The Very Reverend Kirill Sokolov, Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco, California, serves as Diocesan Chancellor. As Chancellor of the Diocese of the West, Father Kirill assists His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin, and works closely with the other diocesan officers and the diocesan council to further the work of the Church in our region.
Father Kirill was baptized as an infant at St. Nicholas in Saratoga, CA. He grew up at seminary and in a number of parishes including Holy Trinity Cathedral, where his father, Archpriest Victor, served as dean from 1991 until his repose in 2006. He served as a subdeacon throughout the Diocese with His Grace, Bishop Tikhon until his graduation from UC San Diego. After college, Kirill worked and attended classes at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York where he met fellow seminarian and his future wife, Sophia.
Kirill was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Metropolitan Herman on Three Hierarchs’ Day 2004 with then-Bishop Hilarion (Alfeyev) and more than a dozen priests concelebrating. He was asked to remain a permanent diaconal presence at the seminary. The Holy Synod of Bishops elevated him to the dignity of Protodeacon in 2007, and in 2009, to the office of Archdeacon of the Orthodox Church in America. By 2009, Archdeacon Kirill and Sophia had both graduated seminary, and Father Kirill was serving as Associate Chancellor for Systems and Lecturer in Liturgics at the school.
In 2010, the Sokolovs moved back to the Bay Area to be closer to family. Father Kirill travelled extensively with His Eminence throughout the Diocese of the West as Archdeacon while working in educational leadership. Father Kirill received his educational doctorate in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology.
On Bright Saturday 2017, Father Kirill was ordained to the holy priesthood by Archbishop Benjamin. On January 21, 2018, he was appointed Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral. He also serves as Director of Diaconal and Late Vocations for the Orthodox Church in America and on the Church’s Office of Pastoral Life. Father Kirill is the vice chair of the board of St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Academy, a K-12 school in San Francisco. At the 19th All-American Council, Archpriest Kirill was elected to the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America; during that triennium he chaired the internal governance and technology committees.
Father Kirill was appointed Chancellor of the Diocese of the West by His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin on July 20, 2022 at the Diocesan Assembly held in conjunction with the 20th All-American Council.
Father Kirill, Matushka Sophia, and their three children are grateful to God for the warm community — united in love for Christ — that they call home in the Diocese of the West!