The Myrrh-Streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon to Visit San Francisco

[January 25, 2010] The newly-revealed Iveron Myrrhstreaming Icon of the Mother of God from Hawaii will be at the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, California (6210 Geary Boulevard), on Saturday, January 30. The greeting of the Myrrh-Streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon is scheduled for 6:00 pm followed by the All-Night Vigil. The Myrrhstreaming Icon will be in San Francisco just for that one evening and will remain in the church throughout the service.

AROUND THE DIOCESE: January 2010

[January 20, 2010] At the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of our Lord's Nativity at Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill awarded the cathedral Protodeacon Nicholas Triantaffilidis the purple kamilavka.

• The Lenten Western American Diocese Pastoral Conference is scheduled for March 8-10 at the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco.

• Archbishop Kyrill has received Deacon Dr. Matthew Steenberg into the ranks of clergy of the Western American Diocese from the Diocese of Sourozh. Father Matthew is assigned to the St. Tikohon's Church in San Francisco and as the new principal of St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Academy in San Francisco.

• On December 20, 2009 at the Divine Liturgy at the All-Merciful Saviour Monastery on Vashon Island Archbishop Kyrill ordained a member of the monastic brotherhood, Hierodeacon Paul, to the priesthood.

• Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America and Bishop Theodosy of Seattle have left for Russia to take part in a Bishop meeting and the services on the occassion of the first anniversary of His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill's enthronement as Patriarch of Moscow and All-Russia (February 1-2). While in Moscow Archbishop Kyrill will receive the Second Order of St. Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomensk.

Christ Is Born! Glorify Him!

NATIVITY EPISTLE
Of the Ruling Archbishop of the Western American Diocese

No sooner was our Lord Jesus Christ born in Bethlehem, joining us under the most contradictory of circumstances, that His persecution began. Upon receiving the news of the Messiah’s Nativity from the three Wise Kings, the most wicked King Herod, in a fit of rage, sent his soldiers to slaughter all the boy babies who had been born then in those parts, from the infants to the two-year-olds. Herod’s crime is described in historical accounts. But the Evangelist St. Matthew reports that the Lord sent an angel to warn St. Joseph, in a dream, of the threat to the Holy Family, so that they might flee the vicious persecution.

So it was that the Nativity of the Son of God, amazing the shepherds and gloriously heralded by the heavenly hosts, had on the one hand inspired the Wise Kings to undertake a complex pilgrimage, that they might find God Incarnate, worship him and offer Him their gifts – while in the soul of the wicked, ignorant and idolatrous king (for Herod was not a righteous king at all, but prayed to idols), it only inspired a ferocious hatred and a stubborn obsession with asserting his ruthless personal agenda. ...more

One of the Diocese's Senior Presbyteras Passes Away

[December 23, 2009] Tamara Kotar, one of the senior presbyteras of the Western American Diocese (wife of the evermemorable Archpriest Nicholas Kotar), passed away today in a San Francisco hospital. Her eldest son, Archpriest Sergei Kotar, is a clergyman of the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco and diocesan treasurer. Her second son, Archpriest Alexis Kotar, is the priest at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Seattle and dean of the Pacific Northwest Deanery. T. Kotar is also survived by two daughters, Elena Galskoy and Nina Filipoff. The panikhida at Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco is scheduled for Monday, December 28 at 7:30 pm and the funeral – on Tuesday, December 29 at 10:00 am.

The Faithful of the Bay Area Await the Arrival of the Miraculous Icon of St. Anna

[December 15, 2009] This week the the Righteous St. Anna miraculous icon from Philadelphia will visit San Francisco. The icon's schedule at the Holy Virgin "Joy of All Who Sorrow" Cathedral (6210 Geary Boulevard) is as follows: the GREETING of the holy icon on Saturday, December 19 at 6:00 pm. The icon will be present throughout the Vigil service. On Sunday, December 20 the icon will be at the cathedral for both Liturgies – early (7:30 am) and late (9:45 am).

Bishop's Services in the Pacific Northwest

[December 13, 2009] Two bishops, Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America and Bishop Theodosy of Seattle, wil head the celebration of the St. Nicholas Cathedral feastday in Seattle: the All-Night Vigil on Friday, December 18 and the Divine Liturgy on Saturday, December 19. On Sunday, December 20 the bishops plan to serve the Divine Liturgy at the All-Merciful Saviour Monastery on Vashon Island. The ordination of Hieromonk Paul to the priesthood is scheduled that day.

Diocesan Council Meets for Winter Session

[December 10, 2009] On December 1, 2009 the Diocesan Council (clergy and laity) met at the Diocesan Administration for its winter session. Following the opening prayer Bishop Theodosy of Seattle greeted Archbishop Kyrill on the occasion of his 55th birthday and being awarded the Second Order of St. Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomensk by His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow and All Russia. Archbishop Kyrill thanked Bishop Theodosy and emphasized that he accepts this award not as something he personally deserves, but on behalf of the clergy and flock of the Western American Diocese, who have helped and supported him throughout the years. ...more

The Western American Diocese Prepares to Bid Farewell to the Kursk Root Icon

[December 3, 2009] The visit of the Kursk Root Icon of the Theotokos to the Western American Diocese is coming to an end. On the feast of the Entry of the Mother of God Into the Temple the wonderworking Kursk Icon will be at the St. Peter and Paul church in Santa Rosa and on Sunday, December 6 – at the church of All Saints of Russia in Burlingame. The farewell Moleben and Akathist before the holy Icon is scheduled for Monday, December 7 at 7:00 pm at the Holy Virgin Cathedral "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in San Francisco.

First Anniversary of Patriarch Alexy's Repose and 30th Anniversary of Archpriest Nicholas Dombrovsky's Repose

[November 30, 2009] The first anniversary of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy's repose will fall on Saturday, December 5, 2009. The 30th anniversary of the repose of Archpriest Nicholas Dombrovsky falls on the same day. Father Nicholas was a key figure in the construction of the new cathedral in San Francisco and a longtime member of the Diocesan Council. At the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco the Panikhida (memorial service) for Patriarch Alexy and Archpriest Nicholas will be served immediately following the Divine Liturgy (Liturgy begins at 8:00 am) on Saturday, December 5. For Panikhida times in other parishes of the diocese please contact the parish rectors.

Miraculous Saint Anna Icon to Visit the Western American Diocese

[November 28, 2009] On Thursday, December 17, 2009 the Miraculous icon of Saint Anna from Philadelphia will arrive in the Western American Diocese. The meeting of the holy icon will take place at the Holy Ascension Church in Sacramento. The miraculous icon will visit a number of parishes in the diocese (see the tentative schedule) and will be present at the Third Annual Saint Herman's West Youth Conference in Sacramento, California.

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