WESTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE: October 12, 2017
Russian American Community Services is Collecting Donations to Help Wildfire Victims of SS Peter and Paul Church in Santa Rosa

As of October 12, 2017, at least 23 persons have died from the wildfires in California, as reported by the mainstream media. Another 285 persons are missing. Local authorities fear that more victims will be discovered. Weather conditions are hindering firefighting efforts, including strong, dry winds, which are expected to continue.

As reported by Protopriest Alexander Krassovsky, Rector of SS Peter and Paul Church in Santa Rosa, CA, several families of his parish have been left homeless. The parish is providing hospice to them, and with the help of Russian American Community Services, headed by Nicholas Buick, donations are being collected. Parishioners of the Russian Church Abroad of the Western American and other dioceses are being asked to contribute here. All funds will be given to SS Peter and Paul Parish.

On Wednesday, October 11, in anticipation of possible evacuation, all holy items and relics of neighboring St Simeon Verkhotursky Church in Calistoga were transferred to the Diocesan Administration in San Francisco.

Today, during Divine Liturgy at Obretensky Chapel, the former crypt of St John of Shanghai and San Francisoc, celebrating the 24th anniversary of the Translation of his relics, special prayers were lifted to the Lord to help the wildfire victims.