On a bright and radiant Palm Sunday morning, the faithful of Holy Archangel Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Parish in San Francisco gathered with reverent joy and prayerful hearts to welcome their spiritual father, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, to their community. The air was filled with anticipation, spiritual wonder, and sacred celebration, for it was the Feast of the Entrance of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into Jerusalem—a day marked with branches, blossoms, and the shout of “Hosanna!”

As the Archpastor approached the holy doors of the parish temple, he was greeted by the shining faces of the parish children, holding delicate bouquets adorned with pussy willows - our sacred symbol of victory and new life in the Ukrainian tradition. Led by Parish Board President Tamara Donchenko, they offered the Archbishop the traditional bread and salt - a gesture of love, hospitality, and reverence. The parish pastor, Very Rev. Fr. Heorhiy Tyapko, welcomed His Eminence with words full of heartfelt emotion, imploring the shepherd of the flock to offer fervent prayers for the parish and the suffering people of Ukraine.

The Divine Liturgy unfolded with splendor. Under the masterful direction of Maestro Gregory Hallick, the parish choir filled the temple with celestial harmonies, lifting the souls of all present as they sang: “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!”

During his sermon, Archbishop Daniel offered a profound meditation on the feast. “Today,” he said, “Christ does not only enter the ancient city of Jerusalem. He seeks to enter the Jerusalem of our hearts. Will we open the gates? Will we lay down our branches of peace and repentance for Him to pass over?” He invited the faithful to reflect deeply: Are we ready to receive Him? Have we cleared the pathways of our souls from pride, resentment, and doubt?

Yet the spiritual joy of the day was tempered by grief. With great sorrow, Archbishop Daniel spoke of the barbaric and genocidal missile attack by the Russian Federation on the city of Sumy, Ukraine, which took place even as Christians around the world prepared to celebrate the Feast of Peace.

32 innocent civilians were killed, and over 100 others were wounded, including children and the elderly. Cluster munitions - a weapon of indiscriminate destruction - were reportedly used, compounding the tragedy and devastation.

Archbishop Daniel reminded the faithful that each human life is sacred, an icon of God, and that the Church must not remain silent. With pain in his voice and tears in his eyes, he offered memorial prayers for the departed and pleaded with those in attendance to continue praying, serving, and supporting Ukraine in her darkest hour.

Over 300 faithful filled the temple that morning, and many, with hearts full of awe and repentance, approached the Holy Chalice to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Archbishop led the traditional blessing of the palm and pussy willow branches, proclaiming: “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!”

He sprinkled the gathered people with holy water, and the temple shone with the shimmering light of wet branches lifted to heaven—an outward sign of inner transformation.

In a moving act of gratitude, following the recommendation of the parish board and Fr. Vaverchak, Archbishop Daniel presented Special Recognition Pins - engraved with the Ukrainian Trident and the logo of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA - to Tamara Donchenko, Halyna Misko, Volodymyr Borodaykevych, and Natalia Silkina, honoring their unwavering dedication to supporting the people of Ukraine through the ministry of the parish.

The celebration continued in the parish hall with a vibrant Palm Sunday banquet lovingly prepared by the Sisterhood. Parishioners, guests, and children of the Ukrainian School shared songs, poems, and dances - offering their talents as living expressions of cultural identity and faith. The spirit of unity was palpable.

As the day came to a close, one by one, the faithful approached their Archbishop. They sought his blessing, whispered their prayer requests, and shared words of gratitude and hope - ready to enter into the sacred journey of Holy Week, hand in hand with Christ, toward the Cross and Resurrection.

In the midst of war, injustice, and sorrow, the light of Palm Sunday in San Francisco shone as a beacon of unwavering faith, compassionate action, and the unbreakable bond between heaven and earth.

Hosanna in the Highest! Christ enters our lives not in triumphalism, but in humility - to bring salvation, truth, and love. May we receive Him with open hearts, now and forever.