Governor Signs Corbett Bill Granting Castro Valley Abbot’s Final Wish

Information submitted by the Office of Senator Ellen M. Corbett—

Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett (D-East Bay) announces that Governor Jerry Brown signed an important bipartisan bill that will allow Archimandrite Theodor Micka, who has been the Abbot at the Holy Cross Monastery in Castro Valley since its founding, to be buried on the monastery’s grounds.

Due to Abbot Theodor’s terminal illness, the monks at the Holy Cross Monastery requested that Senator Corbett assist in fulfilling the ailing religious leader’s wish to be buried on the monastery’s grounds.  In order to expedite the request through the legislative process, Senator Corbett introduced urgency legislation—SB 124—that granted this specified permission.

Holy Cross Monastery serves Orthodox Christians of all ethnic backgrounds and is the only Orthodox monastery in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Along with the monk’s daily prayers, they also provide weekly services, baptisms, weddings and memorial services for Orthodox Christians in the region.

“I thank Governor Brown for signing SB 124 that will fulfill Abbot Theodor’s final wish to be buried on the grounds of the monastery that he helped found over three decades ago,” Senator Corbett said. “Over the years, Abbot Theodor has dutifully served all those who have come to Holy Cross Monastery to visit, work, meditate, pray and celebrate.  I am particularly pleased that the Legislature compassionately approved this bill with strong bipartisan support so that we could grant him this last wish to permanently remain at the monastery that Abbot Theodor so loved and served.”

Students at the Stanford Law School Religious Liberty Clinic worked closely with the Holy Cross Monastery to originally present and advocate for this legislative request to Senator Corbett for consideration prior to the introduction of SB 124.