The Congress of Russian Americans wishes our members, friends, patrons, and their families a Merry Christmas and a joyful, prosperous New Year 2025! May this festive season bring warmth, happiness, and success to all.

CRA was one of the sponsors of the Slavic Children’s Holiday Faire, annual pre-Christmas event, held on December 7 at the Russian Center of San Francisco (where CRA office is headquartered).  The event was organized by Alexandra (Sasha) Sabelnik-Whooley, Russian Center’s Executive Director and a long-time member of CRA.  In addition to a wonderful program of music, singing and dancing from various slavic countries, MC’d by Sasha, the event featured games for children of all ages, authentic ethnic food and desserts and vendors selling arts & crafts, jewelry, books, collectibles and other items.  Traditional Cossack and Russian costumes were provided by the All Cossack Union for photo opportunities with Santa.   CRA 1st Vice President, Marina Soboleva and President, Natalie Sabelnik organized and staffed a CRA table with information, member applications etc. for visibility and sold various books donated by CRA members.  Participation in these events, not only supports our community organizations, raises awareness of CRA’s work, but also helps promote and preserve Russian culture to our children and youth.

His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America, a revered figure within the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), entered eternal rest unexpectedly on Friday, November 8, 2024, the feast day of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica.

Born on August 9, 1948, in San Francisco, Archbishop Peter had a deep connection to the Church from a young age. He served as an altar boy for the renowned Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco. He later attended Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY, where he pursued his theological studies.

Throughout his life, Archbishop Peter held various significant positions within the ROCOR. He served as head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem and as administrator of the Diocese of Chicago and Detroit. In 2016, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop and appointed as the Ruling Bishop of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America.Known for his profound theological knowledge and his unwavering dedication to the Church, Archbishop Peter will be deeply missed by the clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America, as well as the broader Orthodox community.Memorial service at the coffin of Archbishop Peter, was held on Friday, November 15, 2024,  at the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Des Plaines, IL. Divine Liturgy and funeral was on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral. The casket was then transported to the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, where he will be buried. His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, officiated at the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral on November 16-17, after which he departed for the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville.

We extend our sincere condolences to his family, the faithful of his diocese, friends, and all who were touched by his life and work.  Archbishop Peter was a staunch supporter of the Congress of Russian Americans, the national board, as well as the Chicago Chapter.  May the Lord grant His servant, the newly-reposed Archbishop Peter, rest with the saints in the Kingdom of Heaven and memory eternal! 

31^st Annual Orthodox Musician’s Conference was held in Los Angeles at the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral from October 2-6, 2024.  Lodging for the conference as well as the lectures, rehearsals and meals were held at the Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles Westside with transportation to and from the church provided for the participants. The conference brought together talented musicians, clergy and participants from the US and throughout the world, including many from Canada and Europe. Among the speakers were Larissa Doohovskoy, educator and choral director, with over 25 years of experience as a teacher of voice for both children and adults. In 2018, Ms. Doohovskoy joined the faculty of the Synodal School of Liturgical Music in Jordanville, NY. Also, speaking were Protodeacon Ioann Drobot of the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Paris, Protodeacon Alexander Kedroff, archdeacon of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Paris, France, Vladimir Krassovsky, conductor of the Holy Virgin Cathedral Pontifical Choir in San Francisco, Dr. Vladimir Morosan, one of the leading experts outside Russia in the field of Orthodox liturgical music and founder and president of Musica Russica and Kurt Sander, Professor of Music and Composition and Coordinator of Music Theory and Composition at Northern Kentucky University.  The conference concluded with a bountiful banquet on Sunday in the church hall following the liturgy with all participants. Irene Orloff, choir director at the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral and Committee Chair of ROCM thanked all donors and sponsors of the event. Victoria Sabelnik, CRA Exec.Secretary represented Congress of Russian Americans, one of the sponsors of the conference and was instrumental in getting the youth group together at the banquet.

Please join us for our Annual ZOOM fundraising event on Sat Oct 19, 2024  from 11 am to 12 pm (PDT). 

You are playing an important part in supporting our Mission to uphold St. John’s legacy to care for those with lack of means and provide assistance to orphans, destitute children and elderly.

This year, the keynote speaker will be His Grace Bishop Irinei of London and Western Europe (ROCOR), and our guests will be Mother Maria from Bethany and Mother Seraphima from Ukraine.

Please register to join.

If you chose to make a donation, your contribution is tax deductible and goes toward the cause you choose.

Participation is not limited to those who support us financially. Your attendance, prayers, and constructive feedback also provide support and encouragement.

 Sincerely,

 the Board of Directors

75^th ANNIVERSARY OF NOVO-DIVEEVO CONVENT, New York

On September 14^th, the Russian Orthodox Convent Novo-Diveevo, commemorated it’s 75^th anniversary of the convent in Nanuet, New York. Founded in October of 1949 by Father Adrian Rimarenko (later Archbishop Andrei of Rockland), the convent is home to many sacred relics including a full length portrait of St. Seraphim of Sarov painted during his lifetime, a cross from the Ipatiev House, and a “Vladimir” icon of the Holy Theotokos, a gift from the Optina Pustyn monastery. In June of 2018, CRA President, N.Sabelnik attended the unveiling and dedication of the bronze monument of St.Seraphim of Sarov on the grounds of the convent.

The Novo Diveevo Cemetery is an integral part of the convent and is the largest Russian Orthodox cemetery outside of Russia. The cemetery has been home to many nuns, as well as clergy, and numerous prominent people buried among the nearly 8000 graves in the cemetery.

The Anniversary Celebrations began on Friday, September 13^th with the greeting of the myrrh-streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon of the Mother of God at 5:30 pm, followed by the All-Night Vigil. On Saturday morning Hierarch Metropolitan Nicholas arrived to serve Divine Liturgy and Moleben in the St. Seraphim Cathedral, which was overflowing with clergy and the faithful. After the Liturgy the celebratory banquet, headed by Metropolitan Nicholas, included Archbishop Gabriel and Bishops Irenei, Jerome and Luke, numerous clergy, nuns, and local and out-of-town guests. An exhibit of the history of Novo Diveevo from its founding was also on display.

A congratulatory letter from the CRA, addressed to the Hierarch, Bishops, Abbess Makaria, and the clergy was read by long-time CRA member and active member of the Russian-American New York community, Ludmila Selinsky. L.Selinsky’s father, the late Rostislav Polchaninoff, a well-known journalist and activist in the Russian Abroad, was one of the founders of CRA. He continued to contribute greatly to CRA’s biographical dictionary, published by Prof. Eugene Alexandrov, and was featured in the CRA’s docu-series film on the “Great Exodus” of White Russians after the end of the Civil War. L.Selinsky continues to organize and send containers of cultural and historic materials of the Russian Abroad to the Solzhenitsyn Museum in Russia.

The CRA greeting thanked the dedicated clergy and nuns who have served the spiritual needs of the congregation and the aged and ailing in their adult home throughout the years, especially in the final stages of the Orthodox Christian person’s life.

CRA is proud of the long-standing association with Novo Diveevo convent and the community, as CRA was founded in New York over 50 years ago (before the headquarters were moved to San Francisco in 2000 at the election of George Avisov as President), and many of CRA’s members have found their final resting place at the Novo Diveevo Cemetery.

CRA congratulated all, including the nuns, clergy, choir and the entire congregation on the 75^th anniversary and wished all good health, spiritual happiness, prosperity and peace for Many, Many Years.

As graduation season continues with Russian School graduations, some of our Russian-American youth also graduated with degrees as under and post-graduates throughout the US.   

Daniel Judd, an active member of the Russian-American community, graduated from UCLA with double majors— political science and history—on June 14, 2024.   Daniel attended Sts. Peter & Paul Russian Orthodox church, where he was an altar boy beginning as a small child, and volunteered at the church and in the community.   He speaks fluent English, Russian and Spanish and is planning to intern and travel over the next year before attending law school.   On Sunday, June 23, following the liturgy of the Feast of the Trinity, where he again served in the altar, his parents hosted a graduation party for him with family, friends and parishioners from the church.   During the event, CRA President, Natalie Sabelnik presented Daniel with a proclamation for his excellent achievements at the university and his dedication in preserving the spiritual and cultural Russian-American heritage.   A congratulatory letter with honorary membership for 2024 and a monetary gift was also given to him with an invitation to join CRA.  Daniel thanked CRA and N.Sabelnik and was eager to continue his membership at CRA.

As part of the annual support to Russian-American youth, CRA participates in Russian School graduations, presenting congratulatory letters with complimentary honorary CRA 2024 membership to graduates, along with proclamations and monetary gifts (to Gold and Silver award recipients).

This year, Russian Schools in Burlingame, San Francisco and Los Angeles sent in the names of their graduates, and CRA representatives presented the awards to each graduate during their graduation ceremonies. If your Russian School (supplementary to regular English school) has a graduating class next year, please let CRA know in ahead of time, so that we can prepare in advance and congratulate your students.

In Los Angeles, during the graduation ceremonies, CRA director, Ivan Podvalov, also presented the 2024 CRA scholarship to Sasha Gadalova. She was recognized for her exemplary academic achievements, hard work and participation in support of the Russian-American community, and pursuit of promoting Russian culture through her educational goals with her project “Assimilation in Alaska. Old Believers and the Evolution of their Identity”.

CRA congratulates this year’s scholarship recipient, as well as all graduates throughout all the Russian Schools in the U.S. for their completion and fine achievements in Russian studies, including language, literature, history and scriptures. Those students who have continued their membership in CRA (or whose parents are CRA members) and meet all the criteria are eligible to apply for CRA scholarship when they enter college or university.