Historic Orthodox Church in Alaska Completes Major Preservation Work

EKLUTNA, AK — Critical stabilization and preservation work has been completed at historic Old St. Nicholas Church in Eklutna, Alaska, safeguarding the approximately 150-year-old Russian Orthodox landmark for future generations.

Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska (ROSSIA) announced that the project was made possible by a $350,000 grant from the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund. The work followed the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and focused on preserving the church’s historic character while addressing structural deterioration.

As part of the project, the church was lifted from its original foundation, which had allowed portions of the structure to deteriorate, and placed on a new stable foundation. Only severely damaged base logs were replaced, with materials and construction methods selected to retain the building’s original appearance.

The project also included an extensive inventory of the church’s historic furnishings. An icon specialist and conservator documented and photographed icons, textiles, and three-dimensional objects, creating a detailed record of the site’s religious and cultural heritage. Architectural, engineering, and archaeological services were also funded through the grant.

Built around 1870, Old St. Nicholas Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and forms part of Alaska’s historic Russian Orthodox heritage.

Previously, the UOJ reported that St. Herman seminarians began a pilgrimage to Irkutsk.