DIOCESE OF SAN FRANCISCO AND WESTERN AMERICA: May 4, 2012
Bishop Pavel of Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut Visits the Western American Diocese

On Saturday, April 28, 2012, His Grace Bishop Pavel of  Khanty-Mansiysk and Surgut, who had arrived in San Francisco on Radonitsa, performed all-night vigil at the Church of All Russian Saints in Burlingame, CA. The archpastor was warmly greeted by the parish rector, Mitred Protopriest Stefan Pavlenko. Also praying at the service was His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America. At the trapeza that followed, Vladyka Pavel told the parish about the diocese he rules.

The following morning, His Grace celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in San Francisco. Afterwards, the League of Russian Women hosted a reception to honor His Grace, attended by Vladyka Kyrill, Mr VN Vinokurov, Consul General of Russia in San Francisco, the cathedral’s parishioners and other guests.

Bishop Pavel is making his first trip since his consecration to the episcopate to San Francisco, where he once served as priest and was beloved and respected by the parishioners of St Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral.

Photos: Igor Pavkin and Yuri Konyshev