San Francisco, March 2, 2026
Photo: wadretreats.tilda.ws
The XV Annual Lenten Retreat at the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia’s Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco will focus on the life and veneration of Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose).
The retreat will be held on Sunday, March 22, featuring two clerics who personally knew Fr. Seraphim.
Archpriest Martin Person, Dean of the Western American Diocese San Francisco Deanery and rector of St. Herman of Alaska Church in Sunnyvale, California, will speak on the biography of Fr. Seraphim and Bishop James of Sonora will offer reflections on Fr. Seraphim’s theological, pastoral, and prophetic legacy. The day will also include a clergy round table Q&A session, fellowship, and Lenten meals
The retreat follows a December 2025 decision by the ROCOR Synod of Bishops to establish a commission to study the life, legacy, and veneration of Fr. Seraphim—ascetic, theologian, priest, missionary, translator, spiritual writer, and one-time chanter-reader at Holy Virgin Cathedral. The commission is chaired by Bp. James.
Veneration of Fr. Seraphim has grown worldwide, the retreat page notes: Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria has called him a key spiritual guide of the twentieth century, Metropolitan Nikoloz of Akhalkalaki of the Orthodox Church of Georgia has locally canonized him in his diocese, and the anniversary of his blessed repose continues to draw a great multitude of faithful to his gravesite at St. Herman's Monastery in Platina.
The retreat will begin with the Divine Liturgy at 7:30 AM and conclude at approximately 4:00 PM.
For more information and to register, visit the retreat website.
OrthoChristian interviewed Fr. Martin Person about Fr. Seraphim in 2019.
See Pat. Daniil’s comments about Fr. Seraphim at the 30th anniversary of his repose in 2012.
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