Feast Day of St John of Shanghai

Today is the feast-day of St. John of Shanghai, patron of our community - or one of our patrons, at least! Following the custom of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (the church in which St. John served as a bishop and in which he was initially glorified as a saint), we will be celebrating his feast-day on the Saturday closest to the date of his repose - in other words, this Saturday! Accordingly, we will be celebrating Divine Liturgy at St. John's (1967 Napier Street) this coming Saturday, July 5th, beginning with the Hours at 9am.

My apologies for the lateness of this announcement. With all the other monumentous events occuring in our community these days, our parish feast-day almost escaped my attention! Fortunately there are others in our midst with better memories than mine. I look forward to seeing and celebrating with any and all who are able to make it out on such short notice.

The Monks are back at St Herman's

The monks have moved back to St Herman's monastery in Platina California. There was extensive damage from the wild fires all around, but it seems the monastery itself was miraculously protected.

Thank you for your prayers.

Fr C

Platina evacuations have been lifted!

As of last night for St Herman's Monastery and this morning for the St Xenia Skete, the evacuations have been lifted. One of the fires is 81% contained, and the other is 52% contained (just how do they figure that out accurately anyway?). I'd feel better if the news was both fires were 100% contained and it had started raining in the area, but alas, that hasn't happened yet.

It's good news, but keep them in your prayers, please. I keep thinking the fires are still 19% and 48% uncontained, or, out-of-control - or is that the cynic in me?

The Nuns of St Xenia's Skete are now evacuated too

Current updates to the situation for both St Herman's Monastery and St Xenia's Skete can be found here:

http://westsrbdio.org/prayer_appeal/st_herman_of_alaska_monastery.html

Lord have mercy!