Celebrations
Begin in San Francisco
The Kursk-Root Icon and the First Hierarch along with other
bishops arrive in San Francisco.
Celebrations begin in San Francisco for the 75th Anniversary
of the Cathedral of the Most-Holy Mother of God, “Joy
of All Who Sorrow.”
On Monday, 4 November, a pannikhida was served at the Cathedral
of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow,”
for all the reposed archpastors, clergymen, founders, helpers,
singers, sisterhood members, donors and parishioners of
the Cathedral Parish. The pannikhida was led by His Eminence
Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany along with Bishop
Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America and Bishop Evtikhii
of Ishim and Siberia, along with a group of clergymen. The
pannikhida was sung by the collected Hierarchal, Kyrill
and Methodius and Youth Choirs under the direction of V.V.
Krassovsky. The names of thousands of the reposed founders
and parishioners of the Cathedral Parish were read during
solemn litany. By 8 p.m., His Eminence, the First Hierarch
of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan
Laurus, arrived in San Francisco. He was greeted by the
Vice President of the Diocesan Council, Protopriest Stefan
Pavlenko.
The following day, the Protectress of the Russian diaspora,
the Miracle-working Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God
arrived with Protopriest Gregory Kotliaroff. After the Icon
was greeted at the Cathedral, the Metropolitan was greeted
at 6 p.m. The younger students of SS Cyril & Methodius
High School were lined up at the church entrance and threw
flowers under the First Hierarch’s feet. The Cathedral
Warden, Nikita Evgenievich Buick, met Metropolitan Laurus,
confirmed the devotion of the flock of San Francisco to
the Church of Christ and its loyalty to the canonical path,
and asked the Metropolitan’s holy prayers for all the
parishioners.
Vladyka Metropolitan entered the Cathedral, were he was
greeted by his brethren bishops and other clergymen in full
vestments. The expressions of love and respect from the
bishops were heartwarming.
Two choirs sang: the Hierarchal Choir under the direction
of V.V. Krassovsky and the SS Cyril & Methodius Choir
under V.V. Stamirovsky. The 103rd Psalm was sung antiphonally
by the choirs, as well as Blessed is the Man, of the Pochaev
Lavra chant, and other prayers, including the polyeleos.
All the bishops emerged during the polyeleos: Metropolitan
Laurus, Archbishop Mark, Bishop Kyrill, ,Bishop Ambroise
of Geneva and Western Europe, Bishop Evtikhii, Bishop Alexander
of Buenos Aires and South America, Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan
and Bishop Michael of Boston. One canon to the Mother of
God was read by Protodeacon Nikolai Porshnikoff, who has
not served for over a year because of an amputated leg.
Vigil ended at 11 p.m.
