Two New Books About St. John Published in Russia

[December 6, 2012] The presentation of Alexei Solonitsyn's new book: "Wonderworker of Our Times" took place on November 20 at the Ryazan State University. The book is the story about St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco and was published by Moscow publisher "Nikea." Similar presentations of the new book took place in all the cities of the 10 dioceses in Russia that were recently visited by the reliquary with the relics of St. John.

The Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate has published a new book by Timothy Veronin in the series "Russia is Your Name," – "John is His Name." This children's book also tells the story of the greatest saint of the Russian emigration – St. John, the Wonderworker Shanghai and San Francisco.

AROUND THE DIOCESE: November 2012

[December 1, 2012] On November 6, the feast of the icon of the Theotokos "Joy of All Who Sorrow" at Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, Deacon George Chrebtow was awarded the double orarion.

• Long-time teacher of New Testament at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, Sergey Kiriukhin, has been received into the Western American Diocese. On November 6 Archbishop Kyrill ordained him to the priesthood and on November 11 Deacon Sergey was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Theodosy. Fr. Sergey is presently serving for 40 days at the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco,

• In accordance with his petition Priest Matthew Harrington has been released from his duties at St. Silouan Church in Walla Walla, Washington, and given a canonical release to the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America (ROCOR).

• Two clergymen of the Western American Diocese, Archpriests Alexander Lebedeff and Peter Perekrestov, represented the Russian Church Abroad at the Plenary session of the Inter-Conciliar Standing Conference of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Plenary Session was held at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow on November 22-23 and was chaired by His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

50th Anniversary of St. John (Maximovtch's) Arrival in San Francisco

[November 30, 2012] On Sunday, December 9, the Holy Virgin Cathedral will mark the 50th anniversary of St. John (Maximovitch's) arrival to San Francisco as the ruling bishop of the Western American Diocese. The early Liturgy will be served at the cathedral (6201 Geary Boulevard) at 7:30 am, the late service at 9:45 am. His Grace, Bishop Theodosy of Seattle, will celebrate the early Liturgy.

Precious Cross of Christ with a Drop of His Blood to Visit San Francisco

[November 28, 2012] Father Ioannis Maridakis, a priest from the parish of the Nativity of the Theotokos in the town of Galata on the island of Crete, will bring a metal cross with a piece of the Precious Cross of Christ and a drop of His Blood to the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco (6210 Geary Boulevard) this upcoming weekend. Fr. Ioannis and the cross wll be at the cathedral on Saturday, December 1 from 9:00 am to the end of the Vigil (around 8:45 pm) and Sunday, December 2 at both the early and late Liturgies. The cross was given to Fr. Ioannis in September of 2003 by Maria Panou, the mother of the current representative of the Holy Sepulcher in Athens, who in turn received this cross from Patriarch Diodoros of Jerusalem. In the last several years hundreds of people were healed from various illnesses, including cancer and infertility, upon venerating and praying before this cross.

The Sixth Annual St. Herman's West Youth Conference to be Held in Seattle

[November 20, 2012] With the blessing of Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western-America, the Sixth Annual St. Herman's West Youth Conference will be held in Seattle on December 23-27. The theme of the sixth diocesan youth conference is the fifth anniversary of the restoration of canonical unity in the Local Russian Church and the conference's keynote speaker will be Archbishop Ionafan of Tulchin and Bratslav (Ukrainian Orthodox Church). The conference is for youth aged 15-25. For additional information and to register, please visit the conference site молодежи. Space is limited.

St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco to Visit 10 Dioceses of the Church in Russia

[November 16, 2012] With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow and All Russia and His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia) a reliquary with a relic of St. John, Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco will be taken to 10 dioceses of Central Russia. The project is part of the international youth program "Spiritual Connection" and begins on November 16. The holy relics will be taken to the following cities: Ivanovo (November 16-18), Riazan (November 19-21), Tula (November 22-24), Kaluga (November 25-27), Briansk (November 28-30), Kursk (December 1-2), Belgorod (December 4-6), Voronezh (December 7-9), Lipetsk (December 10-12) and Tambov (December 13-15). Numerous educational events are planned in every city the relics of St. John visit.

Prayers Offered Before St. John's Relics for the Work of the 17th All-American Council

[November 12, 2012] On Monday, November 12, a Service of Intercession (Molieben) to St. John, the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco was served before his holy relics by the dean of Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, Archpriest Peter Perekrestov. Special prayers were offered for the retired Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, Metropolitan Jonah, the Locum Tenens of the Metropolitan See, Archbishop Nathaniel, the Administrator of the OCA, Bishop Michael and the participants of the Orthodox Church in America's 17th All-American Council. The election of a new Metropolitan of All America and Canada is scheduled for Tuesday, November 13 in Parma, Ohio.

80th Anniversary of the Hollywood Branch of the Aid to Russian Children Society Marked in Los Angeles

[November 11, 2012] On Sunday, November 11 the 80th anniversary of the Hollywood branch of the Aid to Russian Children Society was marked in Los Angeles. The branch was founded in 1932 by L. Golitzin and A. Kitaeva. The celebration was attended by His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western American, Southern Deanery clergy and representatives of Los Angeles' Orthodox community. Archbishop Kyrill spoke about the Christian ministry of helping the needy and sacrifice, while Archpriest Alexander Lebedeff (Transfiguration Cathedral) emphasized the importance of remembering the founders of the L-A branch of the Society and the continuation of their work. At the present time the Society is working together with the Russian Benevolent Foundation: "Health of the Motherland."

Diocesan Council Holds Fall Meeting

[November 2, 2012] On September 25, 2012 the Diocesan Council (clergy and laity) met at the Diocesan Administration for its fall session. The meeting began with a prayer and Archbishop Kyrill's report. Archbishop Kyrill spoke about two upcoming parish jubilees in the diocese: St. Martin the Merciful Church’s 10th anniversary on October 25, 2012 (Corvallis, Oregon) and the 75th anniversary of the consecration of St. Nicholas Cathedral on December 19, 2012 (Seattle, Washington). The fall clergy retreat will culminate with the celebration in Corvallis. The Archbishop also announced to the council members that a long-time teacher at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, Sergei Kiriukhin, will be moving to the West Coast, ordained to the priesthood and assigned to a parish in the diocese. ...more

AROUND THE DIOCESE: October 2012

[November 1, 2012] On October 18 Bishop Theodosy of Seattle and Archpriest Serge Kotar blessed the newly-reconstructed windmill at Fort Ross. The windmill is a copy of the 1814 version and was built by craftsmen in Vologda, Russia and then transported and assembled in California.

• Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America took part in the First Conference of Russian Orthodox Bishops Serving in the Diaspora. The Conference was held in London, England, from October 19-21.

• The All-Night Vigil on Saturday, October 20, at the Holy Ascension Church in Sacramento, California, was served by the Superior of Moscow's Sretensky Monastery, Archimandrite Tikhon. Following the service Fr. Tikhon met with the parish Rector and parishioners and a presentation of the English version of his bestseller, "Everyday Saints," took place. The following day Archimandrite Tikhon celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Herman's Monastery in Platina, California.

• On October 25, at the Divine Liturgy at the St. Martin the Confessor Church in Corvallis, Oregon, the parish Rector, Priest James Baglien, and the Rector of the the Theotokos of Iveron Church in Honolulu, Hawaii, Priest Anatole Lyovin, were awarded gold pectoral crosses by Archbishop Kyrill.

• The St. Martin the Merciful parish in Corvallis, Oregon, has laid the foundation of it's new parish center which will include a parish hall and a rectory for the priest.

• In accordance with his petition Archpriest Seraphim Bell has been retired from his duties as Rector of St. Silouan Church in Walla Walla, Washington, and given a release to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Priest Daniel Reese is the new Rector of the St. Silouan parish.