On Saturday, October 4, on the Leavetaking of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, celebrations were held in the historic Russian settlement of Fort Ross, CA, to commemorate the centennail of Orthodox pilgrimages and the renewed celebrations of the Divine Liturgy, which have been celebrated annually at this holy site since 1925.

Officiating the festal Divine Liturgy was His Beatitude Tikhon, Metropolitan of All America & Canada (Orthodox Church in America), and His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Concelebrating with them were: Their Eminences Maximilian, Metropolitan of Irkutsk & Angarsk (Moscow Patriarchate); Kyrill, Archbishop of San Francisco & Western America (ROCOR); and Daniel, Archbishop of Chicago & the Midwest (OCA); Their Graces Basil, Bishop of San Francisco & the West (OCA); Theodosius, Bishop of Seattle (ROCOR), and James, Bishop of Sonora (ROCOR), along with numerous clergy of ROCOR, the MP, and the OCA, accompanied by antiphonal singing from two choirs and a large number of faithful.

The service was also attended by His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin (OCA), who is retired and resides in California.

Liturgy took place outdoors at the Chapel of the Holy Trinity and St. Nicholas – the first Orthodox church built on the territory of the continental United States. Afterward, there was a procession of the cross to the historic Fort Ross cemetery, where a memorial service was held for the deceased Orthodox settlers and missionaries.

The faithful then gathered for a festive meal by the seaside, where welcoming greetings were read by the hierarchs, clergy, and pilgrims. A special emphasis was placed on the continuity of faith – from the first Russian settlers of the 19th century to the modern generations of American Orthodox Christians.

Throughout the day, there was a solemn and prayerful atmosphere, as well as a special unity among people from different parishes and jurisdictions. Hundreds of pilgrims, who had traveled to the Pacific Coast specifically for the anniversary celebration, participated in the festival.

A special highlight of the festive day was the celebratory concert, prepared by the students of the Russian Orthodox High School at the Church of All Russian Saints in Burlingame, CA, and Sts. Cyril & Methodius Russian School at the Cathedral of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in San Francisco, CA. The young performers delighted the guests with hymns, poems, and musical numbers. According to the participants, the concert was a touching reminder of the living continuity of Orthodox faith and cultural heritage among the younger generation.

On October 5, on the 17th Sunday after Pentecost, Metropolitan Maximilian celebrated Divine Liturgy at the San Francisco Cathedral. His Eminence was joined by Archbishop Kyrill, cathedral dean Archpriest Peter Perekrestov, the cathedral clergy, and visiting clergy from Russia and Canada. Liturgical chants were performed by the cathedral choir under the direction of Vladimir Krassovsky.

At the conclusion of the liturgy, Vladyka Maximilian expressed his gratitude to Vladyka Kyrill for the warm reception and heartfelt fraternal fellowship. In his address, he noted the spiritual connection between the Irkutsk Metropolitanate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, as well as their joint efforts in the fields of education, missionary work, and the spread of Orthodoxy in America. As a token of gratitude and spiritual unity, Archbishop Kyrill presented Metropolitan Maximilian with a commemorative panagia and cross.

Metropolitan Maximilian arrived in San Francisco specifically to participate in the celebrations dedicated to the centennial of Orthodox pilgrimage to Fort Ross, as well as to venerate the relics of the Holy Hierarch John, Archbishop of Shanghai & San Francisco, the Wonderworker.

On the same day, Metropolitan Nicholas officiated at Liturgy at Holy Ascension Church in the capital of California – Sacramento, whose rector is Archpriest Paul Volmensky. His Eminence was accompanied by Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur.

Historical Background

Pilgrimages to Fort Ross have been taking place since 1925, when priests of the Russian Orthodox Church first gathered here to pray for the missionaries and settlers who laid the foundation of Orthodoxy on the Western Coast of America. The Chapel of the Holy Trinity and St Nicholas was built by Russian settlers in the early 19th century and became a symbol of the spiritual presence of Orthodoxy in the New World.

Today, the pilgrimage to Fort Ross is considered the oldest continuous Orthodox pilgrimage in the continental United States and unites believers from different jurisdictions – the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Orthodox Church in America.