On Friday, December 6, 2024, the feast day of the Holy Righteous Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky and St Mitrophan of Voronezh, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, presided over the beginning of the last session of the Synod of Bishops of the year. Taking part in this meeting are His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany; His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America; His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada; His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe; His Grace Bishop Theodosius of Seattle and His Grace Bishop Job of Stuttgart.

The archpastors prayed at Divine Liturgy celebrated by Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Dean of the Synodal Cathedral, in St Sergius of Radonezh Chapel in the presence of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign."

The Synod meeting opened with the singing of "O Heavenly King," after which the President of the Synod of Bishops addressed the archpastors with introductory remarks. His Eminence spoke about the repose, funeral, and burial of the newly-departed Archbishop Peter (Loukianoff) of Chicago and Mid-America, who reposed in the Lord on Friday, November 8, the feast day of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica. The bishops sang "Eternal Memory" to their late brother archpastor.

Then, approving the agenda proposed by the secretariat, the members of the Synod of Bishops began their work.

With the blessing of His Beatitude Sawa, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland (Polish Orthodox Church), Metropolitan John of Dubna (Archbishop of Western European parishes of the Russian tradition), Archbishop Kirill of San Francisco and Western America (Russian Orthodox Church Abroad), Archbishop Jakub of Byelostok (Polish Orthodox Church), and Bishop Andrew of Austria and Switzerland (Serbian Orthodox Church) the travel reliquary and liturgical belt of our father among the saints, John, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, and the new movie about him, were brought from California to Western Europe.

From November 9-17 this year St. John not only spiritually, but also bodily, in his relics, visited Poland, Switzerland and France.

On November 17th, Holy Virgin Cathedral hosted an educational seminar, organized by Priest George Kaplanov, entitled: Rivers of Living Water: A Christian Perspective on Environmental Challenges. 

His Eminence Kyrill Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America and a group of participants interested in this vital theme were in attendance. The key-note speakers were Priest Elijah Wu (Drake) and Frederick W. Krueger.

Frederick W. Krueger, the executive director for the Orthodox Fellowship of the Transfiguration (OFT), gave a talk entitled, The Earth is the Lord’s: The Christian Teaching on Taking Good Care of God’s Creation.

This year, the Russian Orthodox Parish of St. John of Kronstadt (+1908) in San Diego (ROCOR) celebrates its 55th anniversary, as well as the 60th anniversary of the canonization and the 195th anniversary of the birth of its spiritual patron and the second most revered Russian Saint. The parish was founded in 1967 in the home of priest Michael Lightfoot, and the church was consecrated in 1969, just 5 years after the Canonization of this Saint by the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.

Surprisingly, this is one of the first churches in honor of the great shepherd of Kronstadt worldwide since his glorification was allowed in Russia only in 1990, after the fall of the Soviet Union. In 2009, the church was expanded and took on its current appearance.

On Saturday, November 9, an event of historic significance took place in Yosemite National Park as the first recorded Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the iconic chapel within the valley.

With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill, Priest Yuri Fokin, a cleric of Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, presided over the Divine Service assisted by Deacon Seraphim Torruella of Holy Ascension Church in Sacramento. They were joined by approximately 30 faithful from various Orthodox jurisdictions across the region. The Divine Liturgy chanted in English, created a rare and profound moment, introducing perhaps many visiting tourists from around the world who happened to enter the chapel to the beauty and sanctity of Orthodox worship in such an awe-inspiring natural setting.

On November 5, 2024, the eve of the patronal feast of the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, CA, an all-night vigil was served. The service was presided over by His Eminence Kirill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America. Concelebrating with him His Grace Theodosy, Bishop of Seattle, and His Grace James, Bishop of Sonora, as well as a host of clergy of the Diocese.

The hymns of vigil were performed by the cathedral choir under the direction of Vladimir Krasovsky and by clergy of the Diocese who sang on kliros.

On November 6, 2024, on the day of the memory of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" and the patronal feast of Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, a solemn liturgy was served. The service was led by His Eminence Kirill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America, and concelebrated by His Grace Theodosy, Bishop of Seattle, and a host of clergy of the Diocese.