Restoration Begins at Historic St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Alaska

HOONAH, AK — Restoration work has begun at the historic St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Hoonah, Alaska, with volunteers working to protect the small wooden church from further deterioration. Under the direction of Fr. Herman Belt, a temporary roof is being installed to prevent additional water damage, while brush is being cleared to create a pathway to the church.

The parish traces its history to 1897, when 14 Tlingit families donated the land on which the present church stands. A chapel was built there in 1910, but by the late 1920s it had become too small for the growing congregation. Funds were subsequently raised to construct the present building, which was completed in 1929.

St. Nicholas Church survived a catastrophic fire that swept through Hoonah in June 1944 and destroyed approximately 80 percent of the town. The church’s survival has made it an important part of the community’s history and Orthodox heritage.

The parish was also the spiritual home of Fr. Michael Williams, who died in 1994 and was the only Tlingit person ever ordained to the Orthodox priesthood. Although modest in size, the church represents the longstanding Orthodox faith of Hoonah’s Tlingit community and its active role in shaping its religious life.

The current restoration effort includes volunteers from Sitka and Grant Crosby of Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska (ROSSIA), who are assisting with the work. The temporary roof is intended to safeguard the historic structure while additional restoration efforts are undertaken.

Previously, the UOJ reported a historic Orthodox church in Alaska completed major preservation work.