On May 4, 2026, with the blessing of Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, visited the Cathedral of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” of the Russian Church Outside of Russia in San Francisco.
The bishop venerated the holy relics of the cathedral and celebrated a moleben to St. John of Shanghai the Wonderworker before the reliquary containing his relics in the northern side-chapel of the church. At the end of the service, Bishop Matthew, according to tradition, anointed the faithful with oil from the unquenchable lampada blessed at the relics of St. John. Praying at the service were those accompanying the bishop: the sacristan of St. Nicholas Cathedral in San Francisco and Dean of the Western States parishes, Priest Michael Kozyrev, and the bishop’s personal secretary, Subdeacon Nikolai Trubnikov.
The bishop also visited the crypt of the cathedral, where St. John was laid to rest before the uncovering of his incorrupt relics.
