Source: Orthodox Church in America ANCHORAGE, AK [OCA] Following the canonization services for the Righteous Olga of Kwethluk in her home village, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and his delegation traveled to Anchorage over the weekend of June 21–22, 2025 to continue the celebration of St. Olga’s Glorification. Nearly one thousand faithful gathered at St. Innocent Cathedral to honor the newly glorified saint. Upon arrival at the cathedral for the All-Night Vigil on Saturday evening, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon processed into the church bearing the relics of St. Olga. These were set out for veneration by the faithful. The veneration of the relics and anointing of the…
Browsing: Alaska
Source: Orthodox Church in America ANCHORAGE, AK [OCA] On June 18, 2025, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon traveled to Alaska to preside at the services for the glorification of the Righteous Olga of Kwethluk, where hundreds of pilgrims gathered for the event from across Alaska and North America. His Beatitude and his delegation, which included Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America and Deacon Alexander Woodill, were greeted at the Anchorage airport on Wednesday, June 18, by His Eminence Archbishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska, along with diocesan clergy and faithful. On Thursday morning, June 19, His Beatitude, together with a delegation of…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] Links are now available to livestream the upcoming glorification services of the Righteous Olga of Kwethluk. The faithful of the Orthodox Church in America are invited to watch the services that mark an important occasion in the life of our Church. The following services will be broadcast live: Primatial All-Night Vigil for the Glorification of Saint Olga – Kwethluk, Alaska Date: Thursday, June 19 Time: 4:00 PM AKDT Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/iUpL1KWTgxc?feature=share Primatial Divine Liturgy for the Glorification of Saint Olga – Kwethluk, Alaska Date: Friday, June 20 Time: 9:00 AM AKDT Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/S53n8pgekLI?feature=share Primatial All-Night Vigil in Honor of…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] The services celebrating the canonization of Matushka Olga Michael of Kwethluk, AK, will take place June 19 -22, 2025, in Kwethluk and Anchorage, AK. In November 2023, Matushka Olga was numbered among the saints by act of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, making her the first North American woman and the first Yup’ik person to be glorified as a saint in the Orthodox Church. His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon will preside over the canonization services, concelebrating with other hierarchs and clergy of the Orthodox Church in America as well as delegations from other…
Source: Orthodox Church in America On November 15-16, 2024, clergy and faithful from across Alaska, the lower 48 states, and from other parts of the world gathered in the village of Kwethluk, AK for the uncovering of the relics of Matushka Olga. Led by His Grace Bishop Alexei of the Diocese of Sitka and Alaska, this event marks a significant step toward her upcoming glorification. On November 16, amid frigid temperatures, the relics were uncovered as the Holy Gospel was read. Matushka Olga was then brought to St. Nicholas Church and her relics were transferred to a new reliquary prepared for her. The…
Source: Orthodox Church in America ANCHORAGE, AK [Diocese of Alaska] His Grace Bishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska has announced that the Clergy Endowment Stipend has successfully reached its $1 Million goal. In recognition of this, His Grace has released a video thanking His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, the Holy Synod of Bishops, and the many generous parishes and faithful who have contributed to the success of the fund. His Grace spoke at the 20th All-American Council in Baltimore, MD about the difficult situation facing the Alaskan clergy. The council passed a resolution to support the creation of this Clergy Endowment Stipend: “Whereas Alaska is the…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] The documentary video “Recollections of Saintly Matushka Olga” is now available for viewing. This video gives an important window into the place Matushka Olga continues to hold in the lives of the Alaskan faithful. It also explains the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops to keep her relics in her home village of Kwethluk, making it a place of pilgrimage for Orthodox peoples around the world. You can help the efforts of the faithful Orthodox people of Kwethluk and all of Alaska in setting up this pilgrimage center through your generous donations. They…
Source: Orthodox Christianity Anchorage, November 29, 2023 Archpriest Michael Oleksa, known as a missionary priest, having served in over a dozen Alaskan villages, and a scholar of Orthodoxy in Alaska and Native Alaskan history and culture, reposed in the Lord today, November 29, after suffering a stroke suffering a stroke. The Diocese of Sitka and Alaska of the Orthodox Church in America issued the following statement: May thy soul dwell with the blessed— Memory eternal, Вечная Память, dear father At 12:30 this morning on November 29th, His Grace, +Bishop Alexei received word that the beloved Archpriest Michael Oleksa fell asleep in the…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] December 10, 2023, the Sunday before the feast day of Saint Herman of Alaska, is the second annual collection for the Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of Alaska. His Grace Bishop Alexei spoke at 20th All-American Council in Baltimore, MD where he detailed the serious challenges facing the OCA’s mother diocese. The council passed a resolution to support the Alaskan Diocese in their difficult situation: “Whereas Alaska is the cradle of Orthodoxy in America: Be it resolved that the 20th AAC asks the Holy Synod of Bishops to designate annually the Sunday closest to the December feast…
Source: Orthodox Church in America A schedule of events has been made available for the upcoming 53rd annual Saint Herman Pilgrimage in Alaska taking place August 7-9, 2023. His Grace Bishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska will welcome His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon who will be presiding over the pilgrimage. The pilgrimage will begin Monday, August 7, with the Akathist to Saint Herman at Holy Resurrection Cathedral. The following day, the pilgrimage will continue with the celebration of the hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 9:00 AM, a Grand Banquet at noon, and Vigil service at 6:00 PM. The pilgrimage will depart for Spruce Island on August…
Source: Orthodox Church in America On February 21, 2023 Ancient Faith Ministries published a new work by His Grace Bishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska entitled Spiritual Transformation and Giving. In the booklet, His Grace answers the question “What is the spiritual significance of almsgiving in the life of a believer?” His Grace draws on a wealth of patristic and modern sources to explore why God commands us to give, what motivates people to give or hold back, what spirit should characterize our giving, and the spiritually transformative results giving can have for us. Click here for an interview with His Grace Copies…
Source: Orthodox Church in America BETHESDA, MD [OCA] On Tuesday, March 15, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, meeting in their Regular Spring 2022 Session under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, canonically elected His Grace Bishop Alexis, formerly Bishop of Bethesda and Auxiliary to the Metropolitan for Stravropegial Institutions, Bishop of Sitka and Alaska.