About The Holy Virgin Cathedral
The Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Cathedral is a San Francisco landmark and the Russian Orthodox spiritual center of America’s West Coast. It is one of the largest cathedrals of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, which has over 400 parishes across seven continents.
The parish was established in San Francisco in 1927, but only in 1961 did construction begin on the Cathedral we see standing today. Built by immigrants in America who fled Communist persecution from the Soviet Union and China, and by generous parishioners who, despite their economic hardships, donated and labored over many years, construction was completed in 1965.
Construction was completed during the earthly life of St. John, the Wonderworker of Shanghai & San Francisco, and frescoed by the renowned iconographer, Archimandrite Kiprian of Jordanville. The Cathedral is named in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow".