eastern Orthodoxy, and after graduating from the seminary in 1962, he pursued a degree in Pastoral Theology from Santa Clara University.

He married Eileen Sullivan in 1969 and was ordained as an Orthodox priest on July 19, 1970. Fr John served at the Antiochian Orthodox Church of the Redeemer in Los Altos for many years and then established the St Herman of Alaska parish in Sunnyvale in 1984 with the blessing of Archbishop Antony (Medvedev). He faithfully and successfully served this community for over three decades until health issues forced him to retire.

After a long illness, Fr John peacefully reposed and is survived by his four children: Dymphna, Sean, Tony, and Joel - and by a multitude of grateful parishioners who will remember their beloved pastor forever.

The Funeral and burial are being arranged for August 1st at 11:00 am at Saint Herman of Alaska Russian Orthodox Church in Sunnyvale, CA. His Grace JAMES Bishop of Sonora will preside.

Terra-Gen Energy, a renewable energy developer, is surrounding the properties of Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary, a National Historic Site registered on the National Register of Historic Places.

Rolling Hills Wind, LLC (Rolling Hills Wind), a subsidiary of Terra-Gen, LLC (Terra-Gen) is planning the development of the Rolling Hills Wind Project (Project) in the towns of Warren, Stark, German Flatts, Little Falls, and Danube in Herkimer County, and the town of Springfield in Otsego County, New York. The Project, as currently proposed, will have a rated capacity of up to 250 megawatts (MW), spanning an approximately 75,000-acre area with a preliminary layout of 74 wind turbines. The Project qualifies as a large-scale (25 MW or larger) renewable energy project. A siting permit is required from the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) for construction purposes.

There are currently leases signed covering 17,268 acres in the Towns of Warren, Danube, German Flatts, Columbia, Springfield, Stark, and Little Falls.

We ask all of you to pray for our success in the struggle to preserve the Monastery and Seminary from this intrusion into the natural beauty of our surroundings, its effect on the spiritual life of our community, and the negative impression it will have on the many pilgrims seeking solace here.

Please help us:

His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill’s condition is improved, having been stabilized after treatment. He has been released from the hospital.

Vladyka Kyrill is sincerely thankful to all for the prayers and messages of support, and asks for continued prayers since his condition is still ongoing. 

On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, His Eminence KYRILL, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America, underwent a heart ablation.

His Eminence was feeling well after the procedure until late last night, when at 1:00 AM this morning, he was admitted to the emergency ward with complications.

Archbishop Kyrill is requesting the prayers of the faithful of the Western American Diocese and beyond for his health and recovery.