Unalaska, Alaska, September 17, 2024
OCA Diocese of Alaska
Last month, the Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of Sitka and Alaska hosted a pilgrimage to Unalaska in honor of the 200th anniversary of the arrival of St. Innocent of Alaska and Moscow’s arrival there as a missionary in 1824.
The pilgrimage celebrations were led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of Washington and All America and Canada, who was invited by the local hierarch His Grace Bishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska.
During the meal following the Divine services, Bp. Alexei addressed the congregation about the significance of their native heritage. He emphasized how St. Innocent respected local languages in teaching Orthodoxy to the Unangax people. “There’s something very sacred about the culture itself. There’s something very sacred that St. Innokenty experienced,” Bp. Alexei said. “Just the love and the concern that he had for the priests, the love and concern that he had for the people. He told his priests: ‘Now make sure when you teach, teach in Unangan, don’t teach in Russia…”
This approach, rooted in Apostolic tradition, reflects the Orthodox view that all cultures, traditions, languages, and individuals are sacred gifts from God, Vladyka said.
“Where is it safe to always sing in Unangan?” Bp. Alexei asked. “In the Orthodox Church.”
“Where is it safe to always be able to sing in Slavonic the way your grandparents and great grandparents have? It’s the holy Orthodox Church. Where is it that we feel the most complete? … We’re never alone in the Orthodox Church.”
“Orthodoxy is the best thing that ever happened to this island. It’s the best thing that ever happened to Alaska. It’s the best thing that ever happened to this world,” His Grace emphasized.
Watch Bp. Alexei’s full speech:
Those of you who do not know, Bishop Alexei’s flock is scattered among the vast lands of the State of Alaska, and for anyone that has traveled in the state, especially to the villages, knows the cost of traveling is VERY expensive. To give you an idea of how much it costs to get out to the villages, it typically is more expensive for one to travel from Anchorage to the village of Kwethluk, which is roughly 390 miles(1 hour flight), than it is to fly from Anchorage to Chicago (4-5 hour flight), or Anchorage to Hawaii (5-6 hour flight). A round trip air fare ticket is over $1,000 for one person, a staggering price anyone, let alone a Bishop to minister to his flock with an episcopal visit. Please support the Russian Orthodox Diocese of Sitka and Alaska by donating at one of these links below, and please add the names of your loved ones both living and reposed with your donation, we will send those names to the priests of our Diocese to commemorate in the Divine services as a token of gratitude for your alms.
https://odosa.org/current-funds
https://odosa.org/ways-to-give
https://odosa.org/eft-donations
https://odosa.org/donate-crypto
https://odosa.org/donate-stock
https://odosa.org/orthodox-care-network
Your support helps sustain this blessed Diocese of Sitka and Alaska
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