Diocesan Council Issues Letter to Diocese on Nomination of Next Bishop

San Francisco, CA — The following letter was sent by US Mail to rectors in the Diocese of the West on May 1, 2025:

To the Very Reverend and Reverend Cathedral Deans, Rectors, Priests-in-Charge, and Venerable Monastic Superiors:

Christ is Risen!

With the blessing of His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin, I am sending you the enclosed Letter from the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the West. His Eminence directs you to distribute the enclosed Letter widely within your community and to read it aloud at an appropriate gathering of the church community entrusted to you. Copies will also be available on our web site.

This letter details information regarding:

• The upcoming retirement of His Eminence, our beloved Archbishop Benjamin
• Retirement celebrations on June 29 in Santa Rosa and July 15 in Phoenix (please purchase tickets at dowoca.org)
• A reminder of our regular annual Diocesan Assembly on Friday, July 18, at 1:00 pm
• The convening of a Special Nominating Assembly on Wednesday, July 16, at 1:00 pm
• The consecration of our next bishop on Saturday, August 16, in San Francisco

Most importantly, the letter includes a unanimous recommendation of the Nominating Committee and the full Diocesan Council that we, as a Diocese, prayerfully nominate The Very Reverend Archimandrite Vasily to be the next Bishop of San Francisco and the West.

Also included in this packet is a short autobiography from Father Vasily.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your district dean or to me.

Most importantly, I ask us all to intensify our prayers for His Eminence, for Archimandrite Vasily, and for our God-protected Diocese.

Sincerely yours, in the Risen Lord,

Archpriest Kirill Sokolov
Chancellor

 

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A few recent photographs of Archimandrite Vasily: