Russian Orthodox Church Abroad

The Orthodox Church consists of jurisdictions. Ours is by far the largest and most diverse: the global communion of the Russian Orthodox Church. In particular, we are a religious house of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (also called the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia or ROCOR), a semi-autonomous Church established during the 1920s as the Soviet regime murdered 200,000 Orthodox clergy and desecrated or destroyed countless parish churches and cathedrals. Also called the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, our cherished home became settled mostly in the English-speaking world: the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and England, with parishes in Western Europe. She recently celebrated her centennial year.

The Russian Church Abroad stands strong against the withering blasts of atheism, the brutality of a largely anti-Christian world, and the evil one's "two great commandments": "Live and let live" and "Don't judge me" — fueling a rampant immorality now burning out of control throughout the West. Westerners seem almost to have forgotten the essence of Christian life: the self-denying love of God and His holy ways; the love of neighbor which truly engages the lives around us; the caring for all children, who need stability, rectitude, role models of goodness, and a mother and father joined in permanent vows of self-giving, sacrificial love.

The social catastrophe of 1960 to the present time has gutted life in the United States. Meantime, spiritual refugees dot the landscape as longtime institutions stumble and fail. If you find yourself without a Church home, we promise, here you will find safe pastures, protected by a Church who will never kow-tow before the cruel tyranny of global woke culture. Here you will be welcomed as family. We are not ashamed of the Gospel (Rom 1:16). Our sacraments and ordinations are without shadow or doubt. Our bishops are holy men. Our warm-hearted priests and monastics are reliable spiritual fathers to our children and their parents.

Our Patriarch

His Holiness, Kirill, is Patriarch of the global Russian Orthodox Church, home to more than half of all Orthodox Christians. The worldwide Russian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous jurisdiction of the Orthodox Catholic Church (also known as Eastern Orthodoxy).

Our First Hierarch

His Lord, the Very Most Reverend Nicholas (Olhovsky) is Primate and First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad celebrating its 100th year in the United States in 2023. With the Orthodox New Year of 2022, the Church elected its seventh First Hierarch, succeeding His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion (of blessed memory), who initially received our monastery and who ordained our priest, Father Columba.

Our Archbishop

His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill (Dmitriyev) of San Francisco and Western America is the ruling bishop of the Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. He was consecrated bishop of Seattle, Vicar of the Western American Diocese on June 7, 1992. In December 2003 he was elevated to the rank of archbishop. In 2006 His Eminence was appointed a member of the Commission for Negotiations with the Moscow Patriarchate leading to the Act of Canonical Communion of May 17, 2007 reuniting the ROCOR to the Russian Orthodox Church. We are truly blessed to call him our "Spiritual Father."

Our Bishop, His Grace James of Sonora and of Monasteries

His Grace Bishop James (Corazza) as Bishop of Monasteries is our local shepherd. We are blessed to be guided by him. On August 30, 2019 the Holy Synod approved his election and named him Bishop of Sonora and Second Vicar of the Western American Diocese. He was consecrated on November 6.

Bishop of Seattle

His Grace, Bishop Theodosius (Ivashchenko) is the Bishop of Seattle and Vicar Bishop of the Diocese of San Francisco and Western America. He was elected bishop in May 2008 and confirmed by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on June 23rd. Bishop Theodosius was consecrated on September 7, 2008 at the Cathedral of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow."