WESTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE: March 24, 2016
The Great Lenten Retreat and Pastoral Conference of the Western American Diocese Will Be Devoted to Missionary Work

On March 29-30, 2016, the Cathedral of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in San Francisco will host the Pastoral Retreat and Conference of the Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Two lecturers have been invited to the event: Priest Martin Person, Rector of St Herman's Church in Sunnyvale, CA, will speak on missionary work among Americans. Missionary efforts with Muslims in Kazakhstan will be the topic of a lecture by Hegumen Ignaty (Sidorenko), Rector of Pokrovsky Church in the city of Issyk.

On Wednesday, March 30, the Pastoral Conference will conclude with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts headed by His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America. This will be the first such Liturgy to be celebrated in the evening, with the singing of the cathedral choir under the direction of Vladimir Krassovsky.