Rare Performance in Carmel of Rachmaninoff's Vespers

[July 17, 2012] On Sunday, July 22 at 8:30 pm a rare performance in Carmel of Rachmaninoff's monumental work for a cappella chorus VESPERS will take place at the Sunset Center (San Carlos at 9th Street). Andrew Megill will direct the Bach Festival Chorus and Chorale in what is considered by many as Rachmaninoff's finest achievement. Tickets may be ordered online.

The Feast of Theophany in Sacramento

[January 20, 2012] The Western American Diocese site photo gallery has been updated. See the photos of the feast of Theophany at Sacramento's Holy Ascension Church. Photos by Irene Hanlon.

Nativity Epistle of the Ruling Archbishop of the Western American Diocese

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

Brethren, we come once more to the Feast of the Nativity of our Saviour. Once again we stand at the cave, and behold the Incarnation of the Son of God. Like familiar friends we join Him beneath the star, veiling our eyes at His glory. We see the great made small, and the One Who is good beyond our evil, come among us.

But on this day we are made more than “familiar friends.” On this day the Son of God takes our flesh, and makes it His. We are drawn into His life. We are made His family. We are sons and daughters of His Father, Whom we now call “Our Father,” as this Lord has taught us. We are His. ...more

San Francisco Deanery Pilgrimage to Southern California

[January 4, 2012] With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill a pilgrimage to Southern California from February 19-22, 2012 is announced. The group will be led by Archpriest Peter Perekrestov. Trip participants will see “Orthodox Hollywood” – the 3 Russian parishes, the grand St. Sophia Greek Cathedral (built by the president of Fox Studios); the group will venerate the relics of St. Vibian, Blessed Augustine and his mother, Blessed Monica and get a glimpse of “The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of the Porciuncula River” – this is the full name of the city of Los Angeles. ...more

Western American Diocese Clergy Participates in West Coast Pan-Orhtodox Clergy Retreat

[December 22, 2011] The Third Annual West Coast Pan-Orthodox Pastoral retreat, representing all the Canonical Orthodox jurisdictions of the West Coast, was held on December 6-8 at St. Nicholas Ranch and the "Life-Giving Spring" Greek Monastery in Dunlap, California. The Western American Diocese of the Russian Church was represented by priests from Burlingame (Archpriest Stefan Pavlenko), Sacramento (Archpriest Paul Volmensky) and San Francisco (Archpriest Peter Perekrestov. (Photos of the Retreat available to view here). ...more

St. John's Academy Gala Fundraising Dinner 2012

[December 15, 2011] On Friday, January 27, 2012, the St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Academy will hold their second "St. John's Gala Evening" organized by the school's Board of Directors. The main goals of the evening are to acquaint the Bay area Orthodox community with the work of St. John's Academy and to raise funds for the school.

Visit the Academy site for complete information about this event and to make reservations.

Archbishop Kyrill Makes Historic Visit to Mexico

[December 12, 2012] On Sunday, December 4, 2011, the feast of the Entrance into the Temple of the Most-Holy Mother of God, the fifth anniversary of the establishment of Holy Trinity Skete in Mexico City, Mexico, was celebrated.

His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, whose diocese includes this skete, accompanied by Protopriest Yaroslav Belikow, Protodeacon Nicholas Triantafillidis and Reader Peter Karakozov, attended the celebrations. ...more

AROUND THE DIOCESE: November 2011

[December 1, 2011] A new priest has been assigned to the St. John of Kronstadt Church in San Diego – Archpriest Eugene Grushetsky. The St. Barbara Mission in Orange County (California) is now being served by Priest George Gulin, who is on loan from the Orthodox Church in America.

• On November 3, 2011, His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America represented the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia at the grand banquet on the occasion of the XVI All American Council of the Orthodox Church in America. The Council took place in Seattle.

• In October one of the senior clergymen of the Western American Diocese, the rector of St. Seraphim's Church in Monterey, Archpriest George Kurtow, marked the 30th anniversary of his priesthood. On this occasion Archbishop Kyrill blessed Father George with an icon.

• In November, during his trip to Russia, Bishop Theodosy of Seattle visited the Krutitsa Metachion in Moscow, where he met with representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church's youth movements. A brief report on the visit is available on YouTube.

• A new course, "Church Slavonic for English Speakers", has began in San Francisco and Santa Rosa. The courses are taught by the instructor of Church Slavonic at Holy Trinity Seminary's Summer School of Liturgical Music (Jordanville, New York), Elena Perekrestov.

• On Sunday, November 13, at the Divine Liturgy at St. Seraphim Church (Boise, Idaho), Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America ordained iconographer Matthew Garrett to the diaconate. Father Matthew is assigned to serve at the St. Seraphim parish.

CD 8 in the "Chants of the Russian Emigres" Presented at the Patriarch Aleksey Tribute in San Francisco

[November 25, 2011] On Thursday, November 3, three events took place at the Holy Virgin Cathedral (San Francisco) hall: a photo exhibit of works by Mikhail Moiseev (Moscow); a tribute to His Holiness Patriarch Aleksey and the presentation of CD 8 in the "Chants of the Russian Emigres" series. The CD was recorded in 2010 and is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. We invite visitors to our site to view photos of some of M. Moiseev's works, as well as photos of the evening in general and to listen to sample tracks (see link below). ...more

PHOTO GALLERY: Holy Virgin Cathedral "Joy of All Who Sorrow" Feastday

[November 21, 2011] We invite visitors to our site to view the photo gallery of the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy at San Francisco's Holy Virgin Cathedral on November 5 and 6. The feastday services were celebrated by His Eminence Kyrill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America. Photos by Mikhail Moiseev (Moscow, Russia).