Centennial Anniversary of Fort Ross Pilgrimage Celebrated

FORT ROSS, CA – On Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, God blessed Fort Ross State Historic Park and its environs with beautiful, calm, and still sunny weather as His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, was joined by His Grace, Bishop Vasily of San Francisco, and hundreds of other bishops, clergy, and faithful from the OCA and ROCOR for a centennial anniversary celebration of the annual pilgrimage to Fort Ross by Orthodox faithful.

The celebration marked the 100^th anniversary of the first pilgrimage to Fort Ross on July 4, 1925 led by the Archpriest Vladimir Sakovich of our diocesan Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco. Since that time, annual pilgrimages on the 4^th of July have been organized by clergy and faithful of our Diocese of the West, and a similar pilgrimage is organized on Memorial Day by the clergy and faithful of the Western American Diocese of ROCOR. 

This year’s celebration began on Friday, Oct. 3 with a one-day conference at St. Seraphim of Sarov Cathedral, Santa Rosa, CA, celebrating the history of Orthodox Christianity at Fort Ross. Maria Sakovich offered the keynote presentation, “The Story of Orthodoxy at Fort Ross: Then and Now,” followed by the celebration of an all-night vigil at Ss. Peter & Paul Church in Santa Rosa. 

On Saturday, Oct. 4, organizers and volunteers prepared the grounds of Fort Ross for the celebration with a specially constructed large holy table for the primatial divine liturgy, and the transfer of holy vessels, icons, bells, and a sound system to broadcast the litanies and exclamations across the interior of the Fort. On the bluffs to the west of the Fort, volunteers also set up tents, tables, and chairs for the festive luncheon to follow the divine liturgy.

More than three dozen priests and deacons from Northern California and from the United States, Russia and Ukraine greeted His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas of New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, upon his arrival. While His Eminence was solemnly vested in the historic chapel, the clergy and faithful solemnly greeted His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, who would lead the celebration. 

Met at the main gate of Fort Ross, His Beatitude was led in procession to the cathedra before the temporary outdoor altar where he was vested. Joining His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, and His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, were His Eminence, Maximilian of Irkutsk and Angar (Moscow Patriarchate), His Eminence, Kyrill, Archbishop of San Francisco (ROCOR), His Eminence, Daniel, Archbishop of Chicago and the Midwest (OCA), His Grace, Vasily, Bishop of San Francisco and the West (OCA), His Grace, Theodosy, Bishop of Seattle (ROCOR), and His Grace, James, Bishop of Sonora (ROCOR). Also joining the hierarchs in the altar was His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin, our retired archpastor. 

Other guest clergy included the Archpriest Steven Howell, representing the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America and the Priest Marko Bojovic, representing the Serbian Orthodox Church’s Diocese of Western America. It is estimated that over 650 people attended the anniversary celebration and primatial liturgy. The responses during the divine liturgy were sung antiphonally by two choirs, one from Holy Virgin Cathedral (WA Diocese, ROCOR), San Francisco, under the direction of Vladimir Krassovsky, and a second choir comprised of clergy and faithful from across the Diocese of the West, under the direction of Valerie Elizabeth Dickinson, of Holy Cross Church, Sacramento. 

At the conclusion of the liturgy, a cross procession led the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful to the Fort Ross cemetery, located to the west, outside the Fort. While in procession, hymns of praise were sung to God and the saints, while servers carried the cross, banners, candles, and icons. 

Among the icons carried were those of saints who had lived or visited Fort Ross during their labors in North America including St. Innocent of Alaska, St. Tikhon, Enlightener of America, St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, St. Sebastian of Jackson, and New Martyr Peter the Aleut. A commemorative icon of the saints of Fort Ross was also carried in procession, commissioned to mark the centennial anniversary celebration. The icon was painted by Matushka Ann Margitich.

A memorial service was celebrated at the Fort Ross cemetery where nearly 130 Orthodox faithful are buried, marked with three-bar crosses. A commemorative group photo was taken before everyone returned from the cemetery to the Fort for the catered festive luncheon. 

Special presentations during the luncheon included guitar and violin performances, and a dance and choir performance by the students of both All Russian Saints School in Burlingame and Ss Cyril & Methodius School of San Francisco. 

A variety of kiosks with centennial memorabilia, spiritual literature, and icons were available for purchase, including a number of special items related to the recent glorification of Saint Olga of Alaska. 

To commemorate the centennial of the annual Fort Ross pilgrimage, a special program was created with photos, articles, and greetings from the diocesan hierarchs, Archbishop Kyrill and Bishop Vasily. 

During the meal, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, offered his remarks to those gathered, “We have concluded a glorious and joyous day communing with God through the Holy Mysteries together with hierarchs from various jurisdictions and the faithful. It was magnificent celebrating this centennial pilgrimage here in this setting at the Fort, where many saints have prayed before us.” 

Metropolitan Tikhon also noted, “There are many pilgrims who gathered from throughout the continent amidst beautiful weather … a pilgrimage reminds us of how fleeting our life is and that we need to cling to things that are eternal. May we purify our hearts and so instill the virtues of Christ in ourselves and in the hearts of our children and all whom we meet.” 

His Beatitude also welcomed Metropolitan Maximillian, from the Moscow Patriarchate who offered greetings to those gathered, “I come to you from the great diocese of Irkutsk and Angar, which is the birthplace of Saint Innocent of Alaska and Moscow, who visited this place and ministered here when he was the missionary priest, Father John Veniaminov. It is known that many of the carpenters that constructed this Fort were from the land of Irkutsk, and I bring the blessings of that land to you this day.” 

Metropolitan Nicholas of ROCOR also greeted those in attendance, “During the bleak days when the Bolshevik regime occupied Russia, Fort Ross became a small tangible piece of Holy Rus’ for the displaced Russians. It was here that St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, Archbishop Tikhon (Troitsky), Archbishop Anthony (Medvedev), Bishop Nektary (Kontzevich), and numerous clergy and faithful came to rejuvenate themselves with the spirit of that era when Orthodox principles guided man in his life…with the fall of the Soviet Union, Fort Ross still plays an important role beyond just the diaspora. 

Metropolitan Nicholas added, “Now it (Fort Ross) plays a role of inspiration for the average Russian to look into his past – prior to the years of the Soviet Union. When the post-Soviet Russian, or American, comes here they can see that Russians were more than entrepreneurs and settlers, but people of faith who carried Orthodoxy with them wherever they went. When looking at the chapel on the hill, people can begin to understand that in those bygone years, Orthodox Christian virtues were at the core of their lives. By coming here modern man can begin to reflect on the past.” 

Joining the Orthodox faithful who attended the centennial celebration was Ian Taylor, president of the Fort Ross Conservancy, expressing his gratitude to those present for their love and support of Fort Ross State Historic Park and the Fort Ross Conservancy, and remarking on the grandeur of the liturgical celebration. Taylor also noted the strong partnership between the local Orthodox dioceses and the Fort Ross Conservancy.

Anthony Macias, tribal historic preservation officer of the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, and a member of the Tribe spoke with gratitude about the Russian presence in Northern California two centuries ago before presenting gifts to Metropolitan Tikhon, and Metropolitan Nicholas.

Bill Maslach, superintendent of the California State Parks, Sonoma Mendocino Coast District, sent a letter of greeting to those gathered, thanking the bishops for the invitation to the centennial celebration and pilgrimage. “It is quite a remarkable milestone, and I am grateful for the longstanding relationship between the Orthodox communities and Fort Ross State Historic Park and the Conservancy.” 

Maslach was represented by Tracy Weisberg, park ranger and visitor services program manager, thanking everyone for visiting Fort Ross and making it such a memorable day and celebration. 

The centennial anniversary was made possible by a joint committee composed of clergy and faithful from both the Diocese of the West and the Western American Diocese. The countless hours of preparation and the celebration itself were opportunities for collaboration and getting to know one another through an important historic event. 

The organizing committee was supported by an outstanding team of professionals, including photographers and videographers and a drone operator who documented and recorded the day’s events for future generations. The committee is grateful for the support and sponsorship from Holy Assumption Monastery, Calistoga, the Museum of Russian Culture, San Francisco, the Congress of Russian Americans, and many other anonymous donors.

Efforts are under way to raise monies to replace three windows in the Fort Ross Chapel. Please make a contribution today for this important commemorative and time-sensitive preservation work: Preservation Fundraiser.