An evening with Archbishop Kyrill - 12/02/2007

The parish is very grateful to the Synod and to Archbishop Kyrill of the Diocese of San Francisco and Western America for the opportunity to discuss some of the issues surrounding the pending restoration of normal relations with the Church in Russia, scheduled to reach completion on the 17th of May this year. There have been some difficult times, especially with the recent schism in the Diocese of Great Britain and the departure of some of our beloved fellow parishioners, so it was good to have the chance to speak about this, face-to-face, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Vladika was helpfully clear and heart-warmingly candid about the situation and his own experiences, and many of us walked away feeling much more hopeful about our future as a church and a diocese.

This gathering also gave us the chance to see people whom we don't see very often and to welcome one of our friends from the Moscow Patriarchate, and, as is usually the case when Orthodox people get together, there was food aplenty. Also with us were Fr Andrew Phillips from the Parish of St John the Wonderworker in Felixstowe, and Fr Michael from the St Petroc Monastery in Tasmania.

Here are a few photographs of the evening.
Fr Andrew having a moment
Fr Paul and Fr Michael discuss the finer points of art and architecture
Priest Descending a Staircase
Clergy and a parishioner at a relaxed evening with Vladika
Parish gathering with Vladika
Parish gathering with Vladika
Matushka with the newest addition to our parish family
Men in Black
It wasn't me, Father!
Peter and Sofia