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Front Page Stories (Page 2)

Front Page Stories (Page 2)

Archbishop Benjamin’s Lenten Message

2023 Lenten Message of His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin To the Reverend Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of the West: For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I…

Baptisms of Marie and Sevastiana

The Divine Liturgy on November 20, 2022, was preceded by the sacrament of Holy Baptism for Bonnie Marie and her daughter Sevastiana. Many years to the newly-illumined!

Dormition of the Holy Theotokos

The first chapter of St. Luke’s gospel contains an outstanding hymn by the holy Theotokos, which poured out of her heart in response to the salutation of her relative, the righteous Elizabeth: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” This Elizabethan prophecy, that we repeat so often in one of our most favorite prayers “Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos,” was followed by Mary’s hymn, Mary’s prayerful prophesy, which is especially important for our attention on…

Fort Ross Pilgrimage 2022

The auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of the West, His Grace, Bishop Daniel of Santa Rosa, led clergy and faithful from all over the Bay Area in the annual Fourth of July pilgrimage to historic Fort Ross. A choir led by Valerie Simonson (Holy Cross, Sacramento) beautifully sang the responses at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Following the reading of the Holy Gospel, Priest Gregory Matlak (St. Christina, Fremont) preached a homily powerfully connecting the historical path of Fort Ross with…

Pentecost 2022 Photographs

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1). On Saturday evening, June 11, and the morning of Sunday, June 12, the Cathedral of the Diocese of the West celebrated the great saving day of Pentecost: the feast of the Holy Trinity and its patronal feast. His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West presided at the divine services. Festal Vigil was served on Saturday night with…

Pentecost 2022 Homily of His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. As I am sure many of you already know, I am rather fascinated by what we might call the fulfillment of the prophecies, rites, and customs of the Old Covenant in the New — in particular, in Orthodox Christianity. I understand Christianity to be the heir to all the Law and the Prophets gave witness to. Our present celebration of Pentecost is no exception. Pentecost…

The Paschal Message of His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin 2022

To the Reverend Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Diocese of the West: “Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Jesus…

Address of Archbishop Benjamin at the Prayer Service for Peace in Ukraine

“And Cain said to Abel his brother, “Let us go out to the field.  And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.  Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”  He said, “I do not know;  am I my brother’s keeper?”  And the Lord said, “What have you done?  The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.” Brothers and sisters, today the sons of Cain are killing their brother…