“For each of us, the dissemination of

the Christian Faith must be a favorite

The Great Commission
task each member of the Church must
part - some by personal missionary ef-
Jesus says in Matthew 28:19-20 to
“Go therefore into all the world,
and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.. “
Our bookstore exists to be a local
missionary presence and give a visi-
ble and accessible witness to the
Orthodox faith where the everyday
person can encounter it.
task, close to
our hearts and precious to us; in this Exposing the City
to the Ancient Faith
take an active
fort, some by monetary support and
service to the
‘needs of the saints’, and some by Archangel
prayer to the Lord that He might
‘establish and Bookstore
increase His Church,’ that He might
‘teach the word of truth’ to those who
do not know
Christ, and ‘might reveal to them the
gospel of righteousness, uniting them
to His Holy,
Catholic and Apostolic Church’."
Patriarch St. Tikhon
First Orthodox Bishop of San
Francisco and all America
(Sermon, March 17, 1907)

The Archangel Bookstore is A Ministry in

guided by His Grace Bishop Benj a- San Francisco for
min and the clergy at Holy Trinity
Cathedral, San Francisco. Those Discovering
the Orthodox Way
The Resurrection of Christ is something to share,
as it happens over and over again today in us. Hours: Sun. 2-5,
We share what we have seen and heard, just as Tues.-Fri. 11-7 , Sat. 11-5 Icons, Books, Music, Incense,
the first Christians did. Then we let Christ do
the rest through His Church and we hope through Unique Gifts, Orthodox
1352-A Ninth Avenue
the ongoing witness of our faithful lives. San Francisco, CA 94122 Teaching/Discussions

(415) 242 – 9698


Non-profit and Entirely
Run by Volunteers
Just get-
ting
knocked
around in
the urban
world is
enough.
But we
also put
long days
and years
into our
jobs.
Now
imagine
going through daily life without the hope that is
in you! The hope that is the enduring legacy of
Christ whose fullness of teaching and tradition
has been preserved within the Orthodox
Church. Volunteers know that not everyone is
looking for the ancient church. Some come in
by accident, thinking we sell all kinds of books.
But whether they discover it or come in pur-
posefully, many do end up having questions
about weighty things. Recently, someone en-
tered the store saying, “I’m looking for enlight-
enment!” She finally said she wanted help for
an alcoholic friend, and asked to read the
Prodigal Son Story from the Gospel. She also
found solace through the 12 Steps book for
Orthodox and the mystical chant in the back-
ground. As volunteers, we don’t know what
people seek usually, but when we begin our
shifts, we light the lampadas for prayer in front
of Christ, the Saints and the Angels. We pray
that God directs people to our store and that
they leave with a sense of Him, the Mystical
Church and some soul-ful Rest. It is what
every 3rd World Missionary prays for. And in
our simple ways we c an point people to Christ.
And it seems to be what the Angels in charge
of the store are about. Because even without
our words, people often say they come away
with a sense of the Holy.
History of Orthodox
Bookstores
Under inspiration of St. Herman of
Alaska, in the 1960’s, Archbishop
John Maximovitch challenged two
laypersons to translate the ancient
church writings into English and make
Orthodoxy accessible to Americans.
The first publications of The Orthodox
Word and the first American Orthodox
bookstore on the street were begun.
Since then, the Valaam Society of
America pursued this mission, which
sent men and women starting book-
stores throughout the U.S. as labors of
love and as lighthouses to the world.
Today the Archangel Bookstore is a
Pan-Orthodox presence and serves as
a hospitable welcome to the ancient
church for the inquirer on the street.
See http://www.stinnocent.com/
seraphim/vsa to find other Orthodox
bookstores around the country.
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED:
? Visit, pray in the Chapel and Fellow-
ship!
? Come to a monthly Orthodox Café
We offer Teaching/Presentations Events
such as:
-Iconography, - Society & Orthodoxy,
-Saints, -Holy Places, -Missions, - Poetry, -
Fold Concerts
With visiting Priests, Monks/Nuns, Orth o-
dox Artisans//Authors, and Laypersons of
various experiences/trades.
? Donate to the Store Ministry. We are not
self-supporting, but we trust God for all
things. Your gifts help keep us here in this
prime location of San Francisco.
? Pray for those who enter our doors, that
they will receive Light and Life. Pray
for us that God will keep our volunteers
able to g ive of their time and preserve
our store.
? Volunteer! Join a joyous ministry of
exposing people to the Ancient Faith in
simple ways. Become a weekly,
monthly or even back-up volunteer.
Shifts are generally 3 -4 hours long at very
flexible hours of the week.