2022 Assembly for the Diocese of Sitka and Alaska

On the weekend of November 29-20th, Saint Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral hosted the General Assembly for the Diocese of Sitka and Alaska, one of the best attended assemblies in recent memory.  The assembly began with a general moleben followed by the service for the consecration of new beautifully designed color antimens for thirteen altars throughout the diocese, now with the signature and blessing of the ruling hierarch, His Grace, +Bishop ALEXEI. Twelve priests took part in the mystery involving the transfer of the relics from the table of oblation to the holy altar, the anointing of the antimens with holy chrism, and the sealing of the relics with mastic, accompanied by beautiful prayers and psalms.

Following a fine lunch generously and lovingly prepared by the Cathedral sisterhood, there were simultaneously held three separate sessions on the building up and strengthening of the diocese. The first session was led by his Grace for his clergy.  In that session, the sacramental and Eucharistic bond uniting the bishop with his priests was discussed in the context of the writings of Saint Ignatius the God-bearer. The second session was led by Matushka Sasha Safchuk for the diocesan Matushki where they discussed the trials that face matushki in our diocese. The third session was led by Anna Mizes for the lay delegates where they discussed ways the laity could be more involved in parish life.


 

After a short break, the diocesasn clergy gathered together for the Sunday Vigil that by the grace of God will now be enjoyed by all our communities that are served by a priest. The singing of Xvalite Imya Gospodnye was especially jubilant with all the clergy priests joining in song.  The next day, a hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated in which Brenden Heckert, Peter Sonday, and Zacheus Nicolas were tonsured as readers, Archpriest David Askoak was awarded with the blessing to wear a miter, Archpriest Maxim Isaacs was awarded with the blessing to bear the jeweled, and Father George Nicholai was ordained to the Holy Priesthood. It was a time of great joy in the Cathedral with 300-400 in attendance. One of the seminarians commented that the experience was magical.  In his words to the newly-ordained priest, His Grace counseled, “Dear Father, may you always kneel before Christ, may He always be your support, your strength, and the ultimate source of your life. May His love surround you, may His mercy follow you, may His compassion tenderly embrace you. And may Christ Himself forever be the very center of your life…. Christ  is the One who has placed you in this office in the company and brotherhood of the holy priesthood. Be strengthened by your brother priests and strengthen your brothers. May your love for them, may your love for your common father, the bishop, and may your love for your flock draw others to the one true faith that saves, the Holy Orthodox faith.” His Grace also informed the faithful present of the tragedy around the fire that occurred at Saint Seraphim of Sarov Church in Lower Kalskag. He called for a collection to be made and for all parishes to join in helping them to rebuild a Church to the glory of God with the assurance that the gates of hell will never prevail over the Church.

The joyful festal Divine Liturgy was followed by a fine brunch graciously prepared by the brotherhood of the Cathedral, complete with cake for the newly-awarded and newly-ordained clergy. After the meal, the Diocean Assembly proper began with the Jesus Prayer and a reading from the writings of Saint Justin Popovich. In the financial report, the diocesan treasurer, Marjorie Nelson noted that for the first time in recent history, the diocese has posted a financial gain rather than a financial loss through the hard work done by the Chancery Office this year.

Vladyka ALEXEI’ report began with an exhortation to the priests and faithful to reach out to those who have been distanced from the Church during the pandemic and invite them back into the joy of their Lord. He reported on the All-American Council where the Alaskan Clergy were able to celebrate a traditional Alaskan hierarchical divine liturgy. The liturgy included a variety of first Alaskan languages and Church Slavonic, all done in Alaskan tones, which was reported to be one of the greatest joys from those who attended and were witness to how prayerful and heartfelt Alaskan liturgics are.  His Grace also reported and the talk that he and Father Vasily Fisher presented a talk to the All-American Council on Alaska and her unique challenges and needs. In detail, they discussed the need for our clergy to be provided a livable stipend so they may dedicate themselves more fully to the never-ending pastoral needs of our parishes. They presented on the need for rectories in our deaneries in order for the movement of clergy to be flexible, responsible, and responsive. They discussed how as a Diocese we must reform how we handle the lands and leases entrusted to us by the Russian Orthodox Church, whose lasting legacy was advocating for lands to be handed to the Alaskan Church so that she may not be endangered by severe financial stress. And lastly, they introduced the need for resources and funds for mission work in our communities, all of which are in need of catechism, education, and social work. Vladyka also reported on his decision together with the Chancery staff and Diocesan Council to establish four separate funds to address each issue separately and directly: a clergy stipend fund, a land management fund, a lands management fund, rectory construction fund, and a missionary Fund.  His Grace also spoke about his trips to the east coast to advocate for the Diocese in person.

His Grace also spoke about his experience at the conferences last summer. He noted that he would like to see the foundation of laity-led initiatives rebuilt and operating more actively than in the past. One place to begin is in the reorganizing of our Conference Committees, including the minor choir conference committee. While it’s a blessing for the faithful in each of these regions to receive their hierarch and to serve the divine services together, the practice of coming together and making our Conferences a celebration of the work that each village in the area has put in, makes the Conferences that much more joyful, and that much more important to the spiritual and communal life of the Orthodox in each region. Instead of having the Chancery organize the Conference around the sole purpose of the hierarch’s visit, it would be more beneficial to all for the Conferences to be focused on the traditions and activities practiced in each region, and for the hierarch to be a part of the Conference, rather than the sole purpose of the Conference.

With respect to the conference, His Grace is also directing the Diocese to return the policy of growing and protecting the eldership in our parishes by reinstating the important, but almost lost role of Chief in the parishes. At every conference His Grace attended the clergy and faithful informed His Grace of how chiefs and starotstas in the past served in the parish and the community. He related a particular story of when a chief would go around the village prior divine liturgy and make sure people and their children were awake so they would not miss Church. This kind of dedication and piety to the Church is needed at every level in our diocese.

His Grace also noted a number of accomplishments since the last assembly. First, the website has been completely rebuilt and I invite everyone to follow it carefully. It is attractive to the eye and rich in content. On it, the bishop’s calendar is posted and news is regularly updated. On our website, you can find Alaskan texts and information about the Chancery. The clergy have their own portal where they can find a treasury of resources on pastoral issues such as cremation and head coverings. They can find certificates for baptism and marriage, rubrics for serving the hierarchical liturgy, the full menaion, the octoechoes, and the horologion. There is an ongoing Video series on the Creed prepared by his Grace, a new seal for the Diocese displaying her humble and holy roots being centered upon the chapel of Saint Sergius and Herman on Spruce Island where our holy ascetic and protector, Saint Herman lived, surrounded by the fans, symbols of our liturgical and angelic worship and united together as one diocese represented by the bishop’s mitre.  His Grace is also establishing a council of Deans that will help the Bishop keep up with what is taking place in each deanery and also suggest ways that the entire diocese can be served by working together in the placement of priests where they are needed most.

Bishop Alexei also reported on the ordinations that have taken place since the last assembly, including the ordinations of Fathers Noah Andrew, Luke Levi, Nicholas Cragel, Peter Kamilos, and George Nicholai to the holy priesthood as well as the ordination of Herman Belt  and Thomas Rivas to the holy diaconate. He also spoke about the following awards: Father Stephan Heckman and Father David Askoak were awarded the mitre; Father Ivan Gumlickpuk and Father Maxim were awarded the jeweled cross; Father Daniel Charles was awarded the palitza; and Father Andrei Tepper was awarded the gold cross. Among the faithful, Mrs. Daria “Dorothy” Gray, Chairwoman of the Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska was awarded a a Synodal Gramatoa for her work at ROSSIA and her dedication to Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Parish in Kenai.

His Grace concluded his report with his over-arching visions for the future of the diocese:

“By the grace of God and the labor and support of the clergy and laity, the Diocese will once again grow and begin to carry out her first and primary mission; the conversion of all people’s into the Church of Christ, His Holy Orthodox Church. We will start at home, getting our own houses in order, and then move out beyond our communities, bringing back all those who have fallen away from the Church either to non-Orthodox bodies or to a completely worldly existence. And finally, we will go into the byways and highways, striving to bring everyone in this great land to the Holy Orthodox Church. Our aim is no less than the great commission to baptise all into the Orthodox Church in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, as your Bishop of this holy and sacred diocese, please be assured that every decision I make, large or small, seemingly insignificant or truly significant, is first evaluated by whether the consequence is to the spiritual benefit to the person, parish, community, or Church as a whole. There is no decision that I make that is not a spiritual decision. It is important that everyone here understand this. Every decision I make is based on two criteria: the faith and love, upholding and strengthening the Orthodox faith and cultivating and encouraging love for God and neighbor. Each decision I make is an expression not only of my unshaken faith in the power and truth of the Orthodox Church and in my love for Christ but also of my love for you as well as my desire for you all to grow in faith and love. And faith and love do not drop from the sky. They require work, hard work, and always even more work, always stretching forward towards heaven, forward towards Christ, in Saint Paul’s words, “pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phillipians 3:14). Christ came “to send fire on earth.” He came that we might be aflame with faith in Him and love for Him. Every initiative, every program, and every labor that the diocese under my episcopacy will undertake will be founded on these criteria. These criteria, faith and love, are what will determine parish assignments. These criteria, faith and love, are what will determine the contents of ukazes that I will issue. These criteria, faith and love, are what will determine discipline that may be required. Christ is everything and everything done will be defined by and in the spirit of His Holy Gospel. There is a heroism about Orthodoxy, and although I quite admittedly am a weak and sinful man and far from the bishop I truly wish you had, I embrace the heroism of Orthodoxy with all my heart as the ideal to which I am called to be faithful. As your spiritual father and as your bishop according to God, I ask that you embrace that ideal as well. Together, our future can be bright. Together, our future will be bright with devotion, labor, and self-sacrifice on your  part and the grace of our gracious God on His part. May God richly bless and keep all you for many, blessed years.”

Following his Grace’s report, there was the election for metropolitan council members. Father Maxim Isaac was elected as the clergy representative for the diocese and Reader Antony (Чтец Антон) Lekanof was elected as the lay delegate. Father Nicholai Solak made a short presentation on the Thriving in Ministry Program. Mrs. Dorothy Gray made a presentation on ROSSIA and the many achievements they accomplished over the year by the grace of God and the labor of many.  The date for the next assembly was discussed and the weekend of October 7th was decided upon as the best date for next year’s assembly. Finally, the assembly officially ratified the following mission statement for the Diocese:

The primary mission of the Diocese of Sitka and Alaska is the conversion of all peoples in Alaska into Christ’s Holy Orthodox Church, beginning with those who have fallen away from the Orthodox communities of the first peoples of Alaska and extending to those who have not yet entered the fold.  The Diocese supports the cultivation of the Orthodox traditions, customs and languages of the first peoples of Alaska and welcomes all peoples to share in the joy of the Lord. Every diocesan decision is first and foremost a spiritual decision aimed at upholding and strengthening the Orthodox faith and cultivating and encouraging love for God and neighbor. Faith and love are the criteria. Christian heroism is our ethos. Hard work and trust in God are the way forward towards a strong and holy diocese that will be source of light and life for all.