Abp. Alexei Leads Patronal Feast Celebrations on St. Paul Island

ST. PAUL, AK — Clergy and faithful of the Orthodox Church in America's (OCA) Diocese of Sitka and Alaska recently gathered on St. Paul Island in the Pribilof Islands to celebrate the patronal feast of Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, one of North America's historic Orthodox communities. According to the local faithful, the first-ever All-Night Vigil with Divine Liturgy in the island's history was served.

In a comment made to UOJ-America, Fr. Thomas Rivas noted that a chalice of St. Innocent of Alaska was used to distribute the Holy Eucharist to the faithful. According to Fr. Thomas – who serves at St. Innocent Cathedral in Anchorage and as episcopal secretary to Abp. Alexei – it was from the set of chalices St. Innocent brought with him on his first assignment to Unalaska, a yearlong journey that lasted from 1823-24.

"While on assignment, he brought a set to St. George and St. Paul Island, which was needed because, even though they are in the same 'region,' it was still very hard to get there," Fr. Thomas said. "He brought five chalices to Alaska during his overall ministry as priest and bishop."

According to Fr. Thomas, the other three were for Unalaska, Kodiak, and Sitka. The chalices in St. George and Kodiak have been taken, with one residing now in the museum at St. Tikhon's Monastery.

With the blessing of Abp. Alexei, the Hierarchical All-Night Vigil was served Friday night – which was followed by the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy – and concelebrated by diocesan clergy and attended by local faithful. The gathering highlighted the enduring presence of Orthodox Christianity among the Alaskan people and the continuing legacy of the Church's missionary work there.

The diocesan release states:

Upon these shores walked St. Innocent of Alaska, and from this sacred land St. Yakov Netsvetov carried the Gospel throughout the Aleutian, Nushagak, Kuskokwim, Yukon, and Southeast regions. The God-protected Diocese of Sitka and Alaska remains the historic cradle of Orthodox Christianity in North America, preserving the missionary inheritance from which the Orthodox faith first took root on this continent. More than a guardian of history, the Diocese continues the apostolic work entrusted to its forebears, proclaiming Christ to each new generation while bearing witness to the living continuity of the first Orthodox mission in North America.

In his homily, Abp. Alexei emphasized the importance of preserving the Orthodox faith for future generations, urging the faithful to remain steadfast in Christ and in the apostolic inheritance entrusted to Alaska's Orthodox communities.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the archbishop led the traditional procession around the church, blessing its four corners and proclaiming the Gospel according to local custom. The celebration also included the presentation of diocesan gramotas to the Central Bering Sea Fishermen's Association and to Macarius Don Mandregan Sr. in recognition of their longstanding service to the Church and local community.

The Diocese expressed gratitude to the parish council, local organizations, and residents of St. Paul Island for their hospitality and support, describing the feast as a powerful witness to the unity and living tradition of Orthodox Christianity in Alaska.

“May no child grow up without knowing Christ," Abp. Alexei stated. "May no wounded soul believe that return is impossible. May no sorrow separate this people from the healing mercy of Christ. May no worldly spirit rob this people of its apostolic inheritance.”

Previously, the UOJ reported that the diocese is continuing its search for the holy relics of St. Yakov Netsvetov, a renowned missionary priest and enlightener of Alaska’s Native peoples, whose burial place is believed to be near the former site of Holy Trinity Church in Sitka.