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Bishop Maxim Visits Alaska
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August 6-16 , 2008-
As the boats arrived at Monks Lagoon on Spruce Island Saturday morning, pilgrims described seeing whales breaching on the trip over.
The weather started out sunny, with a bit of mist and a clear rainbow along the journey for those taking part in the 2008 pilgrimage to honor St. Herman, who lived on Spruce Island from 1808 to 1818.
During the liturgy Saturday at Monks Lagoon, Bishop Maxim spoke about becoming a person of love and compassion, ready to bear others burdens. The Serbian Orthodox bishop of Western America shared the celebration this year with Bishop Benjamin, the Orthodox Church of America bishop of San Francisco and the West, administrator of the Alaska Russian Orthodox Diocese.
OCA head Metropolitan Herman attended the pilgrimage, but was unable to travel to Monks Lagoon for the liturgy, which was concelebrated by visiting Orthodox priests, including Fr. Robert Arida, rector and dean of Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in Boston. Arida taught at St. Hermans Seminary in Kodiak from 1977 to 1980.
Fr. Chad Hatfield, chancellor of St. Vladimirs Seminary in New York, a recent dean of St. Hermans Seminary, also traveled back to Kodiak for the pilgrimage.
Fr. Joseph Kreta, founder of St. Hermans Seminary and long-time pastor of Holy Resurrection Cathedral, and Matushka Marie Kreta, traveled to Kodiak from Mesa, Ariz.
Retired Episcopal priest Fr. Norman Elliott, 89, started serving in Alaska in 1951, all over the Yukon, then in Southeast and Anchorage. He found the hike up the spruce-lined trail to the chapel and the divine liturgy inspiring.
In his homily, Bishop Maxim urged pilgrims to see that the essence of life is to have a good relationship with God and love our brethren.
Marilyn Kreta directed the choir for the outdoor service on Spruce Island.
St. Hermans Sisterhood and women from Ouzinkie and St. Innocents Academy provided the food for the picnic lunch on the beach at Monks Lagoon following the divine liturgy.
Kodiak boat owners ferried pilgrims to and from Spruce Island for the celebration.
Fr. Innocent Dresdow and the parishioners of Holy Resurrection Cathedral hosted more than 200 pilgrims Thursday through Sunday.
Dresdow said seeing the pilgrims anticipation and joy on the pilgrimage reminded him and his parishioners of how peaceful Spruce Island is and the joy we get to live with each day.
A soup dinner was held at the Cathedral Hall after the pilgrims returned from Spruce Island on Saturday and a grand banquet at St. Marys gym on Sunday.
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The Venerable Peter of Korish Serbian
Orthodox Mission
Rev. Protopresbyter Blasko Paraklis, Administrator Phone: (949) 830-5480
24236 Olivera Dr. Mission Viejo, CA 92691 E-mail: frparaklis@aol.com
Mr. Boban Krajisnik, Board President Phone: (907) 333-1264
2408 Tulane St., Anchorage, AK 99504
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- Protomartyr Juvenal of Alaska (who suffered near Quinhagak, Alaska in 1796), commemorated July 2 and December 12.
- Martyr Peter the Aleut (who suffered in California [ca. 1815]), commemorated on December 12.
- Holy and God-bearing Father Herman of Alaska (1836), commemorated on November 15 (repose), December 12 (burial and synaxis), and July 27 (glorification).
- Righteous Priest Jakov Netsvetov, baptizer of the Native Peoples of Alaska (1867), commemorated on July 26.
- Equal-to-the-Apostles Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Enlightener of Alaska and Siberia (1879), commemorated on September 23 (glorification) and March 31 (repose).
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Every year pilgrims from around the world together with the natives of Alaska come to commemorate Americas first saint, Fr. Herman - the Wonderworker of Alaska. They visit Spruce Island, the place he sanctified by his holy Christian life, and go to venerate his relics on the Island of Kodiak.
This year Fr. Blasko Paraklis and six other pilgrims accompanied His Grace Maxim, Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western America on His pilgrimage to Alaska. On Thursday, the 7th of August, His Grace departed with his retinue from Los Angeles to Anchorage where they were warmly welcomed by a group of Serbian Orthodox parishioners.
At noon of the following day they flew on to Kodiak Island. Their journey continued by boat as the men headed to the Skete of St. Michael on Spruce Island and the women to St. Nilus Skete. The weather was fine and allowed for some spectacular views of surrounding islands with lush forests and busy puffins fishing alongside seagulls and other birds on the calm waters. The pilgrims already enchanted with the natural beauty of the region were able to find additional delight in their sighting of the majestic and gray humpback whales just a short distance from their boats. The skippers stopped the motors so that they could listen to the noises these big mammals made when resurfacing for air with water gushing out like huge fountains before they disappeared into the depths once again but not before showing off their grand tails.
Spruce Island with Mount St. Herman rising above the towering spruce, is located southeast of the Alaskan mainland and in some places is less than a mile from Kodiak Island. From Mount St. Herman one can overlook the Monks Lagoon, the place where St. Herman lived from 1808 to 1818, and which later became known by this name in remembrance of this holy monk. Besides a life of prayer and strict asceticism, St. Herman was also known for his great love for the natives, especially the orphans whom he took care of. Years later a local native woman by the name of Sophia Vlasova who had been converted by St. Herman, carried on his legacy and continued to oversee the orphanage thirty years after his death. St. Herman sustained himself on the produce of his garden and the coho salmon. He had called this island New Valaam as a reminder of his Russian monastery, and since conditions here were similar to Valaam, he grew potatoes, cabbage, carrots, turnips and garlic. Nowadays, horticulturists regard him as the first gardener in Alaska to use kelp as a fertilizer.
Bishop Maxim and the other male pilgrims spent the night at St. Michael Skete, a small Orthodox Christian monastery founded in 1983 with two monks living here currently, Fr. Martirius and Fr. Andrew. In addition to their daily cycle of prayers, gardening and fishing during summer, woodcarving, dome building and carpentry, the pilgrims are ferried to and from the islands by Fr. Martirius.
The female pilgrims stayed at St. Nilus Skete, which lies just off Spruce Island and is dedicated to St. Nilus of Sora. A small community of Orthodox nuns, Mothers Nina and Neila, and Sister Julia, live on this unsullied island of 55 acres of pristine beauty, with rugged cliffs where puffins nest during the summer season, and a dense spruce forest with its moss dangling from the branches and covering the floor like a carpet. It does not take long before one senses a deep peace underlying the physical beauty of the surroundings, interrupted only by the chirping of birds and occasional bells calling to prayer at the St. Nilus Chapel. The nuns like the monks try to follow St. Hermans example of living off the land, which involves catching enough salmon in summer and preserving it, gardening, gathering berries, mushrooms and other edible plants. The buildings on the island are simple log houses. The sisters are known for their hospitality and can house a limited number of guests at their log house on the west end of the island.
On Saturday morning all of the pilgrims were ferried to Spruce Island for the hierarchical Liturgy, which was served in the Sts. Sergius and Herman Church by Bishop Benjamin of San Francisco and Bishop Maxim with ten priests of different Orthodox parishes from all over the country. The Church is built on the grave of St. Herman and pilgrims can go beneath the Church to venerate the site. Many healings have taken place at his grave. The Divine Liturgy was followed by a Pannikhida, which was served at the graves of Archimandrite Gerasim and Archpriest Peter. Not from their graves is the cell of Fr. Gerasim, a simple log house, which was restored in the 1990s. Fr. Gerasim (Schmalz), a Russian priest-monk, came to the Island in 1935 and spent three decades as a hermit there. The prophesy of St. Herman who had said that even though much time would pass after his death, his memory would not be forgotten and that a monk similar to him would come and live on Spruce Island one day, was thus fulfilled.
After the memorial service the pilgrims gathered at the beach for a picnic. There was enough time to relax and to gather strength to explore the island a little bit more. Many pilgrims went to St. Hermans Spring to fetch water. This spring is where St. Herman drew drinking water and it became a source of miraculous healing for many diverse ailments after his death.
Later that afternoon all the pilgrims were ferried back to Kodiak where they spent the night.
On Sunday morning, the 10th of August, Bishop Benjamin and Bishop Maxim served the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Kodiak, in the presence of Metropolitan Herman, Head of the Orthodox Church of America, concelebrated by the visiting Orthodox priests. The pilgrims are able to venerate the relics of St. Herman in this Cathedral, along with his monastic hat and the fifteen-pound chains he wore. A banquet was held at St. Marys Gym not far from the Church. The parishioners of the Cathedral hosted more than 200 pilgrims for the feast that lasted three days. Their warmth and generosity will be remembered!
In the early afternoon Fr. Martirius ferried Bishop Maxim and his group of pilgrims back to the islands, and took those who had the inclination and desire to go fishing on his skiff. On this occasion His Grace caught a sea bass. The female pilgrims held vespers at the St. Nilus Chapel whilst the fathers and male pilgrims held vespers at St. Michaels Skete where His Grace celebrated the Divine Liturgy the following morning. Fr. Martirius once again was there to ferry the pilgrims from St. Nilus to Spruce Island just in time for the Liturgy. Fr. Martirius and Fr. Simeon with the help of some young pilgrims chanted during the Divine Liturgy. They also managed to prepare a wonderful lunch with the help of some local Orthodox people who also live on Spruce Island. There is a village, Ouzinkie, which is located at the west end of Spruce Island; a community established in the mid-nineteenth century. Some of the families that had lived with St. Herman near Monks Lagoon later moved to this village, which is presently comprised of mainly Sugpiaq natives.
The afternoon was spent in fishing and kayaking, in relaxing and enjoying the natural surrounding beauty. Some of the pilgrims went in search of salmonberries, elderberries, blueberries and mushrooms. During the summer months there is daylight even until 10 in the evening, so there is much one can do. The sisters of St. Nilus Skete prepared a beach dinner. Some of the halibut and salmon caught by the pilgrims were cooked over the beach fire with potatoes wrapped in foils. Dinner was delicious and some pilgrims managed to find sticks with which to heat their marshmallows. The sisters entertained with many beautiful songs and were joined by Fr. Blasko and His Grace who introduced some Serbian songs. It was an unforgettable evening of tasty food, song and dance and so much fun. However, as there were clouds building up in the sky, one could notice some alarm in Mother Ninas face. The weather is of utmost importance when living on these islands for almost every aspect of life here is dictated by the weather conditions. A little bit of wind and rain can make traveling with the small boats very dangerous.
Since it had started to rain during the night, Mother Nina made arrangements for a small but well equipped yacht to take the pilgrims aboard and bring them safely back to Kodiak Island. So, the following morning we finally took leave of the monks as we prepared to return to Kodiak. The nuns joined His Grace Maxim and the pilgrims for the return voyage. The trip was a bit rough because of fierce winds and stormy waves and gave the pilgrims a taste of the other side of the beautiful nature they had so far enjoyed. To their delight they were able to sight yet another couple of whales again.
Once safely back at Kodiak, we were warmly greeted and welcomed by Fr. Paisius De Lucia and his students of the St. Innocent Academy. The Saint Innocent Academy is both a live-in boarding school and a day school for troubled youth at-risk, founded by Fr. Paisius and his wife. They have over thirty young men and ladies that live in the Academy full-time. The Church or benevolent organizations do not fund this Orthodox Academy, however donations are welcome. Both students and staff make their living as a team, painting, sheet rocking and working construction, and, proceeds are held in common. All staff are volunteers.
Our hosts picked us up with their blue painted bus. It had scenes of St. Hermans life on Spruce Island and a pair of a mooses antlers on top of the front of the bus. One of a kind! The pilgrims were later informed that the whole Academy had crossed the entire United States in one of their travels in this old bus! His Grace was made an honorary bus driver amidst the cheers of both students and pilgrims as he drove us down the main highway on a quick sightseeing tour. Back at the Academy, the guests were served a delicious brunch prepared by the students and Fr. Paisius wife who is an excellent cook. The Academy has its own chapel and their daily life is tightly interwoven with prayer, study, work and creative recreation. The pilgrims were yet to experience a big surprise. After the meal the students offered an unforgettable performance of song and dance! It was hard to believe that these were not professionals but merely young people who had an incredible talent for music: classic, folklore and religious. All sorts of instruments: violins, guitars, clarinets, banjoes, cellos and a piano re-appeared and disappeared as they sang different tunes in different languages. Everyone was just mesmerized by the beauty, spontaneity and the sheer joy of these youths as they sang one composition after the other. One could have easily mistaken them for professionals. Later they shared with the pilgrims their experiences of performing at various celebrations and schools and other public venues. One such performance involved staging the theatrical play of Cyrano de Bergerac, which was highly successful and which the Academy later recorded in a DVD presentation of all five acts.
Vespers was read in the chapel and after the students accompanied the pilgrims to the local airport in their blue bus, it was time for the pilgrims to say farewell to these wonderful Christian Orthodox youths and their priest.
As they landed in Anchorage, they were welcomed once again by their Serbian hosts at the airport. There are approximately 50 Serbian Orthodox parishioners who make up the Serbian Orthodox Parish of St. Petar of Korish, which was founded in the 1990s by Bishop Chrysostom, the current Bishop of Zicha. The Serbian parishioners own a piece of property close to downtown Anchorage. There is a common agreement with regard to building a church in the future on this site. However, a lot of help is needed from Serbs living across the country who should take into consideration that there are not that many Serbs who live in Alaska and that the majority of these people are newly re- settled refugees of Krajina from ex-Yugoslavia. For more information, please contact: The Venerable Peter of Korish Serbian Orthodox Mission, Fr. Blasko Paraklis, Administrator, Tel: (949) 830 5480, 24236 Olivera Dr., Mission Viejo, CA 92691; Mr. Boban Krajisnik, Board President, Tel: (907) 333 1264, 2408 Tulane St., Anchorage, AK 99504.
On Wednesday afternoon, the 13th of August, after a long drive in a 4 wheeler, Bishop Maxim arrived with his companions and pilgrims at the Kenai Penninsula for some promising fishing. Tom and Joann Webster, parishioners of the Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Eagle River near Anchorage, were their hosts for the following two days. They shared their comfortable summerhouse at the river with their guests. Brown bears and grizzly bears were allegedly sighted by a lot of people during the pilgrimage. One such bear, which had held Tom responsible for missing out on his moose as the latter escaped through his property the day before the pilgrims arrival, eventually decided to leave without giving vent to his anger. Tom was relieved at the outcome of this close encounter. It seemed, however, that the pilgrims would have to be satisfied with only one sighting of a black bear walking under a bridge near a forest not too far away. The second day was a success story for one of the female pilgrims who proudly caught a seven kg heavy salmon.
On the 15th of August, the pilgrims headed back to Anchorage. On their way they stopped to see the Portage Glacier and were also able to enjoy some more hiking on Mount Alyeska before they arrived at their destination. The rest of the evening was spent with their Serbian hosts enjoying each others company over supper and conversation.
On the 16th of August, His Grace celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Innocent, which belongs to the Orthodox Church of America. Fr. Blasko and several local priests concelebrated. Following the Liturgy, His Grace and Fr. Blasko headed for the cemetery in Anchorage where they held a memorial service for the first anniversary of Miroslav . Vjecnaja pamjat! Eternal memory!
As the pilgrimage came to its end for this year, His Grace, Bishop Maxim blessed the hosts, and departed for Salt Lake City with Fr. Blasko while some of the other pilgrims returned to Los Angeles. On Sunday, the 17th of August, His Grace visited the Serbian Orthodox Parish of the Archangel Michael, which has recently been restored, thanks to the efforts of the parishioners who are mainly refugees from war-torn Bosnia and Hercegovina, and to Fr. Blasko Paraklis. The new parishioners arrived in this country with the hope to rebuild their lives and provide a peaceful future for their children. His Grace celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the newly purchased church building. After luncheon, Bishop Maxim and Fr. Blasko finally made their way back to Los Angeles where another busy schedule awaits His Grace.
Text by Sister Michaela
Photos by: Ivan Andrijanic, Mirjana Jokovic, Sister Veronika, Fr Blasko Paraklis
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