Alaska Diocese to Hold 2026 Assembly in Anchorage

ANCHORAGE, AK — Clergy and lay delegates from across the Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of Sitka and Alaska will gather in Anchorage from October 27 to November 1 for the 2026 Diocesan Assembly, where participants will consider governance changes and elect representatives to diocesan and metropolitan councils.

The assembly will bring together representatives from communities spanning Alaska, from the Aleutian Islands and Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta to Southeast Alaska and the Interior. The diocesan administration has described the gathering as an opportunity to renew fellowship, prayer, and shared responsibility for preserving the state’s Orthodox Christian heritage.

Among the items on the agenda are elections for the Diocesan Council and representatives to the OCA’s Metropolitan Council. Proposed changes would revise representation, introduce staggered terms, and encourage broader participation in Church governance.

The Diocese has published election protocols and nomination requirements for prospective candidates. All candidates must receive the blessing of Abp. Alexei of Sitka and Alaska, according to the diocesan announcement.

The assembly follows a tradition of gatherings bringing clergy and laypeople together to discuss the life and future of the Church in Alaska. The Diocese has asked the faithful to pray for the preparations and for the work of the assembly.

Previously, the UOJ reported that restoration began at the historic St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Alaska.