On May 2, 2026, Saturday of the 3rd week of Pascha and the feast of Blessed Matrona of Moscow, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in San Diego, California.
Before the service began, the archpastor was warmly greeted by the rector of the church, Hieromonk Sylvester (Kozhin), and the parishioners.
Concelebrating with the bishop at the Liturgy were the Dean of the Western States and sacristan of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in San Francisco, Priest Michael Kozyrev; Hieromonk Sylvester; the rector of the ROCOR parish of St. John of Kronstadt in San Diego, Archpriest Evgeny Grushevsky; and the cleric of the same parish, Deacon Nikita.
At the end of the service, Hieromonk Sylvester, on behalf of the parishioners, warmly thanked the archpastor for the joy of praying together in the days of the Paschal celebration and, in memory of the visit, presented him with an icon of Blessed Matrona of Moscow, commemorated on May 2, skillfully embroidered by a parishioner of the church.
Bishop Matthew addressed the concelebrating clergy and faithful with a sermon, congratulating them on the Bright Resurrection of Christ and on the feast of the holy eldress who is especially venerated in our Church. The bishop gratefully noted the labors of Fr. Sylvester and the active parish members in recent years, thanks to which the number of parishioners has grown substantially. Bishop Matthew also expressed gratitude to the dean, Priest Michael Kozyrev, for his help in improving the church and supplying it with the necessary liturgical vessels and vestments.
As a blessing and a prayerful remembrance of this day, the archpastor gave all the parishioners icons of Blessed Matrona.
Fellowship of the clergy and parishioners continued at a fraternal meal. The bishop discussed with the rector and the dean plans for the further development of the parish and other matters of the life of the Kazan church.
