During these recent days I was able with the help of God to visit our nation's capital and in the company of fellow clergy and laity from some of our sister Orthodox churches (Antiochian, Serbian, and OCA) to speak with representatives of our government regarding the question of religious freedom in Ukraine. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, Congressman Darrell Issa, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers, and former Congressman Mark Walker, Trump nominee for Ambassador At-Large for International Religious Freedom, received our inter-Orthodox delegation. Part of the delegation was able to meet with Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. It is a pity that our visits coincided with a media article that so misrepresented all our Churches, attempting to cast Orthodoxy in a negative light; but we were grateful that the actual reception we had by our political leaders in Washington was warm, filled with a desire for understanding and an awareness of our shared wish to work together for peace. The freedom to pray and to act in accordance with God's commandments is something we highly prize as citizens of the world's pre-eminent democracy and it is a gift that we believe the whole world should share. My own parents and grandparents fled the oppression of the Soviet Union and ultimately immigrated to the United States, where I was born. I treasure the gift of liberty that we enjoy as Americans.

On Friday October 17, 2025, one of the founders and pillars of the Holy Royal Martyrs of Russia Orthodox Church of Sparks, NV, Lydia Vladimirovna Sourova, reposed in the Lord.

The handmaid-of-God Lydia was born in the Soviet Union (Russia) in a family of artists and performers. When describing her character, one could say that her God-given sensitive and artistic soul was augmented by a good education in literature. As a very young child in the late 1940s, Lydia, providentially survived an earthquake that killed tens of thousands in the city where her parents were working at the time. Today it is clear that her natural attributes and the circumstances of her life, prepared Lydia for the great mission of founding a parish in the Reno/Sparks, NV, area. Many of her friends at the parish would mention that Lydia Vladimirovna was preserved from the earthquake to be sent by God for this great task. She herself had often pondered how it was that so many perished in one night, yet rescuers pulled her as a young, frail child from the rubble. The brush with death made her ponder the meaning of life and became the impetus behind her drive to create something for the glory of God.

Dear friends, family, and compassionate supporters,

We are reaching out on behalf of Matushka Natatie Kotar, who is now facing a difficult transition in her life.

Matushka Natalie has spent her life serving alongside Father Alexei, her late husband, offering compassion, love, prayers, and hospitality to the ROCOR community and many others. And while she has received support from the Seattle parish and from the diocese, additional help is greatly needed at this time. 

Due to changes beyond her control, these funds are meant to assist in basic living needs, moving, and renovation as she navigates this next chapter in her life. These changes require financial support since she stopped working shortly before Father Alexei became ill. 

Every donation, no matter the size, will make a real difference.

If you are unable to give financially, your prayers and sharing of this fundraiser are deeply appreciated.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Lend your support HERE.

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:

“This is the day which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad therein.”

On Saturday, October 4th, 2025, God blessed Fort Ross State Historic Park and its environs with beautiful, calm, and still sunny weather as the Diocese of the West (OCA) and the Western American Diocese (ROCOR) celebrated the Centennial Anniversary of Pilgrimage to Fort Ross.

The annual pilgrimage to Fort Ross was initiated by the Very Reverend Archpriest Vladimir Sakovich, of Holy Trinity Cathedral (OCA) in San Francisco, who led members of the Russian Orthodox community of Northern California in the Divine Liturgy there on Independence Day, July 4th, 1925. Since that time, annual pilgrimages have been organized by the Diocese of the West, whose members continue the visit on the 4th of July, and by members of the Western American Diocese who go on Memorial Day.

On Saturday, October 4th, organizers and volunteers arrived early to prepare the grounds for this historic event. Tents had been erected the day before. But all of the items needed for the Divine Liturgy were arranged: a specially constructed large holy table with vestment covers, holy vessels, and all the effects of a sacristy, icons, liturgical bells, and a sound system to broadcast the litanies and exclamations across the interior of the fort. Meanwhile, to the West on the bluffs outside the fort, more volunteers were setting up tents, tables, and chairs in preparation for the catered festive luncheon that was to follow the Divine Services.

SANTA ROSA, California

On October 3, 2025, after the one-day conference dedicated to the Centennial Anniversary of Pilgrimage to Fort Ross held at Saint Seraphim of Sarov Cathedral in Santa Rosa, CA, many of the clergy and faithful to the 5-10 minute drive to Saints Peter and Paul Church on Stoney Point Road.

From 4:30 pm, vespers and matins were performed in honor of the Apodosis of the Feast of the Elevation of the Honorable Cross of the Lord and Saint Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow. His Beatitude Metropolitan TIKHON, Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of All of America and Canada, Metropolitan MAXIMILLAN of Irkutsk and Angar (MP), His Eminence DANIEL, Archbishop of Chicago and the Midwest (OCA), His Grace VASILY of San Francisco and the West (OCA), and His Grace JAMES, Bishop of Sonora (ROCOR) were present in prayer with many clergy and people who had participated in the conference.

After the Divine Service, the Father Rector of the parish, Archpriest Alexander Krassovsky and the Sisterhood prepared dinner for the hierarchs and their guests.

OCTOBER 3rd, 2025

Today I am in Santa Rosa, north of San Francisco.

In the old Russian tradition, I waited until the very last minute, and when I finally decided to register for the conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the first Russian pilgrimage to the settlement of Fort Ross, I got the reply: “Sold out, no seats available.” I thought — that can’t be! But it could: Russian history in the United States has turned out to be in demand. This was evidenced by the parish hall of St. Seraphim of Sarov Church, packed with a couple of hundred guests.

The organizers gathered a magnificent lineup of speakers — from a wonderful talk by the dear Maria Sakovich (granddaughter of Archpriest Vladimir Sakovich, who organized the first pilgrimage back in the 1920s) to guests from Russia, who joined online to tell about the pilgrimage center of St. Innocent near Irkutsk. Among the honored guests were His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, and Metropolitan Maximilian, hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Irkutsk and Angarsk, head of the Irkutsk Metropolia, who came with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.

The joint committee, comprising members of the Western American Diocese (ROCOR) and the Diocese of the West (OCA), who are organizing the Centennial Anniversary of Pilgrimage to Fort Ross on Saturday, October 4th, 2025, is announcing a fundraising drive to cover the cost of replacement windows for the chapel at Fort Ross State Historic Park.

The current chapel is a reconstruction, lovingly built in part with the help of volunteers from the Russian Orthodox community in Northern California, which replaced the former one that was destroyed by fire in 1970.

At that time, much care and research went into replicating the original chapel erected in the early 1800s, including the three windows, by using old photographs and available documents.

Approximately 55 years have passed since the chapel windows were fashioned and installed. Over time, the coastal climate had taken its toll on the weather-beaten frames and broken or cracked window panes.

The ever-memorable and greatly loved Protodeacon George Balaban, of the St Herman of Alaska parish in Sunnyvale, CA, has reposed in the Lord.

Fr George was born on May 26, 1941 in Bucharest Romania. He was a graduate of the National Musical Conservatory in Bucharest in 1965. In 1966 he married another talented musician, Raluca Cautis… they were married for almost 60 years. In 1980, George and Raluca emigrated to the United States, fleeing Communism. They ended up settling in the Bay Area and began attending services at the Church of the Redeemer in Los Altos. They, along with a few others, left the Church of the Redeemer to be founding members of the St Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church in 1984. In 1988, Fr George was ordained to the deaconate by Archbishop Antony (Medvedev). Fr George served faithfully for over 35 years until declining health began to slow him down. Even when it became difficult for him to serve, he continued to faithfully attend, sat in the altar and blessed us with his prayerful and peaceful presence.

Fr George reposed on September 5th, 2025. He is survived by his Matushka Raluca Mariana, their son Matthew and his wife Rebecca - who gave them their beloved granddaughter, Sophia.

Funeral will take place at St Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church, Saturday September 13th at 9:30am. Burial to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Los Altos Hills.

May his memory be eternal!

For the first time in its history, the ROCOR Western American Diocese St. Herman’s Conference was held in the summer, from August 7-11, 2025. The conference was hosted by St. George Russian Orthodox Church in West Jordan, UT. Participants came from all around the diocese, from as far west as Hawaii and as far east as Denver, from as far north as Seattle and as far south as Tucson.

After his meeting with American President Donald Trump at the Elmendorf-Richardson army base in Anchorage, Alaska, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with His Eminence Alexei, Bishop of Sitka and Alaska. The Russian President conveyed heartfelt greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of All Russia, and gifted the bishop an icon of St. Herman of Alaska, Enlightener of America, reports the Russian news agency Vzglyad.

Concerning Patriarch Kirill, Mr. Putin told His Eminence, “We met before our trip, and he himself told me how the Orthodox Church was born here [in Alaska]. He told me that he has been to church services here; he spoke of you very warmly, and asked me to convey his very best wishes to you,” the Kremlin Telegram channel cited.

Mr. Putin gave Bishop Alexei an icon of St. Herman, the beloved saint of Alaska and all America. Bishop Alexei in turn also presented President Putin with the icon given him by his brother monks on Mount Athos when he was consecrated a bishop. He said that he has prayed before this icon in his icon corner for four years, and would like to present it to the the Russian leader from all the people of Alaska as a token of appreciation for the Russian leaders who brought to Alaska the most important and precious thing: Orthodox Christianity.

A live stream of the meeting can be found here on Mint.

Source: orthochristian.com

On Saturday, July 26, 2025, the Synodal School of Liturgical Music completed its 34th year, with a Moleben of Thanksgiving at the main church of the Holy Dormition Convent (Novo Diveevo) in Nanuet, NY. In the absence of the school’s Founding Director, the Very Reverend Father Andre Papkov, the Moleben was served by Father Artemy Siss, to the antiphonal singing of combined choirs of students and faculty and in the presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas and the Abbess of the Convent, Mother Makaria.

This year the school graduated five students: Alexey Campbell, Elizabeth Campbell, Thomas Venkatesh, and Alison Sailor were awarded certificates as Conductors/Precentors and Olga Filatova as Precentor... 

Statement by the Synod of Bishops on the renewal of 20th-century ideologies in Russia

The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia finds it necessary to raise its voice out of bitter necessity, for we find that in a time of crisis and growing confrontation amongst nations, aspects of the Russian state and society are wandering onto an extremely dangerous path: instead of the promulgation of Christian repentance and purification, we observe in certain circles a return to a false, God-opposing ideology that prevailed in the last century. This return is fraught with harmful consequences. Should it continue, we fear that modern Russia risks being considered a dark stain amongst the nations, marked by a revival of spiritual corruption, instead of her being a radiant beacon of Orthodox Truth, which is surely the calling to which her long history of Christian piety directs her.

The True Story of the ROMANOV Family

Saint Paisius Monastery of Safford, AZ, is pleased to announce the publication of the true life and fateful events of the Romanov family, beautifully portrayed with vivid colors and memorable images. This large-format book is the work of Diaconesti Monastery in Romania. is a labor of love, motivated by the deep respect for these saints and devotion to those martyred during the communist prosecution of teh 20th century...

With the blessing of His Eminence KYRILL, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America, the annual Great-Lenten retreat for the diocese's clergy will be held at Holy Virgin Cathedral and the Old Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco from March 17 to 19, 2025.

During the pastoral retreat, the clergy of the Diocese will have the opportunity for common prayer and confession. Contemporary pastoral issues will be discussed, and all will receive the Sacred Mysteries of Christ.

Thursday, February 13 – Monda,y February 17, 2024

Location: All Saints of North America Orthodox Church   Sun City, AZ

IN PERSON: $300     
(In-person limited to 30 spots)
ONLINE LIVESTREAM: $175.
(Online participants are limited to 100 spots)                                 

With the blessing of His Eminence, Archbishop Kyrill, a “Liturgical Practicum” will be convened from 13-17 February 2025 (President’s Day Weekend) in Phoenix, AZ. This is the inaugural practicum, with the intention, that it will become an annual event. 

The event is open to:

all potential candidates to ordination.
all readers and subdeacons who wish to increase their liturgical knowledge in both praxis and theory.
all deacons who wish to gain liturgical knowledge in praxis and academics.
all priests who have not had, or completed, an academic theological education.
all priests who wish to increase their liturgical knowledge.

We, in the Los Angeles area, are suffering the greatest devastation in our history, with thousands of homes destroyed and countless people "unhomed." We ask for your prayers to the Lord and to the Most Holy Mother of God in this time of sorrow...

Many of us are aware of the devastating fires that have struck the Los Angeles area and Southern California this week. Tens of thousands of acres burned; cities and neighborhoods leveled; lives lost and miles of decimation.  It is in these moments that Orthodox Christians need to demonstrate the spiritual fortitude given to them, by the Grace of God, to help all those in need.

First, I call upon the flock of the Western American Diocese to pray for an end to the suffering caused by the horrible infernos.  “It is vital to continue in prayer for as long as we can, so that His invincible strength may penetrate and enable us to resist every destructive influence” - St. Sophrony of Essex. 

Your Graces the archpastors, all-honourable presbyters and deacons, God-loving monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters,

Offering praise to God glorified in the Trinity and sharing with all of you the joy of this feast, I convey to you, the Orthodox children of our Church living in Russia and other countries of the Moscow Patriarchate’s pastoral responsibility, my heartfelt greetings on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, which is the celebration of the Maker’s incarnate love for His creation, the fulfillment of the promise of the Son of God’s coming into the world and the hope for salvation and life eternal.

A great and most glorious wonder is wrought today: A Virgin giveth birth, yet her womb suffereth no corruption! The Word is incarnate, yet is not separated from the Father! Angels give glory in company with shepherds; and with them we cry out: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men! (Sticheron of the Feast). With these words the Church bears witness to the mysterious event which occurred more than two thousand years ago in the cave in Bethlehem and altered the entire further course of world history. It is with a sense of amazement and awe that we incline the knees of our hearts before this mystery of the Divine plan for salvation, incomprehensible to human mind. It is with gratitude that we accept this sacrificial gift of the Maker and Provider, for it pleased Him to do so for our sake, and confess His grace, proclaim His mercy, conceal not His gracious deeds (cf.: the Great Blessing of Water).

Eminent brother-archpastors, reverend fathers,
Beloved brothers, sisters, and children in the Lord!

With a feeling of rejoicing in the Newborn Christ, I greet my brother-archpastors, reverend fathers, monastics, and all the faithful children of the Russian Church Abroad with the feast of Christ’s Nativity, salvific for the world, the Theophany, and the New Year 2025, fervently wishing everyone all-strengthening joy in the Son of God’s coming into the world.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill toward men. (Luke 2:14)

CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!

Your Graces, Reverend-Fathers and beloved in Christ!