Pascha in Autumn

The Cathedral Parish of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" thanked the Lord for His Countless Mercies to the faithful of San Francisco
The 75th anniversary of the Cathedral Parish of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" was celebrated in San Francisco.

On Monday, 4 November, a pannikhida was held for all the 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 the Western American Diocese. The combined choirs of the Hierarchal, Cyril & Methodius and Youth choirs sang under the direction of V.V. Krassovsky. The fervent supplication included the names of thousands of reposed founders and parishioners of the Cathedral.

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. On the following day, the Protectress of the Russian diaspora, the Miracle-working Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God arrived from Australia with Protopriest Gregory Kotliaroff. After the greeting of the Icon at the Cathedral, Vladyka Metropolitan was greeted at 6 p.m. The youngest students of SS Cyril and Methodius High School met him at the Cathedral entrance, throwing flowers at 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.

All-night vigil commenced at 6 p.m. 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.

Divine liturgy on Wednesday, 6 November, was led by His Eminence, the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, along with 7 bishops and over 30 clergymen. Protopriest Sergei Kotar was awarded the palitsa during the Minor Entrance for his pastoral work. As on the night before, two choirs sang. The Eucharistic canon was sang by all the worshipers under A.V. Roudenko. After the canon, Metropolitan Laurus ordained subdeacon James Baglien into the deaconate.

Liturgy ended with a procession of the cross with prayers of supplication to the Mother of God and the reading of the prayer of thanks to the Lord God for all the countless mercies He bestowed on the parishioners of the Cathedral over the course of 75 years.

At 2 p.m., a trapeza feast was held at the Russian Center in San Francisco. Vladyka Metropolitan shared his personal recollections of the archpastors Tikhon and Anthony, and also expressed particular joy that so many children and young people actively participated in the services. Vladyka Laurus counted over 60 altar boys during vigil. Slides were then shown on the history of the parish, including some rare photographs of the first church and its parishioners. At the conclusion of the overview of the history of the parish, voice recordings of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco were played, as well as those of Metropolitan Philaret and Archbishop Anthony of blessed memory.

The faithful of San Francisco will long remember and cherish the grace and joy they received from the Lord this day. A commemorative volume was published on the Cathedral. The full-color tome was published in two languages, hard-bound, with over 150 photographs, including several very rare ones. This limited-edition book includes color photographs of St. John and of his canonization, of Metropolitan Anastassy serving in the Old Cathedral, photos of Protopresbyter Mikhail Polskii, Hieromonk Seraphim Rose, as well as photographs of some of the holy relics of the Catheral.

The book can be ordered from the Cathedral bookstore ($22 US plus shipping):
Holy Virgin Cathedral Bookstore,
6200 Geary Blvd. San Francisco,
CA 94121, USA. Tel: (415) 668-5218;
e-mail: FrDcnDimitri@aol.com

On Thursday evening at 7 p.m., in commemoration of the tragic anniversary of the seizure of power in Russia by the bolsheviks, a hierarchal pannikhida was served for all those who suffered torture and death under the godless state during the terrible years, and for those who died on the field of battle, or in prison, or in exile, or from forced labor.