At the invitation of His Eminence, Archbishop KYRILL of San Francisco and Western America,  a delegation from Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, NY, headed by His Grace Bishop LUKE of Syracuse, Rector of the seminary, and Dr. Nicolas Schidlovsky, seminary dean, together with the seminary choir, under the direction of Deacon Nicholas Kotar, traveled to Holy Virgin Cathedral Joy of All Who Sorrow in San Francisco, CA to participate in the 30th anniversary celebration of the Glorification of St John (Maximovich) of Shanghai and San Francisco, the Wonderworker on June 28-29, 2024.

The festal services on Friday evening 6/28 and Saturday morning 6/29 were sung antiphonally by the Holy Virgin Cathedral Choir, under the direction of Vladimir Krassovsky, together with the Holy Trinity Seminary Choir, under the direction of Deacon Nicholas Kotar.

The Seminary choir then exclusively sang the Hierarchal Vigil on Saturday evening 6/29 and the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning 6/30. The Hierarchal Divine Liturgy was served by His Grace Bishop IRENEI of London and Western Europe together with His Grace, Bishop LUKE of Syracuse.

In addition to singing the responses at the divine services for the 30th anniversary of the glorification of St. John, the delegation had the opportunity to experience many other wonderful blessings during this trip, including venerating and praying before St. John's relics. The seminary delegation was honored to move the holy relics to the center of  the cathedral on Friday afternoon, and to move them back to the reliquary on Sunday following the Divine Liturgy.

Following the services, a tour of the chapel in the basement of the new cathedral was arranged by Archpriest Dimitri Jakimowocz, for the seminarians to pray where St. John's holy relics were kept from the time of his blessed repose in 1966 until the time of his glorification in 1994. Thereafter also on Sunday afternoon, the seminarians visited St. Tikhon's orphanage and were able to see St. John’s room and to sit in the chair in which Vladyka slept during his earhtly life. After visiting the orphanage, the delegation visited the Old Cathedral, where His Grace, Bishop JAMES of Sonora served a moleben to St John, and then prayed over the visitors from Jordanville in groups of 4-5 while each group was wrapped in St John's mantia. On Monday, the seminary delegation traveled to Fort Ross for a guided tour of the grounds by Innokentia. This tour included seeing St. Nicholas Church and the cemetery, as well as enjoying a beautifully prepared lunch outdoors.

This trip was truly a life-changing experience for all the students who were afforded the opportunity to participate in this celebration. We extend our heartfelt thanks to His Eminence Archbishop KYRILL of San Francisco and Western America, to the Cathedral Dean, Archpriest Peter Perekrestov, to the Cathedral Choir Conductor Vladimir Krassovsky and the members of the cathedral choir, to Nikita Buick, Cathedral Starosta, to Natasha Loukianoff for her assistance with the logistics regagrding complementary attendance for our delagition at the luncheon, and to all the faithful of Holy Virgin Cathedral for their warmth, and for welcoming us into their midst for this celebration.