Fort Ross, California, July 7, 2022
Memorial Day pilgrimage. Photo: wadiocese.org
The Western Dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Orthodox Church in America led their annual pilgrimages to the historical Fort Ross during recent American holidays.
On Memorial Day, May 30, ROCOR clergy and faithful made the trek to celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the Fort Ross Historic Park, with a procession to the cemetery and a litiya for those buried there, the diocese reports.
This was the first time the pilgrimage was held in three years, having been canceled the past two years due to the COVID pandemic. According to historical sources, this year marks the centenary of the pilgrimages, which began in 1922.
The Fort’s chapel, dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity, was built in the mid-1820s. Although Ross had no resident priest, in 1836 Father Ioann Veniaminov—glorified in 1977 as St. Innocent of Alaska—visited the settlement and conducted the Sacraments of Marriage, Baptism, and the Divine Liturgy. The faithful of the Bay Area worked with the state of California and other benefactors in the 20th century to preserve the Fort and the chapel.
This year’s festivities were presided over by His Grace Bishop Theodosy of Seattle, Vicar of the Western American Diocese, and HIs Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco greeted the pilgrims on their way back from the fort at the agape meal offered at the Kazan Church in Guerneville.
dowoca.org
The OCA then held its annual pilgrimage on July 4, led by His Grace Bishop Daniel of Santa Rosa, vicar of the Diocese of the West.
Following the reading of the Holy Gospel, Fr. Gregory Matlak from St. Christina’s Church in Fremont offered homily “powerfully connecting the historical path of Fort Ross with the saving work of Jesus Christ and the salvation of each one of us.”
Bp. Daniel spoke at the end of the Liturgy, highlighting the missionary work of St. Innocent of Alaska, which was connected with Fort Ross.
The clergy and faithful then went on procession to the cemetery, where they also prayed for those buried there. A picnic was then held at the Fort.
The tradition of the July 4 pilgrimage began in 1925.
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