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On Bright Saturday, April 22, 2017, His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin ordained Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov to the Holy Priesthood at Holy Trinity Cathedral, San Francisco, CA. The historic cathedral was filled with worshippers from the parish and the diocese, and beyond, for the Paschal Divine Liturgy. Concelebrants included: His Grace, Bishop Daniel of Santa Rosa; Archpriest Ian MacKinnon, Chancellor of the Diocese of the West; Archpriest John Takahashi, Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral; Archpriest Chad Hatfield, President of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary; Archpriest Peter Perekrestov, Dean of Holy Virgin Cathedral – Joy of All Who Sorrow, San Francisco; Archpriest Stephan Meholick; Archpriest George Gray; Archpriest Lawrence Margitich; Archpriest Vladimir Morozov; Priest Philip Halliwell; Priest Andrew Smith; Protodeacon George Golitzin, and Protodeacon Brendan Doss. Numerous priests and deacons were also praying in the temple.
In his address to the newly ordained Archpriest Kirill and his wife, Matushka Sophia, His Eminence spoke about the centrality of love for one’s flock in priestly service. His Eminence noted that Fr. Kirill is the second “native son” of the Cathedral to be ordained to the priesthood (the first having been Saint Sebastian of Jackson and San Francisco). Father Kirill was vested in the paschal vestments worn by his father, Archpriest Victor (Dean of Holy Trinity from 1991 until his repose in 2006), who had also been ordained on Bright Saturday.
“Queen Abigail the Wise” and “Vanessa the Wonder-worker” fill a gap in Orthodox fiction for children
Bookended by heavily illustrated readers for toddlers and serious tomes about dating for teens, the world of Orthodox children’s fiction hasn’t had much to offer tweens – young readers between 9-12. But a new series of chapter books from author/illustrator Grace Brooks, a parishioner at St. Paul Church in Las Vegas, promises to change that, engaging tween readers at an age when crucial long-term ties to the faith are formed.
The intersection between Church life and "real life" is fertile ground for adventure to the tween characters of the Every Tuesday Club. Thrown together at church once a week, the girls start as acquaintances, become friends and find themselves learning about their faith and themselves in ways that are engaging, thought-provoking and easy for young readers to relate to.
In addition to the two Every Tuesday Club books published, Brooks said at least two more are planned. The first two books in the series are “Queen Abigail the Wise” and “Vanessa the Wonder-worker”:
“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.” (Mark 16:6)
HOLY PASCHA 2017
To the Reverend Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of the West
Dearly beloved:
Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
These words, so full of joy and hope, ring out as we celebrate once again the Mystery of the Passion and the Resurrection of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Annually, we face the long and arduous journey of Great Lent, struggling with our sins and passions, fasting to gain control over such things, repenting of those sins and trying to be mindful of the things of God instead of the usual, mundane trifles of our daily lives. Then we “seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.”
As with all the celebrations of the Church, we do not gather to simply remember events. We gather to mystically enter into those events. So before we experience the full joy of the Resurrection, we enter into Jerusalem with Jesus, spreading the garments of our souls before Him as He receives the shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” We then travel back and forth to Bethany with Him as He slowly but surely moves towards the Passion. We hear the condemnations of the Pharisees. We hear the parables of the Kingdom. We close the door to the upper room and witness the First (and Last) Supper, marveling that He chooses to feed us with Himself. We hear the various Gospel narratives of Gethsemane, the arrest, the trial, and finally the execution order. We stand at the foot of the Cross with John and the women. We help Joseph and Nicodemus carefully bury the Body of the Lord. And we descend into Sheol with Him as He shatters the gates of hell itself in that “active repose” of the Blessed Sabbath. Finally, we come to the empty tomb to witness the Resurrection of the Lord. We enter into it all.
St Peter Monastery is under construction in Montana.
We have 2 work weeks scheduled this summer with monks from St John Monastery in Manton and St. Herman Monastery in Platina. The first is focused on 14-22 year olds, with leaders.
http://stpetersmonastery.com/jekyll/update/2016/12/17/summer-youth-camp.html
The second is for adults and chaparoned older kids.
http://stpetersmonastery.com/jekyll/update/2016/12/29/Volunteer-Work-Week-2017.html
WORK. PRAY. BE.
Sign up now. May it be blessed!
(Submitted by Fr David Morrison, St Anthony Orthodox Church, Bozeman, MT)
This summer a unique summer discipleship week long program will be offered at the monastery of St John of San Francisco in Manton, California. The program is called “Orthodox LIFE School” and it targets young men and women from 18-30 years. The school will be led by Fr. Innocent (Green), superior at the monastery, and assisted by Fr. Andreas Blom and Fr. Theodor Svane.
"Life in Christ is an exciting adventure," says Fr. Andreas. “As Christians, we never have a reason to be bored! It has been on our hearts to offer a program for young Orthodox Christians, which will challenge and equip them to follow Christ in today’s world. We have certainly seen a need for this, and young adults in our parishes have been asking for it.”
With the blessing of His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West and the support of His Grace, Bishop David of Sitka and Alaska, a pilgrimage cruise and conference-at-sea will be held September 2-9, 2017.
A flyer and detailed information, including speakers and topics, costs, etc., are available on-line.
Sailing from Seattle to explore Juneau, Sitka, Glacier Bay, and other sites on the Holland America Eurodam, participants will attend a wide variety of daily lectures, services and workshops. Bishop David will host the pilgrims in Sitka, and the lecturers will include Archpriest Michael Oleksa, a recognized authority on Alaskan history and spirituality, and Archpriest Laurent Cleenewerck, Rector of Saint Innocent Church, Eureka, CA, who will lecture on “Spirit, Soul and Body.”
Registrations should be made as soon as possible as only 27 of the 50 spots needed to complete the group have already been filled.
His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin, has blessed this appeal to our diocese.
Update on Appeal to help Fr. John and Matushka Kyra Nightingale
Dear to God,
Christ is in our midst! Blessed Clean Week. As we continue our Lenten Journey, I wanted to update you on the Appeal To Help Fr John and Matushka Nightingale, especially since Great Lent is a time when we are called to focus on almsgiving. Fr John had fallen after a Presanctified Liturgy over a year ago. He has not returned home since that fall at the church. While he has regained sensation in his arms and legs, he is unable to walk and has minimal use of his arms and hands. Technically, he would be considered a quadraplegic. Since the appeal letter went out on January 31, 2016, we have received $37,278.00 for which they are most grateful.
By way of reminder, please see the following from my earlier letter:
Last year during Great Lent, after the Presanctified Liturgy, Fr. John was not feeling well and went out to the portch for fresh air. At some point he passed out and fell over the railing injuring his, neck, vertebrea and spinal cord. He has been in the hospital since that time receiving receiving therapy. Initially, he lost all use of his arms and legs. After months of therapy, Fr. John is now able to feed himself, but still unable to walk. Due to the lack of strength in his arms and legs he is unable to transfer himself from his bed to a wheel chair and is due to return home at this time. He will require nursing assistance and a lift to transfer him from the bed to a wheel chair. Medically, he is considered a parapalegic.
GREAT LENT 2017
To the Reverend Clergy, Monastics and Faithful of the Diocese of the West
The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
(John 1:43-46, Gospel reading for the First Sunday of Great Lent)
Dearly beloved,
After the preparatory weeks getting us ready for Great Lent, we come to the First Sunday of the Fast. There are two themes to this Sunday. The first theme, of course, is historical: the restoration of icons for use in worship and devotion in the Church after many years of iconoclasm. The second is the theme echoed by Philip: Come and See.
by Hieromonk Innocent of St. John Monastery, Manton
Soon, our Church will enter the great season of the Fast. As we empty the meat and dairy sections of our refrigerators, we may be a little apprehensive of the long weeks of Lent that lie before us. How easy it is to forget all the good things that happen to our souls as we set aside our many cares, quiet down and focus a little more on God. The service of the Presanctified Gifts embodies what is good and deep and meaningful about this season of repentance. Candles flickering in the dim light, the chanting of the Psalms, the journey through Genesis and Proverbs, the choir singing “Let My Prayer Arise”, and the hunger pangs of our fasting all blend together to humble us, to slow us down. We can be thankful that a fifth-century Pope of Rome developed and instituted this evening liturgy as a way to strengthen us and spur us on to the repentance and spiritual growth that we seek during these forty days. Yet St Gregory has given us more than this beautiful, lenten liturgy. He also wrote The Book of Pastoral Rule to inspire spiritual leadership and raise shepherds for his flock.
In 6th century Rome, Pope Gregory faced a problem. Candidates for bishops and parish priests were scarce, yet there were many ascetics who were qualified, yet reluctant to leave their seclusion. To address this pressing issue, Gregory wrote The Book of Pastoral Rule. In his wonderful book, he details the stringent requirements of the spiritual director, yet invites the ascetic not to hide his talent but to step up to the task of leading Christ's flock. Gregory graciously shares his experience with this would-be pastor by providing an encyclopedic description of nearly every conceivable human situation and personality-type and how best to advise and treat each condition. Compassion and discernment shines through this unprecedented sixth century work as the pontiff brings a wealth of experience to beginner spiritual fathers as they follow the Chief Shepherd and endeavor to feed and guide His rational flock.
Full article and photos at St. Tikhon's Seminary website here.
From dinnertime on Tuesday, December 27, through lunchtime on Thursday, December 29, 2016, Dr. David Ford, Professor of Church History at St. Tikhon’s Seminary, helped lead the annual Winter Youth Camp for about 65 Orthodox high school and college students, which was held at the Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp on the western flanks of the famous Pike's Peak. He was invited by Fr. Anthony Karbo, priest of the OCA church in Colorado Springs (STOTS Class of 1995), who has been leading this youth group for over ten years, as they meet for Summer and Winter Camp every year. Also assisting in supervising the retreat were two other St. Tikhon’s alumni: Fr. Benjamin Huggins, priest of the OCA church in Durango, Colorado (STOTS Class of 2013), and Fr. David Morrison, priest of the OCA church in Bozeman, Montana, (STOTS Class of 2013). Fr. Zachary Lynch, (STOTS Class of 2011) and priest of the OCA church in Pueblo, Colorado, came with his Matushka Natalia and their two younger children for the morning on that Wednesday – their three older children were participants during the entire event.
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.
