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Holy Virgin Cathedral

4.6 (19 reviews)

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church interior
Tony L.

Gorgeous, simply breathtaking within the white walls. From outside, you would never know this jewel o Russia existed unless you've entered previously! I am not a religious type and only enter a church to photograph a wedding or to photograph the church. This church is almost like a grandeur scene in a classic movie or, from Russia. I've now been here twice and each time it transports me to Russia and though I've never been, I really want to go NoW!!! No parking - what a bummer - but still worth the effort to find the street parking to see this great place!!! They also have available a CD with chants of the Russian Emigres (already up to vol 7) and it's worth listening to!!! I recently attended the Sunday service and listened to the music and it was indeed heavenly! PHOTOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING: NO photography during public or private services. Though it's quite simple to work without a tripod, I strongly recommend you bring one. On my first visit, I snapped without a tripod and got great results but the splendor of the ornaments and design are not appreciated fully till you use a tripod. The front of the church faces south and being near the ocean, it's "easy" to compute when the sun is at the best angle (early afternoon depending on the season) so you don't get white overexposed spots due to the light coming in. There are a lot of details and am still hoping to return for a third visit to snap even more!!

Carmen V.

This was a wonderful detour in between post hike the The Land's End and briefly visiting a couple of friends I had not seen for a year. We were of course masked and separated in our walks but before that, i parked my car to check on the phone the address for the meeting point and saw this majestic cathedral. Then I realized that was open to the public and there were checking temperate and all very strict in terms of not letting someone with high temp get into (there was a couple in front of me, he was ok, she was too high and was rejected). Safety first. Well, what to say about this cathedral, absolutely amazing piece of art in itself and the pieces of art (I loved all the woodwork) everywhere, whenever you look at. I stayed for a while, more admiring than praying. When I left a colleague texted me to put some candles to Virgin Mary and St John. So I went back, got candles for her and for me, and then I spent some time for real. You feel very good in there, very soothing for the spirit. I am Roman Catholic and this is Russian Ortodox, but it does not matter, everyone is welcomed...as soon as they get their temperature checked! Worth a visit even if spirituality is not your call.

Lee D.

The Holy Virgin Cathedral, also known as Joy of All Who Sorrow, is a Russian Orthodox cathedral in the Richmond District of San Francisco. It is the largest of the six cathedrals of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. It is breath taking and amazing if you are so lucky to be invited in. That being said, it is not something you should flock as a tourist and need to be respectful to it's purpose as a church.

We stopped by for a Palm Sunday service. The service was well done. Afterward there was a fundraiser event. We purchased some desserts and food, they were good price and so good!

At dusk.
Katie I.

I am not Russian (no matter how my driver's license makes me appear). I am also not religious, unless you count my daily thanks to the goddess of chocolate for blessing this city with so many wonderful cocoa goodies. However, this church makes me wish I was Russian and almost makes me wish I was religious just so I could have reason to go inside this majestic building with greater regularity. I was able to do more than admire the exterior one day when the church's school was having a festival--they were offering free visits inside the church--but I haven't been back in since. It left a great impression on me, though, as it made me feel like I had left San Francisco behind and was, instead, in the Motherland. It may not be as centrally located as Mission Dolores or Grace Cathedral, but it is well worth the trip on the Trans-Siberian Railroad (oh, wait, that's the 38-Geary).

Orthodox cross in stained glass
David D.

Officially, this is the "Holy Virgin Church, the Joy of All Who Sorrow." This weekend they are holding Open House, with a festival in the basement and back yard. This is a beautiful example of a Russian Orthodox church. It is the Cathedral for the Bishop of the Western American Diocese. The Catholics don't have a lock on this town. That's real gold on the domes. Real silver on the icons. A real Saint lying in the sanctuary. Lots to admire and to learn, about religion, Russian-American history, art and architecture. .

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Having driven by this church for years, today I finally decided that I wanted to view the inside. It is very beautiful inside of the church.

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This is a beautiful example of a Russian Orthodox church.

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Grace Cathedral - Sound Bath

Grace Cathedral

4.5(316 reviews)
4.1 miNob Hill

Grace Cathedral -- Laser Light Show Experience…read more We attended the 9:30 PM laser light show and it was a truly unique and memorable experience. The cathedral itself is stunning, and the lighting effects against the soaring architecture and stained glass created a beautiful, almost otherworldly atmosphere. We walked to the cathedral, but noticed there is parking nearby and the area seemed easy to access. The staff and volunteers were welcoming and well organized. As we entered, the scent of frankincense filled the space -- used as part of the show -- adding an immersive, ceremonial feeling that complemented the visuals and music beautifully. The show was entertaining, peaceful, and visually captivating. Watching the light projections move across the vaulted ceilings and stone interior made the entire space feel alive. If you're looking for something different in San Francisco -- artistic, calming, and visually impressive -- this is absolutely worth experiencing.

I attended the Aura light show at this Cathedral. Since this show is from Montreal and travels…read morearound the world, I find it amusing that they threw bits and pieces of SF landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge into the story of humanity. The story was kind of difficult to follow so just sit back and enjoy. This presented Grace Cathedral an opportunity to showcase and promote itself. The Cathedral offers many services and is always open to the public. I especially like the doors - Gates of Paradise. I have been going to the Cathedral since I was a youngster. As I saw the show, it reminded me so much of Mogowan Mirror Maze at Pier 39. Most scenes were so alike - laser lights and projections. I gave this 3 stars because people were taking pictures and videos with their flash on. It's like going to a movie with phone screens flashing around. Also, the show was flat (all on the same level) - no crescendos, highlights nor anything. It just abruptly ended.

Photos
Grace Cathedral - Family photo at one of the Christmas trees beautifully decorated inside.

Family photo at one of the Christmas trees beautifully decorated inside.

Grace Cathedral - Sound Bath

Sound Bath

Grace Cathedral

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Epic Church San Francisco - Sunday Morning Worship Service

Epic Church San Francisco

4.6(29 reviews)
5.0 miMission Bay

Great pastoral service very in and out. just wish they had more seating. Definitely going back…read moreroutinely

If you want to attend a church to affirm your choices unchallenged, with staff lacking courage to…read moretalk about important issues facing Christians today, EPIC Church SF is your home. If, however, you want a truly caring and bold church leadership unafraid to counsel on the most important issues facing Christians, I'm afraid this isn't what you're looking for. I didn't notice it right away, but over time I grew increasingly weary of the radical leftist politicization and business-oriented approach of Epic's church staff, particularly of lead pastor, Ben Pilgreen. I wrote a thoughtful and detailed PRIVATE letter 3 weeks ago, to which I received no response. In it, I outlined why the deafening silence about the widespread celebration by people in the US of the most public assassination in a generation was extremely problematic; why silence on the Christian genocide in parts of Africa was a miss; why their repeated Marxist takes on the politics of our day was against Christian doctrine (the Bible is rife with political leaders like David, Solomon, Paul, James, etc - while we should render unto Cesar what is Cesar's, the Judeo-Christian tradition is the foundation of Western Civilization. We cannot, as Christians, put our heads in the sand about the increasingly anti-Christian geopolitical climate within which we find ourselves). The lack of any response to my letter is why I decided to take my complaint PUBLIC; I gave ample time for a private response to demonstrate a caring approach to church members like myself and the dozen or so others who walked out in disgust on September 14th (the Sunday after Charlie Kirk's assassination) - not to mention the many others who likely had a similar reaction though remained silent. The staff (particularly lead pastor, Ben Pilgreen) often talks about its biggest tech-founder backers and recent press about its rapid growth. Epic is run more like a business, with a focus on bigger donations and new numbers, than like an actual church demonstrating real concern for Christians. Sure, the first few months will feel good - the kumbaya songs and therapist-like self-affirming feel-good approach - but at the end of the day, we have to contend with scripture and understanding Christian morality. This church will initially make you feel good with the amazing production value of its songs and welcoming community, but as you dig a little deeper into what's being said, and as your commitment to leading a Christian life grows (especially as we grapple with how scripture translates into the 21st century), you will not find the bold leadership needed to take that on in this community. I will not be returning and I would advise friends to find another congregation. Five former members and I have since started a home church, honoring Christianity's earliest church leaders and ourselves, as we seek greater closeness to Christ.

Photos
Epic Church San Francisco - Epic is a place to connect with others, grow and be cared for.

Epic is a place to connect with others, grow and be cared for.

Epic Church San Francisco - Epic is a place to find home

Epic is a place to find home

Epic Church San Francisco - Our production team streams online gathering each Sunday for those who aren't able to attend a service in-person.

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Our production team streams online gathering each Sunday for those who aren't able to attend a service in-person.

Reality SF - Indoor

Reality SF

4.2(34 reviews)
4.1 miMission

Very welcoming, especially for people who want to explore Christianity and learn moreread more

I feel a strong urge, perhaps nudged by the Spirit, to share my experience with Reality SF,…read moreespecially in light of recent events where Christian pastors in DC were arrested for advocating for Palestine, after being gaslit by Reality SF and its leaders that I was the only person in their entire three thousand people congregation that supported the humanity and dignity of Palestinians. My story with Reality SF is a long one, spanning over 12 years of attendance, from their early days in the Swedish American Music Hall, transitioning to Everett Middle School, and finally to their current residence in a lavish $15 million building. My relationship with the church has been complex, characterized by its lack of welcomeness, but the strong and insightful teachings, attracted me to stay and call it home. Despite never voicing my concerns publicly--unlike the 200 congregants who once left in protest against the leadership--I remained silent and mostly defended the church, until the church's (lack of) response to the Gaza genocide pushed me to the brink, when they have commented on Ukraine and social issues in the past. Reality SF's portrayal of the genocide as a mere 'war' and their silence on the human rights abuses inflicted upon Palestinians led me to question the church as an institution, my faith, and to question God's character and even existence. My efforts to discuss these issues, including some encouragement for my faith, were initially met with a wall of silence. Persistently, I sought to make my voice heard, only to be confronted with defensiveness and outright dismissal. The most disheartening part of my quest for dialogue was trying to engage with Dave Lomas, the head pastor, who, as I learned, 'doesn't do emails' and proved to as difficult to meet with as the Pope. This barrier to communication only compounded my frustrations, leading me to take a hiatus from the church. Yet, in a twist that felt laden with divine intervention, after weeks of abstaining from church services, a sequence of undeniable signs led me back to Reality SF one Sunday morning. Carrying a glimmer of hope that the day's sermon might finally address the suffering in Palestine, I was met with disappointment as a guest speaker took the podium, leaving my expectations unmet. In an extraordinary turn of events, as I was about to leave, disheartened, I spotted Dave Lomas by the exit. In over 600 Sundays, I had never seen him greeting congregants. Unlike the kissing babies and shaking hands type of pastor, I've always respected him in his introversion, which I thought fueled his insightful sermons and considered him a guiding figure in my spiritual journey. This encounter, whether by divine arrangement or sheer coincidence, gave me the courage to approach him and share my concerns directly. While I prefer not to divulge the specifics of our 1:1 conversation, it was dishearteningly marked by significant ignorance and a lack of the compassion and justice Jesus preached. This interaction left me more lost than ever, questioning the foundations of my faith and the leaders who are supposed to embody Christ's teachings. In my quest for clarity, I turned to what my generation does for anything--social media. It was there, that I found the accounts that Dave follows on Instagram--conservative influencers, luxury golf resorts, and luxury watchmakers (think Richard Mille, not even Rolex). This revelation served as a poignant lesson: God often uses the imperfect among us to serve His purpose. I was wrong for putting Dave on a pedestal for his teachings. This reflection brought me to a deeper inquiry: Why had God, through a series of undeniable signs, guided me back to Reality SF that particular Sunday, to a moment of face-to-face encounter with Dave? Initially, it seemed Dave, as the pastor, might have thought he had a divine message for me--"you don't have to agree with everything your church believes" and he encourage me to stay, or, he pointed to the door (it literally was as we were right by the exit). However, upon reflection, perhaps the message was to Dave - to have a more compassionate heart, one that embraces all of God's creation, including Arabs (Muslims and Christians). I hope this somehow gets to him (he's a foodie so I have a better shot of getting to him than by email) and my worldly message is: read works by Ilan Pappe or Richard Becker.

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Reality SF
Reality SF
Reality SF

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CornerstoneSF - I love this church!

CornerstoneSF

4.2(90 reviews)
3.6 miMission

Cornerstone is a one of a kind church. The messages always seem to hold a very relevant lesson…read moreregardless of who is speaking. The seating can be a little cramped, it's in an older building, but it's still comfy. A big highlight of this church is it's performances (Spring musical, Christmas Eve candlelight, the comedy improv night etc.). Worth a sunday visit and staying around after and before service. The java is killer. Bagels, toast, donuts, and really delicious coffee. And if you're not into that type of food then there's plenty of local restaurants as well. This is a great spot to go to for very lively worship on sunday mornings. Saturday nights are excellent too! Just check it out, the pastoral staff is very wholesome and welcoming.

I had a deeply disturbing experience with this church, and I feel a responsibility to share it so…read moreothers can make an informed decision. During my time there, I trusted members with personal information. Over time, I came to believe that this information was discussed behind my back in ways that felt disrespectful and damaging. Instead of direct communication, there seemed to be judgment and private conversations about me, including my financial situation, which felt intrusive and shaming rather than supportive. What concerned me most, however, were statements and situations that felt threatening and deeply unsettling. There were comments about taking control over people's lives and even statements that came across as threats involving my family. At one point, I experienced a situation where a vehicle came near my home and I genuinely feared for my grandfather's safety based on what had been said to me. Whether others interpret that differently or not, it created a real sense of fear and crossed a line that no church should ever approach. This environment felt driven by fear, control, and intimidation rather than care, humility, and truth. I'm sharing this not out of spite, but out of concern for others. A healthy church should build people up, respect boundaries, and communicate directly--not operate in ways that make people feel unsafe or targeted. Please use discernment if you are considering getting involved here.

Photos
CornerstoneSF - Graffiti done by Cameron Moberg, Cornerstone Youth Pastor

Graffiti done by Cameron Moberg, Cornerstone Youth Pastor

CornerstoneSF
CornerstoneSF

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Holy Virgin Cathedral - churches - Updated May 2026

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