SAN FRANSISCO, CA [OCA/DOM] – His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest participated in the episcopal consecration of Archimandrite Vasily (Permiakov) as Bishop of San Francisco and the West on Saturday, August 16, 2025. His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon presided at the hierarchical Divine Liturgy and ordination rites. Hierarchs of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, representatives from other Churches, along with many clergy, faithful, and guests, gathered for the event.
The Holy Synod of Bishops had elected Archimandrite Vasily as Bishop of San Francisco and the West during a special session convened at the 21st All-American Council on July 16, 2025, following his nomination by the Diocese of the West.
His Eminence on Thursday, August 14, and made a pilgrimage to venerate the relic of St. John of San Fransisco. The next day, the Archbishop attended the Divine Liturgy at Holy Assumption Monastery in Calistoga, CA for their patronal feast.
On Friday evening, August 15, the Rite of Nomination and Proclamation were served, followed by Great Vespers.
The following morning, Saturday, August 16, His Beatitude presided at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. Concelebrating with His Beatitude were His Eminence Archbishop Melchisedek of Pittsburgh, His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin, His Grace Bishop James of Sonora, representing His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and His Grace Bishop Gerasim.
Before the Liturgy, Bishop-elect Vasily offered his statement of faith, proclaimed the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, and offered an explanation of the Church’s Trinitarian and Christological doctrine before the assembled hierarchs, clergy, and faithful.
During the singing of the Trisagion, Bishop-elect Vasily was consecrated as a bishop. Later in the Liturgy, Subdeacon Serge Liberovsky was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Bishop Vasily as his first episcopal act.
At the dismissal of the Liturgy, His Beatitude congratulated His Grace on behalf of the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful of the Orthodox Church in America and welcomed him as the newest member of the Holy Synod of Bishops. Following the Divine Liturgy, a banquet honoring His Grace was held at a local restaurant.
On Sunday, August 17, His Grace celebrated his first hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Cathedral, San Francisco, CA and was also attend by the Archbishop.
