On October 3rd, 2025, the Western American Diocese (ROCOR) and the Diocese of the West (OCA) jointly organized a one-day conference dedicated to the Centennial Anniversary of Pilgrimage to Fort Ross (1925-2025).

Over 130 participants gathered enthusiastically to learn much about the history of Fort Ross, its settlement and cemetery and about the many pilgrimages that have taken place over the past century and how and why they started.

The conference received excellent reviews based on both its content and organization. Many of those who could not attend the event inquired about the possibility of viewing recordings of the presentations.

The Western American Diocese and the Diocese of the West have made the seven lecturers presented that day available to the public. See the list below:

1st Lecture, Keynote Speaker - Maria Sakovich (MPH, MA)

• Granddaughter of the original priest who initiated the annual pilgrimage

2nd Lecture: Dr. Susan Morris

• On Saint Peter the Aleut

3rd Lecture: Breck Parkman

• The Cemetery at Fort Ross

4th Lecture: Dr. Nina Bogdan

• The place of Fort Ross in the hearts of several generations of Russians in California

5th Lecture: Very Reverend John Perich

• The museum and repository at Monastery of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk in Waymart, PA, and the story of the Canonization of Saint Peter the Aleut

6th Lecture: Very Reverend Archpriest Alexander Krassovsky

• Russian Orthodox youth and Fort Ross, decades of support

7th Lecture: Innokentia (Robin) Wellman

• The Five Saints known to have trodden the land of Fort Ross.