Diocese of San Francisco & Western America

Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Parish Established: June 2, 1927

Groundbreaking: June 25, 1961

Consecrated: January 31, 1977

The Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Cathedral is a San Francisco landmark and the Russian Orthodox spiritual center of America’s West Coast. Completed during the earthly life of  St. John, the Wonderworker of Shanghai & San Francisco and frescoed by the renowned iconographer, Archimandrite Kiprian of Jordanville, the Cathedral of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”, has a vibrant liturgical life, three choirs, a full-time Orthodox Academy and a Russian High School. Many important church events have taken place at the Holy Virgin Cathedral, including the glorifications of St. Herman of Alaska and St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, and in 2006, the IV All-Diaspora Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.