WESTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE: 1 February 2023
Orthodox Christians in California join the Walk For Life

On Saturday, January 21, 2023, Orthodox clergy, monastics, and faithful from around the West Coast joined the annual Walk For Life in San Francisco, California. The Western-American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was represented by the Secretary of the Diocese, Dean of Holy Virgin “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Cathedral, Archpriest Peter Perekrestov.

The Walk For Life West Coast proclaims that every life is precious and must be protected: “Every human being is created in the image of God, every human life is a free gift of the Father, from Whom comes every good and perfect gift.”

For the Orthodox participants, – the biggest Orthodox turnout ever for this event, ¬– the Walk began with a moleben for all the victims of abortion. It was served on the square in front of San Francisco’s City Hall by the Holy Trinity Cathedral Dean and Chancellor of the Diocese of the West (OCA), Archpriest Kyrill Sokoloff.

Following the prayer service and speeches the Walk participants moved along the Market Street, the City’s main street. The Orthodoxy group carried banners, icons and crosses, chanting hymns while a priest sprinkled the street with Holy water.

The largest Orthodox contingency at the 2023 Walk For Life was from St. Andrew’s Church (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese) in Riverside, Southern California. On Sunday the group of 60 people, mostly youth, took part in the early Liturgy (in English) at Holy Virgin Cathedral. Their Rector, Archpriest Josiah Trenham, offered the homily. The guests-pilgrims had an opportunity to venerate the relics of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the opening of his incorrupt remains.