His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah made his first primatial visit to Holy Trinity Cathedral, San Francisco for the Feast of Pentecost. The Bay Area clergy greeted the Metropolitan at the airport on Friday, June 5 with bread and salt.

Metropolitan Jonah and Bishop Benjamin served the festal Vigil at Holy Trinity Cathedral along with many of the area clergy. The cathedral was beautifully deconrated with flowers and greens as is the custom. A reception followed in the parish hall organized by Matushka Elaine Lowell and members of the parish.

The next morning, His Beatitude and Bishop Benjamin served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, the Kneeling Vespers of Pentecost and Molieben with Cross Procession. The Dean of the Cathedral, Archpriest John Takahashi; the Diocesan Chancellor, Archpriest Ian MacKinnon; Igumen Sergios (Gerken) of the Holy Dormition Monastery in Calistoga; and Archpriest David Lowell, the Director of Raphael House served along with Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov and Deacon Brendan Doss. The parish community was especially pleased to welcome home the Archdeacon as he is the son of the late Cathedral Dean, Archpriest Victor Sokolov and Matushka Barbara.

Holy Trinity Cathedral is the oldest Orthodox parish in the Lower 48, Alaska being part of the Russian Empire when the parish was organized in 1857. This October, Holy Trinity will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the rebuilding of the cathedral and parish house after the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906. Formed by Russian, Serb and Greek immigrants, the cathedral community retains a very pan-Orthodox character to this very day. In addition to those born in America, the present parish is composed of Russian, Greek, Serb and Eretreans whose pastor is a native Japan.

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