WESTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE: September 4, 2015
His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia to Pray at the Uncorrupt Relics of St John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker

On Tuesday, September 8, 2015 , the feast day of the Vladimir Icon of the Most-Holy Mother of God, His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia will visit the Cathedral of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in San Francisco. His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR, along with his clergymen and flock will greet His Holiness. The main aim of His Holiness’ visit will be to pray for his people before the uncorrupt relics of St John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker.

In 1992, with the same goal in mind, His Holiness Patriarch Pavel of Serbia visited the cathedral. He was greeted with words of welcome in the Serbian tongue by Archbishop Anthony (Medvedev, +2000), who underscored the fraternal bonds between the Serbian Church and Russian Church Abroad. Afterwards, Patriarch Pavel descended to the crypt which at the time held the relics of Vladyka John, located under the main altar of the cathedral. His Holiness then performed a memorial litany, after which the hierarchs accompanying His Holiness sang the troparion to the saint, “Teacher of Orthodoxy,” which drew an emotional response from Archbishop Anthony and the welcoming delegation. Soon after this even, the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia glorified St John on the anniversary of his repose in 1994, when the uncorrupt relics were transferred upstairs to the cathedral and revealed for veneration by all.