Западно-Американская епархия РПЦ за границей

Paschal Epistle
of His Eminence Nicholas,
Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York,
First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad

With a sense of Paschal joy and special spiritual closeness, despite the distance separating us, I greet you, Eminent Brother Archpastors, honorable fathers, dear brothers and sisters scattered throughout the world, on this great and light-bearing day of the Pascha of Christ!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

to the Archpastors, Pastors, Deacons,
Monastics and All the 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,

Today, as the Heavenly and earthly Church in conciliar unity glorifies God Incarnate, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all of you on the great and radiant feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Eminent Fellow Archpastors, Honorable Fathers, Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Greetings with the Nativity of Christ!

In these days of great joy, the thoughts of the archpastors, pastors, monastics, parishioners, and faithful of the churches and monasteries of our dioceses, scattered like God’s wheat over the vast earth, meet in the meek Bethlehem cave, in the semi-darkness in which was lit the unquenchable Light of the world — our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God! Spiritually gathering with all of you in the modest cave near Bethlehem, and kneeling down before the poor manger of the Divine Infant and His Most Pure Mother, I join my prayers to yours and implore God the Word incarnate to grant His Church grace-filled mercies and blessed success in Her ministry, and to all Orthodox peoples speedy deliverance from fratricidal war, restoration of justice and peace, that peace of which the angelic choir sang over the city of David on that holy night of the Nativity!

As the Biblical book, “The Wisdom of Sirach” narrates:

The Deputy Abbot of St. Silouan's Monastery, monk Ignatius, peacefully reposed in the Lord on Saturday, December 18/31, 2022, at 10:30 am, surrounded by diocesan clergy and close friends of the monastery. 

The funeral will take place at Saint Susanna's Orthodox Church (OCA, Priest Peter Runyan, Rector) in Sonora, CA, on Wednesday, January 4th, 2023. The abbot of the monastery, Bishop James of Sonora, will be presiding. 

FUNERAL SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023: Panykhida at 6:00 pm
Wednesday, January 4th, 2023: Divine Liturgy at 8:00 am, Funeral at 10:00 am

Address:
10825 Robinwood Ln, Sonora, CA 95370 
 Phone: (209) 352-6791

Burial at Saint Silouan's Monastery
Meal to follow at Union Hill Inn, 21645 Parrotts Ferry Rd, Sonora, CA 95370

On Sunday, November 6, the Holy Virgin "Joy of All Who Sorrow" Cathedral in San Francisco will be marking its parish feast day. The feast day Vigil is on Saturday, November 5 at 5:00 pm, and there will be ONE Liturgy on Sunday, November 6 at 9:00 am. Following the Liturgy, the Cathedral Sisterhood invites the faithful for a feast day meal. Please join us for this joyous celebration.

A monthly Liturgy is scheduled at the Kazan Church in Guerneville, CA, on Saturday, November 12th, 2022, at 9:00 am.

Archbishop Kyrill is presiding. An outdoor meal will follow.

Schedule:
Hours at 8:40 AM
Divine Liturgy at 9:00 AM

Address:
Our Lady of Kazan Orthodox Church
17370 Neeley Rd,
Guerneville, CA 95446

On Tuesday, 13 September, 2022, the members of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, led by His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany, celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York City. At the end of divine services, the archpastors performed a moleben for the opening of the Council, invoking the Holy Spirit to help in their work.

Attending the Council of Bishops were Metropolitan Mark; His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of Western America and New York; His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada; His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America; His Grace Bishop John of Caracas and South America; His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe; His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan; His Grace Bishop Theodosius of Seattle; His Grace Bishop Luke of Syracuse; His Grace Bishop Alexander of Vevey and His Grace Bishop Job of Stuttgart. His Grace Bishop George of Canberra participated electronically.

Please, register to join us for a ZOOM fundraising event on Sat Oct 1, 2022  from 11 am to 1 pm (PDT).

On Tuesday, 13 September, 2022, the election of the new Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia by its Council of Bishops took place. In accordance with the Act of Canonical Communion, signed on 17 May, 2007, the Council will send the Act of the election, drafted by the counting committee to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia with a request to bless the electee to assume the duties of the First Hierarch entrusted to him by his brethren archpastors, and for confirmation of the election by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The rite of enthronement of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, newly-elected First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, will take place on Sunday, 18 September.

The schedule of divine services associated with the enthronement is as follows:

The Iveron-Hawaiian Myrrh-streaming Icon is scheduled to visit Holy Virgin Cathedral on September 3rd and 4th, 2022.

Schedule:
Saturday September 3rd from 5:00 PM through All-night Vigil.
Sunday, September 4th from 7:30 AM until 1:00 PM

Address:
Holy Virgin Cathedral
6210 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94121

A monthly Liturgy is scheduled at the Kazan Church in Guerneville, CA, on Saturday August 13th, 2022, at 9:00 am.

Archbishop Kyrill is presiding. An outdoor meal will follow.

On Sunday, July 3, 2022, Father Deacon Sebastian Crawley was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by His Eminence KYRILL Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America at the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, CA. Father Sebastian will be assigned to Holy Archangels Orthodox Church in Phoenix, AZ, which is under the rectorship of Priest John McCuen. Father Sebastian was ordained to the diaconate at Holy Virgin Cathedral on November 6th, 2021, and has served at Holy Archangels in Phoenix since that time, and joins a growing number of clergy serving the Orthodox churches in Arizona.

On Sunday, July 31, 2022, His Eminence Kyrill Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America will celebrate the Patronal Feast of Saint Elias Church in Placerville, CA.

Schedule for Sunday, July 31:
Greeting of the Bishop at 9:30 am
A festal meal in the church hall.

Address:
St. Elias Orthodox Mission
4253 Fowler Lane
Diamond Springs, CA 95619

The Parish Feast Day of the Kazan Church in Guerneville, CA, is to be celebrated on Saturday, July 23, 2022. 

Schedule:
Friday, July 22: Great Vespers, Litya and the Blessing of the Five Loaves
Saturday, July 23 at 9:00 am: Divine Liturgy. His Eminence KYRILL Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America presiding. Festal meal to follow.