Congress of Russian Americans was one of the sponsors of the Holy Virgin Cathedral’s annual “Taste of Russia” festival, held at the cathedral on Sunday, October 9, 2016.

This year marked the 10th anniversary year of the festival, and while there were so many other activities going on throughout the city of San Francisco, e.g. the Blue Angels at the Embarcadero, a concert in Golden Gate Park and a beautiful Indian summer day for the beach, the attendance reached well over 500, and brought many Russophiles to attend the festival.   In addition to traditional Russian food, such as pirozhki, borscht, pelmeni, beef stroganoff, a barbeque was prepared of shashlik or tri-tip in the cathedral yard, as well as an assortment of gourmet desserts was available.   The Russian American Women’s League, also one of the sponsors, was selling an array of souvenirs, crystal, silver, jewelry and miscellaneous gifts; all proceeds went to benefit the Holy Virgin Cathedral.  CRA, annually, in addition to promoting the festival, assembles the entertainment for the festival, and Natalie Sabelnik, CRA President MC’s the event.  This year, Russian entertainment of song, dance and music, included Sivka Burka Cossack Children’s Choir, Rossinca Dance Group from San Jose, Kalinka Women’s Folk Choir from Sacramento, Russian Center Folk Dance Ensemble and Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival featuring Nikolai Massenkoff with back-up singers and musicians.  Nikolai Massenkoff was awarded this year’s Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots of the US (KSORS) award for his outstanding contribution to the preservation of Russian culture.