Feasts (Page 2)
Nativity Message of Archbishop Benjamin
May the brightness of the Child come into the world this day to dispel its darkness enlighten all of you, my beloved flock. May the hope given to us this day never fade away no matter the difficulties facing us. May the Gift that is placed in our hands this day always be received as the only gift that matters.
Nativity Message of Metropolitan Tikhon
May the brightness of the Child come into the world this day to dispel its darkness enlighten all of you, my beloved flock. May the hope given to us this day never fade away no matter the difficulties facing us. May the Gift that is placed in our hands this day always be received as the only gift that matters.
Pentecost 2021 Photographs
“On the last day, that great day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink…” (John 7:37-52; 8:12). On Saturday evening and the morning of Sunday, June 20, our Cathedral parish celebrated our patronal feast day of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit. His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin presided at the festal services. Our festivities began with a festal vigil and reception Saturday night celebrated with all of our…
Pascha 2021 Photographs
In the early moments of Sunday, May 2, 2021, the cathedral clergy and faithful celebrated the bright and saving day of the Lord’s Resurrection – Pascha – Easter. Christ is risen! Photographs courtesy Matushka Sophia Sokolov.
Archbishop Benjamin’s Lenten Message
2021 Lenten Message of His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin To the Reverend Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Diocese of the West: But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not…
The Blessing of Water
In the Book of Genesis, we read that creation began when the Spirit of God moved over the face of the waters. (Gen. 1:2) Throughout the Bible, water plays an important and a ‘mystical role’ in human existence and in man’s relationship with God the Creator. Water has the capacity to produce death, as recounted in the story of Noah and the ark (Gen. 6); or to produce life, as noted in the story of Moses’ striking the rock in…
Nativity Message of Archbishop Benjamin
May the brightness of the Child come into the world this day to dispel its darkness enlighten all of you, my beloved flock. May the hope given to us this day never fade away no matter the difficulties facing us. May the Gift that is placed in our hands this day always be received as the only gift that matters.
The Liturgy in the World: A perpetual longing
And what do we see in practice? Separated from the will of God and indifferent to it, man’s free will is transformed, as the result of pride, suspicion and hatred, into a world-destroying power which causes both man and nature to groan. Is there no place from which we might expect something decisively new, which could alter the direction of this development?
Pentecost 2020 Photographs
“On the last day, that great day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink…” (John 7:37-52; 8:12). On this, our parish feast day, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence, Most Reverend Benjamin, Archbishop of San Francisco and the West. Concelebrating with His Eminence were Archpriest Kirill Sokolov, Dean, and Protodeacon Brendan Doss. Due to the shelter-in-place, we missed our parishioners and friends but were blessed to…
Pascha 2020 Photographs
In this year when we are called to stay at home, the clergy and a small number of singers led by His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West, served and live-streamed the divine services of the bright and saving Pascha – Easter – the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Parishioners from near and far faithfully prayed with us in their homes. We are happy to present a small photo album of pictures from our…
The Paschal Message of His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin 2020
To the Reverend Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Diocese of the West: Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! In the Divine Liturgy, at the apex of the Anaphora, the Gifts are raised on high by the deacon as the following prayer is said, ending with the exclamation: Remembering this saving commandment and all those things which have come to pass for us: the Cross, the Tomb, the Resurrection on the third day, the Ascension into heaven, the Sitting…
Archpastoral Message of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon Pascha 2020
To the Venerable Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America, Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen! Today we celebrate the feast of feasts, the radiant joyful feast of the Lord’s Resurrection. He became a man like us, and was crucified, suffered, and was buried for us. And today, after three days in the tomb, He rises from the dead, offering us all the promise of Resurrection unto eternal life. Our life in the Resurrection begins even…