The First Hierarch in California

On Saturday, 6 July, Metropolitan Laurus arrived in San Francisco with the Protectress of the Russian diaspora and prayed at the Cathedral. On 7 July he officiated at the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the parish of SS Peter and Paul in Santa Rosa.

On 6 July, the Protectress of the Russian diaspora, the Miracle-working Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, brought by the Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, was greeted at the Cathedral of the Most-Holy Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in San Francisco.
Metropolitan Laurus’ archpastoral visit to the Western American Diocese completed his tour of all the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in North America: the Eastern American, Syracuse-Holy Trinity, Chicago-Detroit and Midwestern, Canadian, and finally, the Western American diocese.
By 8 a.m., a multitude of the diocese’s clergy, parishioners and faithful from nearby churches gathered at the Cathedral on Geary Boulevard. The Protectress was greeted by the Ruling Bishop of the Western American Diocese, His Grace Bishop Kyrill, in full vestments, who carried the Miracle-working Icon into the Cathedral, accompanied by the singing of the troparion, and blessed the worshipers with it.

Vladyka Metropolitan was greeted with bread and salt at the portico of the Cathedral by a representative of the Cathedral parish. The entranceway was lined with the clergy of the city of San Francisco together with clergy from distant places: Protopriest George Kurtov from Monterey and Priest Paul Volmensky from the capital of California, Sacramento. The Youth Choir of the Cathedral under the direction of T.N. Troyan sang on this day. The First Hierarch, who was garbed in his Metropolitan’s blue mantle, was presented with the cross, and all the clergy approached him. Then Vladyka Laurus, accompanied by the singing of the troparion "Joy of All Who Sorrow and Intercessor of the Injured," entered the church and for the first time gave the flock of the Western American Diocese his First-Hierarchal blessing. Then he addressed those present with a greeting. Vladyka Laurus reminded the Cathedral’s parishioners that much was endured by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Miracle-worker, and that he knew well how perditious church troubles and schisms were. Archbishop Anthony, ever filled with love, always called for peace and love. "And so," said His Eminence the First Hierarch, "I ask you today to pray especially for our Church, for peace within Her, pray to the Mother of God, especially so today before Her Miracle-working Icon, pray to St. John, and also to Archbishop Anthony of blessed memory."
Protopriest Peter Perekrestov officiated at divine liturgy this day along with Archdeacon Andronik and Deacons Nicholas Triantafillidis and Dimitri Yakimovich. At liturgy, in the custom of the Cathedral, all the worshipers sang the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. After liturgy, two analogions were placed before the tomb containing the relics of St. John: one had the Icon of the Protectress, and the other, an ancient icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir. A service of supplication to the Mother of God and St. John was performed by Vladyka Metropolitan and Bishop Kyrill. At the end of the service, His Eminence the First Hierarch held the cross for veneration, and, while all the worshipers sang a prayer to the Mother of God, the icons of the Mother of God and the relics of St. John were also venerated.

At the end of the service, Vladyka Metropolitan joined Bishop Gabriel, the clergy and the worshipers for a trapeza feast, where all were given the opportunity in an informal atmosphere to converse and discuss church matters with the First Hierarch.

On Saturday after lunch, Metropolitan Laurus, together with Protodeacon Victor Lokhmatov and reader Nicholas Olhovsky, departed for Santa Rosa, to the church of SS Peter and Paul, where Vladyka officiated at the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the parish.

On Sunday, July 7, Bishop Kyrill concelebrated with him. At the minor entrance, the rector of the parish, the dean of San Francisco, priest Alexander Krassovsky was elevated to the rank of protopriest, and the parish protodeacon, Fr. Anatoly Wawiluk, was awarded the right to wear the kamilavka. At liturgy, the local subdeacon, Brendan Doss, was ordained to the deaconate. A trapeza feast was held after liturgy and the procession of the cross with a prayer of supplication to the Mother of God. This celebration concluded the first brief visit of the First Hierarch to the Western American Diocese. On Monday, 8 July, Vladyka Metropolitan, along with the Miracle-working Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God and accompanying clergy, headed for distant shores: the Australian and New Zealand Diocese.