The Solemn Celebration of St. John's Feastday in San Francisco

[July 5, 2007] The solemn celebration of the feast of Saint John, Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco took place on June 29-30 at the Holy Virgin Cathedral "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in San Francisco. His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, headed the celebration. Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, Bishop Michael of Geneva and Western Europe, Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan and numerous clergy of the Russian, Jerusalem, Serbian, Romanian and American Orthodox Churches concelebrated. ...more

A Grace Filled Celebration in Seattle

[December 26, 2006] The grace of God flowed abundantly in Seattle on Tuesday, December 19, the St. Nicholas Cathedral Feastday. His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America arrived at the Sea-Tac Airport on Monday afternoon. Archbishop Kyrill presided at the festal Vigil during the course of which a number of priests heard confessions. Following the Vigil a meal was served for the clergy at rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Archpriest Alexis Kotar's home.

On St. Nicholas day Archbishop Kyrill tonsured two readers for the parish: Oleg Shmitov and Aleksey Morozov. At the Small Entrance Priest Luke Higgins of the St. Silouan parish in Walla Walla was awarded the right to wear the kamilavka and Priest Evstafij Hripunov of St. Nicholas Church in Vancouver, Canada – the puple skufia. ...more

Archbishop Kyrill Greets the All-Merciful Saviour Brotherhood

[December 25, 2006] The monastic All-Merciful Saviour Brotherhood on Vashon Island marked it's 20th anniversary on Wednesday, December 20. Due to the storms and high winds in the Pacific Northwest the monastery had no electricity for days. Nevertheless the Brotherhood's anniversary was marked with honor. The Liturgy in the monastery's Protection church was celebrated by Priest Michael Van Opstall and the new monastery hierodeacon Father Paul. His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill prayed at the Liturgy together with the Dean of the Northwest Deanery of the Western American Diocese, Archpriest Alexis Kotar and Archpriests Peter Perekrestov (San Francisco) and David moser (Boise). The responses were chanted by a choir of pilgrims under the direction of Presbytera Elena Perekrestov. ...more

St. John Chapel Iconostasis Consecrated

[December 24, 2006] Following the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of St. Nicholas in Seattle a procession took place to the parish building where St. John, Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco, reposed 40 years ago. There is a small chapel in the building. In order to mark the 40th Anniversary of St. John's repose in Seattle, the St. Nicholas Cathedral parish ordered an iconostasis in Belarus. The iconostasis arrived in Seattle a few days before the parish Feastday. Thanks to the untiring efforts of the parishioners, the iconostasis was set-up and Archbishop Kyrill consecrated it. The chapel also houses a special shrine with a large icon of St. John and his ryassa. ...more

The First Hierarch Thanks the Clergy of the Western American Diocese

[December 23, 2006] The First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Eminence, The Most Reverend Metropolitan Laurus, sent His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America and the clergy of the Western American Diocese the following letter:

Your Eminence, Dear Archbishop Kyrill and honorable Father-Pastors,

I thank you and all the Fathers and Brothers from the bottom of my heart for your letter and good wishes, as well as your Pastoral Epistle in which you express support for the steps taken by the All-Diaspora Council in regards to the matter of reconciliation in our Russian Orthodox Church. May God save you!

With fraternal love in the Lord,
† Metropolitan Laurus

November 17/30, 2006

St. Barbara Mission to Hold First Parish Feastday Celebration

[December 13, 2006] On Sunday, December 17, the Western American Diocese's newest mission, the Saint Barbara Community in Orange County, will hold it's first Feastday celebration. The Great Martyr Barbara received a martyr's crown exactly 1700 years ago. The Liturgy will be celebrated by the Dean of the Western American Diocese's Southern Deanery, Archpriest Alexander Lebedeff. Services are temporarily held at: 854 El Dorado Drive, Fullerton. For additional information contact Natalya Hayes at (714) 525-3305.

All-Merciful Saviour Brotherhood prepares to Mark 20th Anniversary

[December 9, 2006] The brotherhood of All-Merciful Saviour Monastery, on Vashon Island, near Seattle, will be marking their 20th Anniversary with a celebration of the Divine Liturgy on December 20. His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill will be in attendance. The Monk Paul will be ordained a hierodeacon at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Seattle on St. Nicholas Day (December 19) and will be serving his first Liturgy as a deacon along with the newly ordained priest, Father Michael Van Opstall. Meanwhile, progress continues on the construction of the new refectory and three new monastic cells, as well as the new iconastasis.

Western American Diocese Now Has It's Own Bell Foundry

[December 6, 2006] The Western American Diocese now has it's own bell foundry – All Saints of America Bells. All Saints of America Bells is located in the country side of Southeastern Washington State and is an open air foundry. They have been making bronze bells for Orthodox churches and monasteries since 2000 and have delivered their bells to three continents. One of the founders of the foundry is the newly ordained priest Daniel Reese of Walla Walla. For more information on All Saints of America Bells see their website.

New Photographs

[December 4, 2006] New photo albums have been added to the Diocesan photo gallery: photos of the XI World Russian Orthodox Youth Conference (San Francisco, 2004) and the diocesan pilgrimage to the Holy Land for Holy Week and Pascha 2005.

Icons From Sinai Exhibit Opens in Los Angeles

[November 29, 2006] An exhibition of fifty-three objects from Saint Catherine's Monastery in Sinai has opened at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. This exhibition offers an unprecedented look at some of the oldest surviving icons from the Byzantine world, and provides rare insight into monastic life, past and present, at the remote Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine. The exhibit will run until March 4, 2007.