Bp. Matthew Serves Moleben Before Relics of St. John in San Francisco
Bp. Matthew’s San Francisco visit highlighted veneration of St. John's relics and greetings between Orthodox jurisdictions.
SAN FRANCISCO — Bp. Matthew of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada (Moscow Patriarchate), visited the Holy Virgin Cathedral (ROCOR) on May 4 with the blessing of Abp. Kyrill, where he served a moleben before the relics of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco.
During the service, Bp. Matthew venerated the cathedral’s holy relics and later anointed the faithful with oil from the lamp burning before St. John’s reliquary. Accompanying clergy included Priest Michael Kozyrev and Subdeacon Nicholas Trubnikov. The hierarch also visited the cathedral crypt where St. John was originally buried before the uncovering of his incorrupt relics.
Later that day, Bp. Matthew met with Bp. Vasily of San Francisco and the West at Holy Trinity Cathedral (OCA). The hierarchs discussed church life and affirmed strong fraternal relations between Moscow Patriarchate parishes and the Orthodox Church in America on the West Coast.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Bp. Vasily gave confession talks at a clergy convocation.
