ORTHODOX CHURCH in AMERICA (OCA) ALL-AMERICAN COUNCIL - July 15-18, 2025
Our parish sent four people to this every-third-year gathering, with representatives of parishes in both the U.S.and Canada attending (more than 700 people). The opening session was Monday night. The OCA held many events throughout the week. Tuesday included two more plenary sessions and a luncheon in honor of our retiring Archbishop Benjamin. The OCA's Holy Synod then elected Fr. Vasily to the office - now Bishop-Elect Vasily Permiakov.

The celebration of the canonization of North America's first female saint also continued - Saint Olga, Matushka of All Alaska. During the services, a beautiful icon of her was available for veneration, as was one of her relics. There was also an excellent presentation on St. Tikhon (our parish's patron saint), Patriarch of Moscow and All Russian, Enlightener of North America, for the 100th anniversary of his repose. One of his relics was also available for veneration, in front of the new icon of All Saints of North America. There was a beautiful hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Thursday morning. Finally, our diocese, the Diocese of San Francisco and the West, held its annual assembly on Friday afternoon, after the OCA's All American Assembly ended.