Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco Orthodox Church

05/30/2026

A sermon on the Eve of Pentecost: Remembrance of the Departed, by Metropolitan Luke of Zaporozhie

We stand on the threshold between time and eternity. The Church offers to our hearts the cosmic manifesto of the Apostle Paul: “As we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.”

“As we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.” (1 Cor. 15:49)

05/11/2026

“So the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?’” (Joshua 7:10)

A man asked a monk, “What do you monks do in the monastery?” The monk’s reply: “We fall down and we get up.”

The Christian life is a long obedience in the same direction, and the Christian is not one who never fails or falls, but “he who perseveres to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13).

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

“Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise… Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 10:35-36;12:1-2)

My brethren, do all that is in your power not to fall, for the strong athlete should not fall, but, if you do fall, get up again at once, and continue the contest. Even if you fall a thousand times, because of the withdrawal of God’s grace, rise up again at each time, and keep on doing so until the day of your death. For it is written: “If a righteous man falls seven times,” that is, repeatedly throughout his life, “seven times shall he rise again” (Proverbs 24:16).
— Saint John Karpathos, “Letters to the Monks in India”

All of us sin constantly. We slip and fall. In reality, we fall into a trap set by the demons. The Holy Fathers and the Saints always tell us, “It is important to get up immediately after a fall and to keep on walking toward God”. Even if we fall a hundred times a day, it does not matter; we must get up and go on walking toward God without looking back. What has happened has happened – it is in the past. Just keep on going, all the while asking for help from God.
— Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, in “Our Thoughts Determine our Lives”

If you fall, rise and you shall be saved. You are a sinner, you continually fall, learn also how to rise; be careful to acquire this wisdom. This is what the wisdom consists in: learning by heart the psalm, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy great mercy” (Psalm 50) inspired by the Holy Spirit to the king and prophet David, and say it with sincere faith and trust, with a contrite and humble heart. After your sincere repentance, expressed in the words of King David, the forgiveness of your sins shall immediately shine upon you from the Lord, and your spiritual powers will be at peace. The most important thing in life is to be zealous for mutual love, and not to judge anyone. Everybody shall answer for himself to God, and you must look to yourself. Beware of malice.
— St. John of Kronstadt, “My Life in Christ”

A fish that is alive swims against the flow of water. One that is dead floats down with the water. A true Christian goes against the current of a sinful age. A false one is swept away by its swiftness.
— Saint Philaret of Moscow

Praxis is not to try out and then retreat, but to enter the battle, duel, defeat and be defeated, win and lose, fall and rise, crush the gates everywhere, and to expect struggles and fights until one’s last breath.
— Saint Joseph the Hesychast

The attached image says 七転八起. Shichiten hakki is a Japanese proverb which means: Fall down seven times – get up eight!

05/11/2026

Our youth group’s coffee cart is back: with a custom seasonal drink menu, featuring Walla Walla Roastery coffee.

05/06/2026

An interview with Bishop Irenei about the glorification of Fr Seraphim (Rose) and what to expect.

Information on the work towards the glorification of Hieromonk Seraphim, addressed at the recently-concluded Bishops’ Council of the Church Abroad.

05/05/2026

Epistle of the Council of Bishops to all Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics and Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Christ is Risen!

Beloved in the Lord, archpastors, reverend priests and deacons, venerable monastics, dear brothers and sisters: “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 1:1).

By the mercy of God, we, the archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, assembled in Hierarchical Council in the presence of the Directress of the Russian Diaspora, the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign,” in the Monastery of the Venerable New-Martyr Grand Duchess Elisabeth, and convened on the occasion of the centenary of the German Diocese — the first stronghold of Russian Orthodoxy Abroad, from which the formation of other dioceses followed for the pastoral care of the flock in the Diaspora - address you with the following message.

We all see how the processes of secularisation are intensifying, how moral landmarks are being obscured, and how faith wanes in many hearts. in such difficult conditions, it is especially important to preserve fidelity to Orthodoxy and to the traditions of the Russian Church Abroad, and likewise to follow the piety of our fathers and founders. We are reminded of this by the words of the Apostle and Evangelist John: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

Recognising such faithfulness and sanctity is an ever-ongoing process in the life of the Church. Responding to the numerous appeals of the faithful, the Council of Bishops, having recognised the righteous course of life of the ever-memorable Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose), has blessed the process of preparing his ecclesiastical glorification among the ranks of our venerable Fathers.

In these radiant Paschal days, feeling the special mercy and grace which are a foretaste of eternal joy in the Kingdom of Heaven, we call all of you to a careful and attentive spiritual life: to regular prayer, to repentance, to the reception of the Mysteries of Christ, to participation in the Divine Services, and to the reading of the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Holy Fathers. Our parishes must be living communities, and our families havens of Christian love.

With pain we perceive the sufferings of those in various countries of this world: wars, conflicts and persecutions unfolding against Christians, and indeed against all those now enduring a multitude of hardships - especially in the fratricidal war waged between Christians born of the same baptismal font of Kievan Rus’. In such a present moment, we remind you of the need for intensified prayer for peace, for the cessation of bloodshed, for those who suffer, for those who sorrow and are heavy-laden, and for the triumph of God’s Truth. Each of us is called to be a bearer of the peace and love of Christ in our life, and likewise to follow the words of the Apostle Paul, “endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).

The Council of Bishops recognises the complexity of contemporary bioethical questions and the necessity of the pastoral defence of the human person. New biomedical technologies grant man the possibility of determining for himself the boundaries of life and death. Yet in this there lies a great spiritual danger. Therefore, the Council of Bishops of hte Russian Church Abroad has established a bioethical commission, which is charged to provide both pastors and flock with clear guidance.

Particular attention in our time should be given to the formation of the young generation now being nurtured in our Church. Modern means of communication, especially the Internet, have become an integral part of human life; but it is necessary to employ them with discernment and for spiritual benefit. We warn al against a heedless and uncritical immersion in the digital environment, which is so capable of distracting from an inner life, from prayer, and from living ecclesial and human interaction.

At the Council, the creation of a charitable foundation for the assistance of clergy and members of their families in need was approved, which, with the help of parish councils, will in the near future be implemented at diocesan levels.

We address all the faithful children of the Orthodox Church living in the Diaspora: Preserve the Orthodox Faith. Follow the commandments of God. Persevere in good labours. Let your life become a living testimony of the Gospel to those around you. Be steadfast in the Faith, strengthen yourselves in hope in the Lord, and do not wander from the path of salvation.

We invoke God's blessing upon all of you.
22 April/5 May, 2026
Truly, Christ is Risen!

https://saintjohnorthodoxchurch.org/2026/05/epistle-from-our-bishops/

04/23/2026

“This is the mystery of heaven and earth intermingling! When you walk into the temple, as soon as you feel your foot hit the floor of the temple – every time – let that be the bell in your head that causes you to remember that this is not just another building. There is something astonishing in it, and I am being allowed to set my foot into a place where God Himself chooses to dwell, where God makes Himself manifest to people who need Him; and I’m allowed to just walk in, as if it were my house. Let us take a moment to be astonished by that, every time we walk in.”
— Bishop Irenei (Steenberg)

04/18/2026

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

04/05/2026

More photos from the Feast! S’prazdnikom!

04/05/2026

Joyous Feast of Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem! “Hosanna in the Highest, Blessed is He who cometh in the name of the Lord!”

01/15/2026

Joyous Feast!
Saint Basil pray to God for us!