Front Page Stories (Page 4)
The Blessing of Water
In the Book of Genesis, we read that creation began when the Spirit of God moved over the face of the waters. (Gen. 1:2) Throughout the Bible, water plays an important and a ‘mystical role’ in human existence and in man’s relationship with God the Creator. Water has the capacity to produce death, as recounted in the story of Noah and the ark (Gen. 6); or to produce life, as noted in the story of Moses’ striking the rock in…
Nativity Message of Archbishop Benjamin
May the brightness of the Child come into the world this day to dispel its darkness enlighten all of you, my beloved flock. May the hope given to us this day never fade away no matter the difficulties facing us. May the Gift that is placed in our hands this day always be received as the only gift that matters.
The Liturgy in the World: A perpetual longing
And what do we see in practice? Separated from the will of God and indifferent to it, man’s free will is transformed, as the result of pride, suspicion and hatred, into a world-destroying power which causes both man and nature to groan. Is there no place from which we might expect something decisively new, which could alter the direction of this development?
Pentecost 2020 Photographs
“On the last day, that great day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink…” (John 7:37-52; 8:12). On this, our parish feast day, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence, Most Reverend Benjamin, Archbishop of San Francisco and the West. Concelebrating with His Eminence were Archpriest Kirill Sokolov, Dean, and Protodeacon Brendan Doss. Due to the shelter-in-place, we missed our parishioners and friends but were blessed to…
Pascha 2020 Photographs
In this year when we are called to stay at home, the clergy and a small number of singers led by His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West, served and live-streamed the divine services of the bright and saving Pascha – Easter – the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Parishioners from near and far faithfully prayed with us in their homes. We are happy to present a small photo album of pictures from our…
The Paschal Message of His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin 2020
To the Reverend Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Diocese of the West: Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! In the Divine Liturgy, at the apex of the Anaphora, the Gifts are raised on high by the deacon as the following prayer is said, ending with the exclamation: Remembering this saving commandment and all those things which have come to pass for us: the Cross, the Tomb, the Resurrection on the third day, the Ascension into heaven, the Sitting…
The Blessing of Foods on Pascha
This year we are unable to gather at the cathedral to have our Paschal food blessed. Below is a brief order of blessing that can be done at home before the home meal on Pascha day. Sing the following three times: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. After having finished singing, the head of the family reads the following prayer for the blessing of meat: O Lord…
Photos of Baptismal Joy
Today, we welcomed yet another wee one into the Church. Many years to the newly illumined, her sponsors, and her family!
Nativity Message of Archbishop Benjamin
NATIVITY OF OUR LORD 2019 To the Reverend Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of the West Dearly beloved: Christ is Born! Glorify Him! There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots… The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow…
Archpastoral Message of Metropolitan Tikhon
Archpastoral Message ofHis Beatitude Metropolitan TikhonNativity of Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ2019 To the Honorable Clergy, Venerable Monastics, and Pious Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America, My Beloved Brethren and Blessed Children in the Lord, Christ is born! Glorify Him! As we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ in the flesh, and His baptism in the River Jordan, we call to mind the important roles that his mother, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and his Forerunner, John the…
2019 Advent Retreat
Please join us for our Annual Advent Retreat: Saturday, December 7, 2019 Meant to be Mediators! Mutual Prayer at the center of our lives Dr. Edith M. Humphrey William F. Orr Professor of New Testament Pittsburgh Theological Seminary If every Christian has a direct relationship with the Father, through Jesus Christ, then why are the prayers of the saints so important? Why do we pray for each other? Shouldn’t we simply go “straight to the top?” We are excited to…
Annual Parish Picnic at Fort Mason
On Sunday, September 22, we gathered at Fort Mason overlooking the San Francisco Bay for our annual parish picnic! Our thanks to Johann and all those who organized and volunteered to make this a great experience for all. Photographs courtesy of Matushka Sophia Sokolov and David Lee. Click on the thumbnail below to expand the slideshow.