Save as PDFA PILGRIMMAGE TO SOME HOLY ORTHODOX PLACES IN NORTH AMERICA:
ALASKA (August 7-11, 2014).
His Grace Bishop Job of Kashira (Administrator of Russian Patriarchal Parishes of Canada) and I arrived in Kodiak Alaska, by air via Anchorage, on august 6th 2014. The weather was foggy, damp, and misty and to our surprise we were met by a delegation of orthodox clergy (OCA) headed by His Grace David (Mahaffey) Bishop of Sitka, Anchorage and Alaska. After being treated for diner at a local restaurant we were taken to our hotel.
St. Herman of Alaska – Wonderworker of All America.
On august 7th Rev. Fr. Innocent (Dresdow) Dean of Holy Ressurection Cathedral in Kodiak brought us to Saint Hermans bookstore/coffee shop for lunch and then later to Saint Hermans Seminary. In early evening we attended an Akathist service to Saint Herman and venerated His Holy Relics at the Cathedral. Bishop Job was given the honour of annointing the faithful with oil from the lamp which burns constantly at His Relics. Then all the pillgrims were invited to “the Bishops Tea“.
On august 8th the two Hierarchs served the Divine Liturgy together with eight priests and two deacons. It was the 150th anniversary of the deposition of Saint James (Nietsvetov), “Enlightner of Alaska” 1804-1864, the first homegrown cleric and student of Saint Innocent. During the liturgy seminarian subdeacon John (Kudrin), who is an Aleut, was ordained to the “Holy Diaconate”. Saint James had served many years on the Aleutian Islands. After the liturgy a formal banquet was held and then we proceeded to the museum where two lectures were held on the subjects of Alaskan missionaries and Russian settlers. The museum is located in the historical home of the “Baranov” family Alexander Baranov was in charge of all Russian settlements in north America. Later we attended the all-night vigil at the cathedral where we again venerated the Holy Relics of Saint Herman.
On august 9th Vladyka Job again served with Vladyka David the Divine Liturgy. After lunch at the St.Innocent Academy, hosted by Fr. Paisius we were brought to the wooden Chapel of the seminary dedicated to All Saints of Alaska, where we were met by the dean V.Rev. John Dunlop who showed us the library and archives. Later that afternoon during the all-night vigil all pilgrims were invited to quickly proceed to the docks to board small boats in order to go to Spruce Island as the weather had temporarely improved. For the past two days we had been unable to go to the small island due to unfavorable weather and were told to pray and ask Saint Herman for his assistance in this matter. We landed on the beach darkened by black lava rocks and proceeded through an unusual ancient forest and ate salmon berries. We arrived at a small wooden church dedicated to Saints Sergius and Herman of Valaam where Vladyka Job served a short “molieben”. We prayed at Saint Hermans burial site where he reposed after a 35 year struggle. We also prayed at the grave site of Archimandrite Gerasim (Shmaltsa) 1888-1969. Saint Herman appeared to Fr. Gerasim in 1935 ringing church bells and calling him to Spruce Island (which Saint Herman called “new Valaam”). Soon after the incident Fr.Gerasim moved to Spruce Island and acquired the holy man’s Holy Relics, kamilavka, cross, and paramon. We also visited elder Gerasim’s kelia with his small chapel (named after Mother of God‘s Holy Icon “Kaluga”). Finally we went by “Monks Lagoon” before re-boarding our small boats for the trip back to Kodiak. Praise the Lord for all things!!
On august 9th Vladyka David offered Vladyka Job to celebrate Holy Liturgy without him. More church “slavonic” was used and the choir responded beautifully, the “Our Father” was sung in one of the native languages. Prayers were said for peace in the Ukraine and for a successful election of the new canonical Metropolitan. After the liturgy his Grace Job made a sermon on the importance and impact of Saint Herman on all of North American Orthodoxy. Then he congratulated his Grace David on his election as bishop of Alaska and presented him with an Icon of “The Good Shepherd”, as well as other gifts. Then we were treated to a wonderful farewell lunch sponsored by the Saint Innocent Academy. We thank the Chancellor Very Reverend Victor Nick (rector of Saint Peter the Aleut church in Mountain Village on Yukon River) for his help, Rev. Innocent for driving us by car and boat, and all those on Kodiak Island for their warm welcome and assistance.
We then took a flight to Anchorage where we were met by Very Rev. Daniel Andrejuk and taken to a restaurant for a delicious meal before bringing us to a home for the night.
On august 10th Fr. Daniel took us to visit both the Old and New churches dedicated to Saint Nicholas in “Eklutna” where there exists an unusual cemetery where the grave sites have little houses over them. Then we visited Antiochian and Greek churches as well as Saint Innocent Cathedral where Vladyka David served a “molieben”. Following which diner was served and a raffle was held with the procedds going to Saint Thikon’s Seminary in Pensylvania.
We sincerely than His Grace Bishop David for the kind, warm and personal care which he gave us.
As well we thank all those which contributed in making this a most memorable experience. May our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by the intercessions of Saint Herman, guide you in your missionary work, and bless all peoples of Alaska for many years!!!
Deacon Andrey Boldyreff.
Sunday, August 10, 2014. Entrance Prayers. Holy Resurrection Cathedral. Kodiak, AK.
Sunday, August 10, 2014. Bishop Job blesses the people with the trikerion and the dikerion. Holy Resurrection Cathedral. Kodiak, AK.