History of our church
On May 18, 1949, Reverend Ivan Kliarovich purchased the land at 5717 California Street with a small house built in 1907. On April 13, 1950 permission was received to expand the front and back of the house and allow occupancy not to exceed 50 persons. The projected cost was $1,500.00.
The church was incorporated on March 31, 1950, and the articles of incorporation were filed on November 28, 1950. The first directors were Reverend Ivan Kliarovich, Arseny D. Gram and Max Kern, Vasily Chetirkin, Nikolas Nekludoff and Walter Norton.
On July 21, 1951, Reverend Ivan Kliarovich deeded the property to the church. In December of 1961 the house next to the church at 5725-5727 California Street was purchased.
The downstairs of the house was used for services while the church was being remodeled. In 1963 the church outgrew its space with growing immigration from Europe and Far East . The question was either to use the same lot and build a larger church or look for another alternative. The decision was to stay on this lot and enlarge the church.
In October 1967 building permit was issued to remodel and enlarge the premises to its present size. The architects were V. Daniloff and W. Granitow, the latter was also the project engineer and designer of all interior wood work. Both Mr. Daniloff and Mr. Granitow donated their services. The original contract price was $54,504.00) A $25,000 loan was secured from Wells Fargo Bank and with parishioners’ loans and donations all costs were covered. All loans were repaid in less than five years. The outside of the church was completed and the onion dome was solemnly driven across the Golden Gate bridge and installed on top of the church. Mr. Boris N. Borzoff found a bell outside of San Francisco and under his command the bell was installed. Inside the church, underlayment material and labor was donated by Mr. V. Shibinsky. The interior of the church is adorned by frescoes, the work by the late Father Archimandrid Kiprian from Jordanville Monastery. Russian veterans of the 1st World War and members of the Russian Cadet Corp. who resided at that time in the San Francisco Bay Area adopted Lady of Kazan Church as their house of worship, and upon their request a monument was erected in the church in memory of the August Royal Family of Czar Nicholas II slain by the Bolsheviks. Each year on this day (July 17) there is a solemn divine service held to commemorate the Royal Family. Our parishioner Mr. V. Shibinsky (now deceased) constructed the monument. He also painted and donated “The Holy Virgin Icon.” The monument and the icon frame were the only two articles carried over to the new (remodeled) church.
The original iconostas was donated to the summer church at Russian River , and the crussifix was donated to Calistoga church. The new crussifix was painted by Vladimir Krassovsky.
Church pastors from the inception were:
Archpriest Ivan Kliarovich (founder) in monastism Abbot Job
Archpriest Nikolai Kolchev
Archpriest Vladimir Glindsky
Archpriest Alexey Poluektov
Hiermonk Juvenal Herrin
The deacon for many years was Gleb Gulyaeff (deceased). A lot of hidden work was done by Mr. A. Abramoff, his sisters and his wife Irene Abramoff. Also by the sisterhood. The sisterhood continues the work and every Sunday makes lunches for the parishioners, giving them a chance to get to know each other.
The choir directors during the 60 years were: Mr. Grabovsky, Serafim Kolchev, Victor Nehonoff, George Perekrestoff and Cynthia Yaroshoff.
Through the tireless sacrifices of Archpriest Ivan Kliarovich and that of a small group of Russian immigrants whose labor, donations and personal sacrifices allowed this parish to develop into its present house of worship . We will always be greatful.
Our church is one of the most beautiful examples of a Russian Orthodox architecture and art in San Francisco .