Anchorage, October 30, 2025
Photo: odosa.org
The Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of Sitka and Alaska hosted His Eminence Metropolitan Maximilian of Irkutsk and Angarsk from October 12 to 19, during a pastoral visit that took the hierarch across several historic Orthodox sites in America’s northernmost state.
Met. Maximilian arrived in Juneau on October 12 following his participation in the centennial anniversary celebrations at Fort Ross, California, the historic Russian settlement. He was met at the airport in Juneau by His Eminence Archbishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska, along with local priest Fr. Maxim Gibson and his family.
The following day, the two hierarchs toured Juneau, including a visit to St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, where Fr. Maxim and his wife sang the Lord’s Prayer in Tlingit. The clergy, including Fr. Vyacheslav Pushkarev (MP) and Fr. George Kurtow (ROCOR), who accompanied Met. Maximilian, joined together to sing the troparion and kontakion to St. Nicholas in Church Slavonic, the diocese reports.
Photo: odosa.org
On October 14, the delegation traveled to Sitka, where they visited the historic St. Michael’s Cathedral and the bishop’s house with local priest Fr. Herman Belt. A parishioner organized a wildlife tour for the group.
The visit continued to Kodiak, where Fr. John Dunlop, dean of St. Herman’s Seminary, received the hierarchs along with the seminary students. Met. Maximilian toured the seminary grounds and archives with assistance from Daria Germanova, and attended a performance by Kodiak Alutiiq dancers.
A pilgrimage to Spruce Island took place on Thursday, after which the faithful gathered for an Akathist to St. Herman of Alaska and veneration of his relics.
Photo: odosa.org
The hierarchs traveled to Anchorage on October 17, where they were received by diocesan chancellor Fr. Daniel Charles and episcopal secretary Fr. Thomas Rivas. The hierarchs visited St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Eklutna and St. Tikhon Russian Orthodox Church in South Anchorage.
The visit concluded with an All-Night Vigil at St. Innocent of Irkutsk Russian Orthodox Cathedral on Saturday evening, followed by Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, which the two hierarchs concelebrated. A festive banquet was held after the service before Met. Maximilian’s departure.
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