San Francisco, October 4, 2023
Photo: synod.com
One of America’s greatest saints was celebrated in California over the weekend.
Saturday, September 30, marked the 30th anniversary of the uncovering of the incorrupt relics of the Holy Hierarch and Wonderworker John (Maximovitch) of Shanghai and San Francisco, which lie in repose in the Joy of All Who Sorrow Cathedral in San Francisco.
The feast began with the All-Night Vigil celebrated on by His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America (ROCOR) Friday evening:
The Divine Liturgy the next morning was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, together with Abp. Kyrill, His Grace Bishop Theodosius of Seattle, His Grace Bishop James of Sonora, the retired hierarch His Grace Bishop Nicholas (Soraich), and His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West of the Orthodox Church in America, reports the ROCOR press service.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a moleben was sung before the relics of St. John, which were placed in the center of the cathedral for the feast, with a procession around the cathedral. Met. Nicholas then addressed the gathered faithful, saying:
We glorify St. John today, knowing that he is alive amongst us. Let us also be alive in our spiritual lives for St. John, by acting accordingly, following the Church rules, God’s commandments, the fasts, our prayer rules. Let him see our good deeds, our patience, our humility, our help for neighbor and those in need. As we found St. John, he wants to find us, his children, his flock, the dedicated and faithful Orthodox Christians. And I pray that we can also call ourselves and act accordingly, as Orthodox Christians, and this is what St. John wants to see in each of us. May God bless and protect all of us by the power of the Cross and by the prayers of St. john.
Photo: synod.com
All were then treated to a meal prepared by the cathedral sisterhood.
Read about the feast in the articles, “Opening of the Relics and Glorification of St. John Maximovitch,” by Archpriest Peter Perekrestov and “How the Relics of St. John of San Francisco Were Opened, and Other Amazing Stories,” by Archpriest George Kurtov.
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