The Blessing and Raising of the Main Cupola of Holy Transfiguration Cathedral

On the holiday of the Transfiguration of the Lord, His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America performed divine liturgy, and all-night vigil on the eve, along with Bishop Alexander of Buenos Aires and South America and Rector of the Cathedral, Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff, the Dean of the Third Deanery and Secretary of the Committee on Discussions with the Moscow Patriarchate; along with Protopresbyter Konstantin Tivetsky, who is attached to the Cathedral. The Rector of the neighboring parish, Priest Peter Shashkoff of Holy Protection Church and other clergymen also arrived for the moleben and procession of the cross. At the end of the service, the blessing and raising of the main cupola of the Cathedral was performed, after which the Cathedral Sisterhood offered lunch at the parish hall. We offer our readers a photo-report of this important day for the parish.

Archbishop Kyrill blesses the cupola.

From left to right: Archbishop Kyrill, Protopresbyter Konstantin Tivetsky, Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff and Deacon Christopher Horsley.

Archbishop Kyrill sprinkles the cupola's cross with holy water.

The Rector of neighboring Protection Church in Los Angelese participates in the moleben service and procession of the cross with the blessing of the cupola.

During the reading of the hours, Archbishop Kyrill performs an ordination of a reader.

Archbishop Kyrill blesses the people with the icon fo the saint during the procession of the cross around the Cathedral.

Newly-ordained Reader Alexander Alekseenko.