St. Andrew’s parish celebrated its Feast Day on 12/29, after inclement weather prevented His Grace Bishop Theodosy from traveling to Carson City, NV, two weeks ago.

During the celebration, two men were tonsured as Orthodox Readers, strengthening the growing parish.

On Tuesday, December 17, the feast of Holy Great Martyr Barbara and the 50th birthday of His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, the First Hierarch’s father, Alexander N. Olhovsky, reposed in the Lord.

His Eminence learned of the repose of his father while at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, as he was preparing to celebrate Divine Liturgy. By God’s grace, the First Hierarch was the first to commemorate his late father during the Proskomedia.

Memory Eternal and the Kingdom of Heaven to the servant of God Alexander, and Many Years to Metropolitan Nicholas!

On December 4/17, the Russian Orthodox parish of Holy Greatmartyr Barbara in Orange County celebrated its patronal feast day. Founded in 2006 on the slopes of Southern California’s former “Orange Empire”, the mission is the only Russian Orthodox parish between Los Angeles and San Diego. It was organized by a parishioner from L.A. Natalia Hayes and her American husband had set up a chapel in their own home and named it in honor of their daughter Varvara’s patron saint.

The Feast Day of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Seattle was marked on December 18-19. The celebration was led by His Grace Theodosy, Bishop of Seattle, together with Archpriest Peter Perekrestov, Dean of the Holy Virgin “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Cathedral in San Francisco, St. Nicholas Cathedral clergy – Priest Pavel Volkov and Deacons Rostislav Kroshko and Alexei McDougall; the rector of St. Innocent Church in Silverdale (WA), Priest Stephen Clark; the rector of St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in Stanwood (WA), Priest Theodore Obrastoff; the rector of St. Thomas the Apostle Antiochian Church in Snohomish County (WA), Priest David Sommer and a host of subdeacons and acolytes. The cathedral choir capably and beautifully sang responses under the direction of Gregory Kotar. Archpriest Alexei Kotar, St. Nicholas Cathedral Dean, is seriously ill and took part in the services as much as his health permitted.

On Saturday, December 14, 2024, just before the All-night Vigil at Holy Virgin Cathedral His Eminence Archbishop KYRILL of San Francisco and Western America, the clergy and faithful greeted the Directress of the Russian Diaspora, the Wonderworking “Kursk-Root” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, who came to the San Francisco Deanery on Her way to Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Seattle, WA, for the latter’s Patronal Feast Day.

On the morning of December 14 – the day of commemoration of the Holy Prophet of God Nahum and Saint Philaret the Merciful, – His Grace THEODOSY Bishop of Seattle presided at the Divine Liturgy along with clergy of the diocese and the staff and pupils of the Saint Cyril and Methodius Gymnasia at Holy Virgin Cathedral.

On Sunday, December 15, the 25th Sunday after Pentecost, the holy icon was present at both the early and later Divine Liturgies. His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill presided at the second Liturgy with clergy of the cathedral. The bishop’s choir sang under the direction of the choir conductor Vladimir Krassovsky

On Monday, December 16, the Directress of the Russian Diaspora was present during a regularly scheduled Meeting of the Diocesan Council of the Western American Diocese,...

On Saturday, December 7, 2024, the Saint Catherine of Sinai Monastery in Sonora, California, joyfully celebrated its annual Patronal Feast Day.

This wonderful day started with the clergy and faithful gathering in the monastery church for the "Lesser Blessing of the Waters," and to the gladness of all present, holy water was sprinkled throughout the Church and on all smiling faces. The Hours and Divine Liturgy proceeded, as the church with its prayerful icons and beautifully decorated interior including red poinsettias, welcomed the faithful who came to be a part of the solemn and prayerful services. 

The concelebrating clergy at the liturgy were Archpriest Paul Volmensky, Rector of Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church of Sacramento, Archpriest James Steele, Rector of Saint Elias Orthodox Church in Diamond Springs, and Priest Marko Bojovic, Rector of Saint Sava’s Serbian Orthodox Church in Jackson. Deacon Seraphim Torruella assisted throughout.

The monastery asked a gifted choir to chant for this splendid feast day consisting of Nicholas and Nathaniel Baba, and Micheal Habtezian, who chanted in the Byzantine style. There were about 60 or more pilgrims present who traveled from various regions, including the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys, and as far as Los Angeles and Oregon. 

December 17, 2024, was the 40th Day of His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago's repose. Commemorations were served in the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America and in our Diocese of San Francisco and Western America, where Archbishop Peter was raised. And where he was also spiritually directed by Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker. 

Beloved in the Lord fathers, brothers, and sisters!

I greet you with the first days of the Nativity Fast, which prepares us to celebrate the Incarnation of the living God, Who became a living Man!

The fast is a time of intensified prayer and repentance, reading of spiritually profitable literature and doing of good works, when we especially focus our attention on our spiritual lives, on our relationships with God and our neighbors, preparing to celebrate the events of Sacred history.

The goal of this current fast gives it its name: it is not merely a preparation to hold a festal commemoration of an historical event 2,000 years past, but is our real entry into the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God. It is a preparation for the most intimate convergence with Christ, worshipping His manger, and glorifying His manifestation in this world. And in order to accomplish this, man must prepare his heart, or else the mystery of Christ’s Nativity may pass him by without touching his soul. On this path, we encounter the feasts of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, when for the first time this year we will hear the triumphal Nativity hymns, and of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign," the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora. We will also prayerfully mark the feast days of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called; the Holy Hierarchs Nicholas the Wonderworker and Spyridon of Tremithus; Venerable John Damascene, Sabbas the Sanctified, and Herman of Alaska; Great-Martyrs Catherine and Barbara; the Holy Forefathers and other saints, who accompany us, as it were, to Bethlehem.

On Friday, December 6, 2024, the feast day of the Holy Righteous Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky and St Mitrophan of Voronezh, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, presided over the beginning of the last session of the Synod of Bishops of the year. Taking part in this meeting are His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany; His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America; His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada; His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe; His Grace Bishop Theodosius of Seattle and His Grace Bishop Job of Stuttgart.

The archpastors prayed at Divine Liturgy celebrated by Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Dean of the Synodal Cathedral, in St Sergius of Radonezh Chapel in the presence of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign."

The Synod meeting opened with the singing of "O Heavenly King," after which the President of the Synod of Bishops addressed the archpastors with introductory remarks. His Eminence spoke about the repose, funeral, and burial of the newly-departed Archbishop Peter (Loukianoff) of Chicago and Mid-America, who reposed in the Lord on Friday, November 8, the feast day of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica. The bishops sang "Eternal Memory" to their late brother archpastor.

Then, approving the agenda proposed by the secretariat, the members of the Synod of Bishops began their work.

With the blessing of His Beatitude Sawa, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland (Polish Orthodox Church), Metropolitan John of Dubna (Archbishop of Western European parishes of the Russian tradition), Archbishop Kirill of San Francisco and Western America (Russian Orthodox Church Abroad), Archbishop Jakub of Byelostok (Polish Orthodox Church), and Bishop Andrew of Austria and Switzerland (Serbian Orthodox Church) the travel reliquary and liturgical belt of our father among the saints, John, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, and the new movie about him, were brought from California to Western Europe.

From November 9-17 this year St. John not only spiritually, but also bodily, in his relics, visited Poland, Switzerland and France.

On November 17th, Holy Virgin Cathedral hosted an educational seminar, organized by Priest George Kaplanov, entitled: Rivers of Living Water: A Christian Perspective on Environmental Challenges. 

His Eminence Kyrill Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America and a group of participants interested in this vital theme were in attendance. The key-note speakers were Priest Elijah Wu (Drake) and Frederick W. Krueger.

Frederick W. Krueger, the executive director for the Orthodox Fellowship of the Transfiguration (OFT), gave a talk entitled, The Earth is the Lord’s: The Christian Teaching on Taking Good Care of God’s Creation.

This year, the Russian Orthodox Parish of St. John of Kronstadt (+1908) in San Diego (ROCOR) celebrates its 55th anniversary, as well as the 60th anniversary of the canonization and the 195th anniversary of the birth of its spiritual patron and the second most revered Russian Saint. The parish was founded in 1967 in the home of priest Michael Lightfoot, and the church was consecrated in 1969, just 5 years after the Canonization of this Saint by the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.

Surprisingly, this is one of the first churches in honor of the great shepherd of Kronstadt worldwide since his glorification was allowed in Russia only in 1990, after the fall of the Soviet Union. In 2009, the church was expanded and took on its current appearance.

On Saturday, November 9, an event of historic significance took place in Yosemite National Park as the first recorded Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the iconic chapel within the valley.

With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill, Priest Yuri Fokin, a cleric of Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, presided over the Divine Service assisted by Deacon Seraphim Torruella of Holy Ascension Church in Sacramento. They were joined by approximately 30 faithful from various Orthodox jurisdictions across the region. The Divine Liturgy chanted in English, created a rare and profound moment, introducing perhaps many visiting tourists from around the world who happened to enter the chapel to the beauty and sanctity of Orthodox worship in such an awe-inspiring natural setting.

On November 5, 2024, the eve of the patronal feast of the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, CA, an all-night vigil was served. The service was presided over by His Eminence Kirill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America. Concelebrating with him His Grace Theodosy, Bishop of Seattle, and His Grace James, Bishop of Sonora, as well as a host of clergy of the Diocese.

The hymns of vigil were performed by the cathedral choir under the direction of Vladimir Krasovsky and by clergy of the Diocese who sang on kliros.

On November 6, 2024, on the day of the memory of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" and the patronal feast of Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, a solemn liturgy was served. The service was led by His Eminence Kirill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America, and concelebrated by His Grace Theodosy, Bishop of Seattle, and a host of clergy of the Diocese.

The Fall Pastoral Retreat of the clergy of the Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was held on October 21-23 at St. George the Great Martyr Church in Salt Lake City (Utah).

The working sessions of the meeting were presided over by the second Vicar of the Western American Diocese, His Grace Bishop James of Sonora. The retreat keynote speaker this year was Archpriest Seraphim Holland, clergyman of the Chicago Diocese, Rector of St. Nicholas Church in McKinney, Texas. His topics were: “Orthodox Identity,” and ”Prison Ministry.”

From October 2 to 6, 2024, at the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral (ROCOR) in Los Angeles, the 31st annual Church Musicians’ Conference of the Russian Orthodox Church was held very successfully and with great excitement. Musicians’ Conferences in America, held since 1987, were established to provide church choir members with the opportunity to meet and communicate with each other, sharing experiences and strengthening their knowledge of both the practical and theoretical aspects of liturgical singing and choir work.

Guests numbering over 65 singers and choir directors from different regions of the United States and Canada were accommodated at the Sheraton Hotel near the LAX airport, where the first three days of meetings were held. The convention was opened with a prayer service and a greeting from Archpriest Andre Papkov, chairman of the Church Music Commission at the Synod of Bishops and founder/director of the Synodal School of Liturgical Music of the Russian Church Abroad. This year's honorary guests and speakers were:

On Monday, August 6/19, 2024, His Eminence KYRILL Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America presided over the patronal feast day of Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Los Angeles, CA, as well as two ordinations.

After the Great Entrance, Deacon Joseph MacPherson was ordained priest.  After the consecration of the Holy Gifts, Subdeacon Patrick Gill was ordained deacon. Both men are assigned to All Saints of North America Orthodox Church in Phoenix, AZ, the parish that they have served for many years.

After the communion of the faithful, His Eminence led a throng of the faithful in procession around the cathedral at which time he performed the Rite of Blessing the First Fruits.

A festal meal followed in the church hall, bursting with parishioners.

Many years to the Father Rector, Protopresbyster Alexander Lebedeff, Archpriest Janis Terauds, and all of the clergy and faithful of Holy Transfiguration Cathedral, and the newly ordained Priest Joseph MacPherson, and Deacon Patrick Gill!

With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America, the 31st Annual Orthodox Church Musicians’ Conference will be hosted in Los Angeles at the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral from October 2-6, 2024. The theme of the conference: "The Future of Church Singing: Paths to Performance." Lectures, master classes, and rehearsals will be held in the Cathedral.

Among the guests are Archpriest John Drobot and Protodeacon Alexander Kedrov (Paris). The conference will close with a Divine Liturgy presided by a hierarch.

You can get detailed information and register here.

"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19)

Today we heard that legislation was adopted in Ukraine to prohibit the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Alas, this is not the first form of persecution, and as we know from history, not the last as predicted in the Apocalypse.

This lawlessness can only be characterized by the words of the Holy Scripture: “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

What could we expect from those who adopt such laws, who think that the Church of Christ is a political society, adhering to nationalistic viewpoints or other social tendencies?

Most Reverend Brother-Archpastors, Reverend Fathers,

Dear in the Lord Brothers and Sisters!

I cordially greet you all with the ongoing Dormition Fast, when we are once again called to temperance and the active doing of good deeds, that we might worthily prepare ourselves for the upcoming Pascha of the Theotokos!

Attached to this appeal by my unworthiness to the Fullness of the Russian Church Abroad is a video about the history and significance of the Synodal Residence in New York City, which is the House of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign,” the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora. Please familiarize yourselves with this short film, prepared by the Diocese of Germany, about the building that houses our spiritual and administrative center, and provide us with all possible assistance in the major renovation of the Synodal Residence.

Since the arrival in the United States of Metropolitan Anastassy (Gribanovsky) - second First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad - in 1950, and then of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, Russian Orthodox émigrés took care to acquire a more spacious church and worthy premises for the Metropolitan’s residence and the chancery of the Synod of Bishops. This search was resolved many years ago in 1957, when the Synod of Bishops received a very generous gift in the form of a large house on the corner of 93rd Street and Park Avenue in New York City. The house was purchased with a donation from Serge Yakovlevich Semenenko, first vice-chairman and director of First National Bank in Boston, as well as a director at many other corporations. Serge Semenenko hailed from a pious Russian family that lived in Odessa before the revolution. His parents, Iakov and Maria, were well known to Metropolitan Anastassy, who visited them many times both in Odessa and Constantinople. They were generous donors toward the needs of the Church. It was in their memory that Serge Semenenko, whom Metropolitan Anastassy had known since he was 11 years old, made his donation.

“The angel cried unto her that is full of grace:
O Pure Virgin, rejoice, and again, I say rejoice;
for Thy Son hath risen from the grave on the third day…”
Paschal Matins – 9th Irmos

CHRIST IS RISEN!

Christ’s Resurrection is an indescribable joy!  On Pascha we feel the weight of this temporal life, for a brief moment, and then purged from our souls and replaced with the love of Christ for us.  Let us reminisce of how on the Day of Resurrection we do not feel any negativity towards each other, but only brotherly love, compassion and care towards each other - former adversaries become comrades; competitors turn into friends; strangers become acquaintances.  Our Lord and Saviour’s Glorious Victory over death means not only that death no longer has dominion over us, but also we begin to personally experience the love that radiates from God towards all Creation.  It is only through this bond of love of God towards us that we can explain how Christ’s suffering and crucifixion can be turned into something beautiful and uplifting.

            The Mother of God exemplifies this manifested beauty Christ’s Resurrection has to offer to man...

Most Reverend Brother Archpastors, Beloved in the Lord Fathers, Brothers, and Sisters:

With joy and thankfulness in my heart, I greet you on this salvific night of Pascha, when our Lord Jesus Christ rose on the third day, pouring out His unfailing love and mercy on the whole world.

CHRIST IS RISEN!

This radiant and joyous Paschal greeting has the wonderworking power to call forth in the human heart joy, forgiveness of all, and love. "This… day which the Lord hath made" (Psalm 118:24) – Christ’s Pascha – gives wings of faith to those of little faith and strengthens those who despair of life. Truly, in a world frequently faced with crises and uncertainty, Pascha shines like a beacon of hope. Thus, in these difficult times, when mankind is seized by various misfortunes, let us hold fast to the Risen Christ and find in Him consolation amidst sorrows, strength in our ongoing struggle with sin, and surety of eternal life!

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

Your Graces, Reverend Fathers, Brothers and Sisters!

It is with the Incarnation of the Word that man can realize God’s infinite and boundless love for His creation.  Out of love for us did the Son of God humble Himself to become man, in order to heal the relationship between God and man.  Before the humble birth of Christ, in the Bethlehem cave, St. Gregory the Dialogist writes in his Dialogues, “With sin we were so distant from God that the angels, God’s citizens, eliminated us from their company.”  The rift created by the Fall between God and man was so great that it reverberated to every aspect of Creation and tore asunder the bond of love that tied the Heavens to the earth.  “It was not until the King of the Heavens took upon our flesh’, St. Gregory further writes, ‘that the Angels restored peace with us (humanity)… and once again considered us their companions.”  It is for that reason that the angelic choir appeared to the shepherds singing, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14)...

Eminent Brother-Archpastors, Reverend Fathers, Beloved in the Lord, Brothers and Sisters:

It is with feelings of humble gratitude, love and joy in the Lord that I greet everyone on this great and most joyous celebration of the Nativity of Christ—the arrival on earth of the incarnate Son of God born to the Most-Blessed Virgin Mary. May the saving grace of God, appearing now in a humble Bethlehem cave and shining upon the waters of the Jordan River, be poured forth upon us all, visiting our homes, parishes and monasteries with unearthly light and peace!

We pray also that the Holy Land, which quenched the Savior’s thirst with its waters and fed with its bread Him Who is for us even Himself our food and drink, be sated with the peace heralded by the angelic choir over the city of Bethlehem! May the Lord strengthen the clergymen and monastics of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, who are enduring difficult times as they preserve and protect our holy sites. Their courageous podvig, in the words of St John the Wonderworker, who was glorified 30 years ago, “evokes a feeling of tenderness and is worthy of reverence,” and it is our holy duty to send them our support in these sacred days.

Christmas Message
from Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Rus’
to the Archpastors, Pastors, Deacons, Monastics
and All Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church
Beloved in the Lord archpastors, all-honourable presbyters and deacons,
God-loving monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters,

The unutterable love of God has gathered us today so that in the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:3) we may celebrate one of the most solemn and at the same time mysterious feasts of the Church – the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Glorifying our Saviour’s coming into the world, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you, my beloved, on the joyful event, which opened a new era in the relationship between God and humanity.