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(Watch the Recorded Livestream Here)Archbishop BENJAMIN and the clergy of the Pacific Central Deanery gathered at the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church in Menlo Park, CA at noon to serve a Prayer Service (Moleben) for the Increase of Love, the Uprooting of Hostility, and for the Peace of our Land. There were a total of twelve priests representing ten of the thirteen parishes in the deanery, which ranges as far north as Eureka and extends south to Sacramento and the entire Bay Area. Faithful from all over the deanery, many of whom took time off from their work, filled the church in order to raise their voices in supplication to the Lord God for peace in the world, and specifically for the cessation of hostilities against Ukraine.
His Eminence blessed this event to be held in Menlo Park due to the parish’s particularly close connection with current world events. Over ninety percent of the parish can claim Eastern Slavic heritage, and indeed many are immigrants from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Over fifty percent of the divine services are still in Church Slavonic, and the church follows the Old (Julian) Calendar. Quite a few of the parish’s immigrant families have relatives still living in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other cities in eastern Ukraine now under assault, and so there has been an acute need, perhaps one might even say a clamor, for prayer.
His Eminence delivered a sermon at the end of the moleben which was previously posted on this website, after which a collection was taken up for Ukrainian refugee relief (To Donate, Click HERE). The collection raised over $1,700.
The Sisterhood offered hospitality to the clergy and visiting faithful after the service. Fittingly, this being Cheesefare Week, or Maslenitsa, traditional blini pancakes, sour cream, and smoked salmon were a featured part of the repast.
The parish thanks Vladyka Benjamin for the honor of hosting, and also thanks all the priests and faithful from all over the deanery who came to pray for peace. The San Francisco Chronicle covered the event: https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Bay-Area-Ukrainians-seek-word-from-back-home-16969389.php
May our Lord God, the King of Peace and the Savior of our Souls, have mercy on our world and save our souls through His grace and love for mankind!
The Diocese of the West is the geographical district of the Orthodox Church in America consisting of the Western United States. The diocese has active parishes in Montana, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii. San Francisco is home to the diocese’s cathedral, Holy Trinity, as well as the Chancery offices. The diocese is led by His Grace Vasily, Bishop of San Francisco and the West.
