- 1520 GREEN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123
- 415-567-WEST(9378)
- webmaster@dowoca.org
Fremont, CA – After 3 years of trying to find someone who could make a durable metal cross for their temple, St. Christina of Tyre Mission was able to install an Orthodox-style cross made of pure aluminum at the end of this past August.
The cross was water-cut by a local metal fabricator and then coated with a special gold surface which is used on high-rise buildings with a 20-year warrantee. The cross was blessed by His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin during his archpastoral visit for our patronal feast day and then installed at the end of August. According to Fr. Michael Anderson, rector of the mission, “We were blessed to have the help of a wonderful Ethiopian Orthodox carpenter who created the base for the cross as well as a electrician who had helped us with our initial rewiring of the building before we moved in who used his cherry-picker truck to elevate the cross into place. We wanted an Orthodox-style cross that was familiar to Orthodox people of the many backgrounds in our mission. It is the crowning jewel of all the incredible work that has been done to make what was a decaying building into a beautiful icon of the Kingdom of God. You can see the cross from every direction as you enter the neighborhood.”
On August 24th, Metropolitan Hilarion (ALFEYEV), head of the Department of External Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, visited the diocesan chancery in San Francisco. Archbishop Benjamin greeted His Eminence at the doors of the cathedral, and told him of the history of the oldest Orthodox parish in the lower 48 while the Metropolitan venerated the vestments of St Tikhon of Moscow and the pectoral cross of St Philip of Moscow.
Afterwards the two hierarchs enjoyed a private, fraternal conversation in the chancery.
On August 27, Archbishop Benjamin concelebrated the Festal Vigil for Dormition (Old Calendar) with His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion (ROCOR), His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah (OCA), His Eminence, Archbishop Kyrill (ROCOR), His Eminence, Archbishop Justinian (MP), and His Grace, Bishop Theodosius (ROCOR) at Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral, the Joy of All Who Sorrow (ROCOR) on Geary Ave in San Francisco. On August 28th His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokalamsk (MP) served at the festal Divine Liturgy with the other hierarchs concelebrating.
Other clergy concelebrating from the Orthodox Church in America included Archpriest Basil Rhodes, dean of the Pacific Central Deanery; Archpriest Stephan Meholick; Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov; and Deacon Brendan Doss.
Afterwards a formal banquet was served to all the hierarchs, clergy, and VIPs on the cathedral grounds.
On Saturday, August 25th, Hierarchs, Clergy, and Faithful from the OCA, ROCOR, and Moscow Patriarchate came together at the historical Fort Ross site in Jenner, CA to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Russian military outpost. His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev), head of the Department of External Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, concelebrated the hierarchical liturgy with His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York (ROCOR). Also serving were His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West (OCA), His Eminence, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada (ROCOR), His Eminence, Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk (MP), His Grace, Bishop Peter of Cleveland (ROCOR), and His Grace, Bishop Theodosius of Seattle (ROCOR). Also in attendance were His Eminence, Archbishop Gerasimos of San Francisco (GOA) and His Grace, Bishop Daniel of Dragovitsa (Bulgarian Patriarchate). Many clergy from the OCA, MP, and ROCOR churches served, with many faithful and pilgrims attending in prayer from all over the country and abroad.
The metropolitans were greeted at 9:30 am and presided over a beautiful open-air liturgy under a tent set up in the middle of the fort. Two choirs sang the responses – one in English from St Seraphim’s in Santa Rosa led by Nicholas Custer, and one in Slavonic from Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral in San Francisco (ROCOR). After the liturgy there was a cross procession around the fort, followed by a procession to the cemetery where a panikhida was sung for the souls of those Russians, Aleuts, and native Kushaya buried there.
Finally, fellowship was enjoyed by all within the walls of the fort, where traditional Russian song and dance troupes performed and a banquet was held for the celebrating clergy.
“The Brotherhood of St. John would like to thank everyone sincerely for all of the prayers and gracious support we have received in our time of difficulty. The monastery was evacuated safely before the fires arrived, and we have been lodging with friends until the fire department considers it safe for us to return. The last few days have been a valuable chance for us to strengthen relationships with area parishes, see old friends, and also to experience being the Brotherhood while outside the walls of the monastery, as we strive to maintain the same attitude of prayer that we keep while we are at home.
“We will be returning very soon to inspect the property. As far as we know, all the buildings were saved, and the facility has provided a good place for the fire department to use as a base while they continue their heroic and much appreciated efforts for the larger community. We wish to extend especial thanks to the many firefighters who have risked their safety in this effort, and we are glad that the monastery grounds could be of service. The fires continue to travel other places and threaten other homes and lives, so please continue to pray for all who are affected by this. There are still many who are in danger.
“The Brotherhood also wishes to express sincere condolences to all of our neighbors who have lost buildings and other property to this fire. We will be of service in any way we can. As yet we have limited information about when we will be allowed to return and resume our normal schedule, and what our capacity will be for hosting visitors and guests, but we will be sure to keep everyone posted as to how things turn out.
“Glory to God for His benevolence and care for us in all things, teaching us the path of salvation in every circumstance! We ask for the continued prayers of all our friends and supporters, and may the prayers of the Theotokos and all the Saints be with all of us.”
by Fr. Philip Halliwell
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt.18:20)
When the young people in our Church gather together, God sends a particular blessing on everyone present – Christ loved children and He was present in the midst of these kids in the Rockies. The joy and excitement on the faces of the kids when they arrived showed that they had really been looking forward to this camp and to the fun and fellowship with other Orthodox Christians in a safe environment.
The first evening set the tone: Fr. Anthony proclaims outright at the orientation session, “We have no rules here, only strong suggestions, but with . . .” and everybody yells the response “severe consequences!!!”. The ice-breakers would have broken the ice in the North Pole! The boys get into a “ruck” on the floor and the girls have to pull them apart!
The monks from St. John of Shanghai Monastery in Manton, California are confirmed to be safe, and the buildings are safe. For local updates, look here.
Martha and Mary House, the only Orthodox Maternity Home in the United States, is seeking a strong, Orthodox, female House Director to fulfill a critical need: ministering to women seeking adoption in anonymity.
For more information, click here.
As the celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Fort Ross celebration draws near (August 25th), the following has been published on the website of the Western-American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
The Saints of Fort Ross
by Seraphima Karbo
I recall preparing myself to move to Mexico – not just physically but gearing up mentally as well to begin that chapter of my life. What I did not realize – looking back on it – is that even when I got down here God set me into a long stage of preparation. I started out the year last fall as something of an academic aid to the woman in charge of the Classroom (we call it “el Salón”) – I was a homework helper with a lot of extra time on her hands for afternoon games of hide-and-seek and finger-painting. I was even fitting days helping out at the office in San Diego. In the mornings while the boys were at school I would help the Mexican ladies clean or cook or do laundry; in the afternoons I would help some of the boys with their homework, and then assist with whatever else needed to be done, such as make dinner or get everyone shampooed and showered. I collaborated with other members of the community to expand the Church school program; I was able to focus on some of the boys who had key learning disadvantages – four of them, for instance, had arrived at St. Innocent’s never having been taught to read by their parents or in school.
Then, suddenly in February, after a series of unforeseen events beginning in December, I found myself the person in charge of the elementary school department. I can’t even imagine what a shock that would have been to receive had I been placed in that position back in August; being responsible for the academic success of seventeen grade school boys is a daunting task. Out of sheer necessity, I dropped the model for the daily routine we had previously followed for homework – I was literally incapable of keeping seventeen 7-10-year-old boys quiet and focused in a room at the same time -- and began to work with them in smaller groups of two or three at a time. I found this to be much more effective; the boys not only enjoyed the small-group setting but made a surprisingly fast upward swing in progress and productivity. I began to think about changes that could be made to the academic program that would make it both more productive for the boys and less hectic for me.
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.
