After the turmoil of World War II, our émigré community grew with refugees from both Europe and Asia.  World War II "DP" (Displaced People) camps were full of Russians in Germany After Communism spread to China in 1947, many Russians who had resettled in Shanghai, Harbin, and other Chinese cities, were forced again to flee economic and political hardships. Many were rescued from refugee camps on the island of Tubabao in the Philippines by the efforts of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco. St. John served at St. Nicholas Cathedral often and reposed here in 1966. The room where he reposed is now a small chapel dedicated to his memory. 

In the early 1960¹s, Bishop Nektary was decreed as our first Vicar Bishop and from 1992 to 2001, Bishop Kyrill has held this position.  In 2001, Archbishop Kyrill became the Archbishop of San Francisco and the Western American Diocese.  Our Cathedral has been blessed by the service of many wonderful priests, including Archpriest Michael Nicolaevsky, Archpriest Michael Danilchik, Mitred Archpriest Andrew Nachonetchny and Protoprebyter Konstantin Tivetsky, Priest Serafim Gascoigne, and now Archpriest. Alexei Kotar, who also is the Dean of the Northwest parishes.  We have had temporary priests, of note is Protopresbyter Elias Wen (after Fr. Michael Danilchik) and Archimandrite Anastassy (before Fr. Alexei). We have been visited by Russian Orthodox dignitaries such as Metropolitans Anastassy and Philaret, Bishop Savva of Edmonton, Archbishop Anthony of San Francisco and our current first hierarch - Metropolitan Laurus, among many others.  We have hosted the annual Russian Orthodox Choir Musician's Conference twice in the past ten years.

We are one of the oldest parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in the United States.