About Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral
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Holy Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Cathedral is a parish of the Diocese of San Francisco and the West, Orthodox Church in America (OCA), which received its autocephaly from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1971. The Cathedral is dedicated to the icon of the Holy Virgin Mary "Rescue of the Perishing" with its yearly Parish Feast celebrated on February 5th or the closest Sunday. The parish was founded by the tsarist Russia's emigres in 1923, making it the first Russian parish in Southern California. In 1928 Metropolitan Platon and Bishop Alexei consecrated this temple to continuously attend to the spiritual needs of Russian immigrants, and starting in the 1960s, to the American population seeking salvation within the Orthodox Church.
Every year Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral organizes various events and fund-raising luncheons. Next to our main PARISH FEAST marked by the arrival of our ruling Bishop, the parish hosts an INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL of food, culture and folklore every October. In December there is a CHRISTMAS BAZAAR with the sale of homemade baked goods. The students and teachers of our Parish Schools arrange folk art concerts and performances, as well as religious plays every Nativity and Pascha. In addition, the parish invites everyone to the following fund-raisers: Blini (Maslenitsa) Luncheon, Christmas Eve dinner, Verba bouquet and Koulich sale (Lazarus Saturday), Paschal meal etc. (see schedule of events). We welcome you to join us!
