Parish Finder - Diocese of Sitka and Alaska - Anchorage, AK

Kodiak Deanery

V. Rev. Innocent Dresdow
Priest-in-Charge
410 Mission Rd
Kodiak, AK 99615
Home: 907-486-3854

Alaska Peninsula Deanery

Russian Mission / Yukon Deanery
V. Rev. Peter Askoar, Rector
Founded 1843
 

 

Parish Background

Holy Ascension of Our Lord Cathedral, as it stands today, was built in 1896.  The structure was restored in 1996. The interior is from the original chapel with the exception of the lower level of the bell tower, which had to be replaced.  The current cathedral is the 4th church built for the Unalaska parish.

This site has been used for a church as early as 1808 when the first chapel was built.  The first chapel was believed to have been octagonal.

In 1824 Fr. John Veniaminov was the first priest assigned to Unalaska.  He stayed for 10 years, then was transferred to Sitka. While in Unalaska he replaced the chapel in 1825. In his journals he states that, although the church buildings were built with the help of the Russian American company, all articles needed for worship (icons & candelabras) were given by local residents by donating their furs to the company in the name of the church.

When Father John Veniaminov arrived he learned the Aleut Language and translated many prayers and instructions into Aleut.  The Aleuts did not have an alphabet, so he used the Russian Cyrillic alphabet.  He learned the language proficiently enough to translate the Gospel of Matthew into Aleut in 1828.  One of his greatest works for the Aleuts is believed to be the book called “The Pathway to the Kingdom of Heaven,” which had been translated into 13 or 14 languages and is still in use today.

After his wife died, Fr John went back to Russia, where he became a monk, taking the name Innocent.  He was consecrated a bishop in Russia and assigned to the Alaskan Diocese, becoming the first resident bishop of America.  He served in this position for several years before being reassigned, and was ultimately elevated to the rank of Metropolitan of Moscow.  He was canonized in 1971 by the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia as St. Innocent, Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to America.

A third church was built on this site in 1858 by Fr. Innokenty Shaisnikov.  This church was similar to the central part of the current cathedral without the side chapels.

Finally, in the 1890s the Holy Ascension of Our Lord Cathedral as it stands today was built.  It was completed and dedicated in 1896.  The Priest assigned to Unalaska at the time of building of the cathedral was Fr. Alexander Kedrovsky, who served the parish from 1894 to 1908.  The cathedral had 7 bells in the bell tower.  Through the years of ringing the bells, one had cracked and had to be taken down awaiting repairs.  The remaining six bells are still rung during the divine services.

Located throughout the cathedral are several icons that date back to the 16th century from Russia.  In the central part of the cathedral, above the royal doors, is the long mural with different saints which goes all the way across the iconostas.  Although this icon was not in the 1910 park service photo, it is believed to have been a gift from the last Czar of Russia and is assumed to have been donated sometime between 1910 and 1917 before the fall of the Czar.

Holy Ascension Cathedral has two side chapels.  The one on the right is dedicated to St. Sergei of Radonezh.  It is believed to have the original iconostas from the 1808 chapel, with the exception of the royal doors which were from the church built by Fr. John Veniaminov in 1825.

The chapel on the left was originally dedicated to St Innocent of Irkutsk. It has the iconostas from the 1825 chapel that Fr. John Veniaminov built, except for the royal doors, which were from the 1808 chapel.  Within this chapel we have a copy of the Aleut Gospel of Matthew translated by Fr. John in 1828 and a hand cross believed to be brought here by Fr. John dated 1800.  Also in this chapel are several icons that are believed to have been written by an Aleut iconographer, Ivan Krukov, who studied under Fr. John. One of these icons believed to be his work, an icon of St. Andrew, has mountains, volcanoes and terrain similar to the Aleutian Chain in the background.  When the Cathedral was rededicated in 1996, this chapel was dedicated to St. Innocent of Irkutsk and St. Innocent of Alaska (the former Fr John Veniaminov, the first resident priest of the parish).

We are currently in the 2nd phase of restoration, working on restoration of the icons.  To date, 14 icons have been restored. One or two are sent at a time for restoration which takes anywhere from 6 to 9 months to restore by professional Iconographers.  The reason why most of the icons became dark is that during World War II the local residents were evacuated and taken to internment camps in southeast Alaska. These residents took the icons and the articles from the cathedral with them. While in the camp they were put in storage.  However, they realized that due to the cold and moisture the icons were beginning to mold.  Thinking that cooking oil and 3-in-1 oil would stop the mold, they applied this on the icons, resulting in the icons becoming dark.  In the late 40s they tried putting shellac on the icons to brighten them but compounded the problem.

The services are still sung and chanted in the Aleut language, Slavonic, and in English.  Everyone stands during the services.  The women still stand on the left side and the men stand on the right.  There are some benches against the back wall for the elderly to sit.

Kenai / Prince William Sound Deanery
V. Rev. Peter Tobias, Rector
 

Founded in 1846

 

Parish Background

1845
Fr Igumen Nikolai Militov established a permanent parish in Kenai.  Fr Nikolai, son of a reader, was born in 1810 in Russia.  He was a student in the Tambov Theological School and became a monk in 1837.  In 1840 he went to Sitka, AK with Bishop Innocent.  In Sitka he was a member of the Ecclesiastical Consistory and the head of the Bishop’s residence.  On December 15, 1843, he was ordained Hieromonk.  His travel journals are in the Archives of the Alaska Diocese, and the originals are in the Library of Congress.

1849
The first church in Kenai was built.

1859
Records indicate there were already 1,432 newly baptized Kenaitze Indians.

1860
Makary Ivanov, the reader, began traveling the peninsula to inoculate the Dena’ina for smallpox.

1867
Fr Nikolai died after serving the Kenai area for 22 years.

Alaska was purchased by the United States.

1867-1877
Makary Ivanov serves the church as Reader.

1881-1886
Hieromonk Nikita assigned to Kenai Mission.

1888-1892
Fr Nicholas Mitropolsky served the church.

1893
Fr Alexandr Yaroshevich was the parish priest.

1887
Parish house was built.  Today it is the oldest standing building in the Cook Inlet region.

1895
The present church was built to replace the first one with a grant of $400 from the Holy Synod of St Petersburg.

1895-1906
Fr John Bortnovsky was the rector.

1906
The St Nicholas Chapel was built as a memorial to the heroic deeds of Fr Nikolai and Makary Ivanov, both of whom were instrumental in saving the lives of hundreds of Dena’ina from smallpox.  The chapel was constructed on the site of the original 1849 church which was in the northwest corner of the original Russian fur trading post, Fort St Nicholas.

1907-1952
Fr Paul Shadura was the rector, serving the mission without salary and building chapels for the mission in Tyonek and Seldovia.

1952-1972
Deacon Alexander Ivanoff served the parish since a resident priest had not been assigned.  Fr Michael Oskolkoff and Fr Simeon Oskolkoff served as visiting priests for Easter and other various services.

1959
Alaska became the 49th state.

1969-1973
Fr Cyril Bulashevich was the rector.

1970
Church was dedicated as a National Historic Landmark.

1970-1973
Frs Michael Oskolkoff and Simeon Oskolkoff served the parish as visiting priests.

1973
St Herman’s Seminary started in Kenai.

1975-1991
Fr Macarius Targonsky served as resident priest.

1992-1993
Fr Paul Merculief assigned temporary priest on a visiting basis.

1993-1997
Fr Sergie Active served as resident priest.

1998
Fr Michael Trefon is serving as priest-in-charge.

2003
Fr Thomas Andrew appointed resident priest

2018
Fr. Daniel Charles apppointed resident priest

2020
Fr. Peter Tobias appointed resident priest

Our Church Building

Built between 1894-96, the Holy Assumption Orthodox Church is the principal and most enduring example of Russian culture in south central Alaska.  For the Kenaitze Indians, who comprise a significant portion of the population, this church constituted a major link to western culture.

A simple, wood-frame structure with clapboard siding, Holy Assumption Church features a square two-story bell tower and a distinctive crown-shaped cupola, both with the three-bar Orthodox Cross.  Of particular interest to historians is the interior.  The icons, religious artifacts, and historic objects are important not only for their connection to the specific structure, but for the larger symbolic association with the Russian Orthodox faith.  It is an excellent example of Pskov (ship or vessel) design.  For its exceptional value in our Nation’s history, the Secretary of the Interior designated Holy Assumption Church a National Historic Landmark in 1970.

V. Rev. Innocent Dresdow - Dean

Bethel / Kuskokwim Deanery

V Rev. Nicholai Larson
P. O. Box 131
Kasigluk, AK  99609
907-737-2018

Founded in 1953

Kodiak Deanery
Founded 1849

V. Rev. John Dunlop, Rector

Bethel / Kuskokwim Deanery
V. Rev. Phillip Alexie, Rector
Founded in 1946

Bristol Bay Deanery
Founded in 1937

Bethel / Kuskokwim Deanery
Serviced by V. Rev. Nicholai Larson

Founded in 2006

V. Rev. Martin Nicolai, Rector
Bethel / Kuskokwim Deanery
 

Currently meeting in the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association Building

Service times:

• Vigil  -   Saturdays        - 5p
• Eves of Feasts - 6p (weekdays)
• Divine Liturgy - Sunday - 9a

Founded in 1996

Anchorage Deanery

Bristol Bay Deanery
Founded in 1964

Bethel / Kuskokwim Deanery
V. Rev. Martin Nicolai
 

Aleutian Deanery
Founded 1833
 

Mailing address:

c/o Alexis Prokopiof
General Delivery
St George Island, AK 9959

Alaska Peninsula Deanery

Lay Leadership

Ms. Kathy Gould
Contact Person
King Cove, AK 99612

Founded in 1988
Mr. Ignaty Macar
Contact Person
Stony River, AK 99659

Kodiak Deanery
V. Rev. John Dunlop, Priest-in-Charge
Founded in 1986

V. Rev. John Dunlop
Dean

Bethel / Kuskokwim Deanery

Alaska Peninsula Deanery
Founded in 1924

Rev. Timothy Kolb, Rector
Anchorage Deanery

Alaska Peninsula Deanery

Bethel / Kuskokwim Deanery
Founded 1975

Russian Mission / Yukon Deanery
Archpriest Maxim Isaac, Rector
 

Russian Mission / Yukon Deanery
Founded in 1843

Bristol Bay Deanery
Rev. Dn. Prokopy Kapatak
Attached

Fr. Peter Tobias, Priest in Charge

Schedule of Services
Sunday services on conducted each Sunday at 10:00 AM by Lay Readers. Sunday Morning

Parish Background
St. Michael Russian Orthodox Church was founded in 1925 in Cordova, Alaska.

Sitka Deanery
 

Bristol Bay Deanery

Parish Background
In the earlier days, the villagers were located ten miles to the east at a place which is near the Sand Spit on the northeastern most part of the Chignik Lagoon.  Many people call this the Old Village today.  In the early 1950s, some of the villagers found a more suitable place to relocate the village which would be up the Chignik River at the lowest part of Chignik Lake.  After some families had moved to the new location, a few men brought some lumber up to erect a new chapel at the new site.  Many of e Icons which were from the old church were brought up and placed in the newly erected chapel.

In the late 1970s a family was desiring to build a new homne in the new site and by that time the chapel had already aged due to the weather conditions.  When the family that had the lumber for a new home decided to move to another community, they donated the lumber to the church which began the new building of what is still standing today as St Nicholas Church.  In late October of 1981 the church was consecrated by His Grace Bishop Gregory.  On that same occasion Bishop Gregory ordained a new priest Theodore Bartko and placed him in Chignik Lake.

After the first priest had vacated the parish, he was replaced by Hieromonk Gerasim (Vurik).  When Fr Gerasim relocated to Sand Point, he was later replaced by Fr Maxim Isaac.

Today, St Nicholas parish is home to 138 Aluutiq parishioners which are all Orthodox Christians.

Sitka / Southeast Deanery

 

V. Rev. Alexie Askoak
Priest-in-Charge
PO Box 94
New Stuyahok, AK 99636
Home: 907-567-3288

Lay Leadership

Ms. Mary Olympic
Contact Person
PO Box 4006
Igiugig, AK 99613
Home: 907-533-3208

Bethel / Kuskokwim Deanery
Rev. Alexander Larson, Rector

Fr. Simeon B. Johnson, Rector

Founded in 1912

Anchorage Deanery
Fr. Victor Nick - General Delivery

Founded 1891

Kenai / Prince William Sound Deanery
V. Rev. Peter Tobias, Priest in Charge

Iliamna Deanery
    
Founded in 1890

Alaska Peninsula Deanery
Founded in 1936

Aleutian Deanery
Mr. & Mrs. Arseny & Julia Dushkin
Contact Person
Home: 907-576-2210
 
c/o Julia and Arseny Dushkin
General Delivery
Nikolski, Alaska 99638

V. Rev. Peter Tobais, Priest in Charge
Founded in 1891

V. Rev. Peter Tobias, Priest in Charge

Lay Contacts
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Selanoff
PO Box 3397
Valdez, AK 99686
Home: 907-835-3697
Office: 907-835-6963
Fax: 907-835-4529

Russian Mission / Yukon Deanery

Anchorage Deanery
Rev. Leonty Johnston, Rector
Founded in 1915

Kuskokwim Deanery

Russian Mission / Yukon Deanery
Rev. Nicholai Isaac, Rector

Schedule of Services
6:00 PM Vespers.
Saturday Evening

9:00 AM Divine Liturgy.
Sunday Morning

6:00 PM Adult Study.
Tuesday Evening

7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal.
Thursday Evening

6:00 PM Akathist to St Herman of Alaska
Thursday Evening

Bristol Bay Deanery
V. Rev. Alexie Askoak, Rector
Founded in 1942
 

Anchorage Deanery

Bethel / Kuskokwim Deanery
Servved by Kuskokwim Deanery Clergy

Iliamna Deanery

Aleutian Deanery
Founded in 1830

Parish Background

The parish and community of St Paul Island celebrated its Bi-Centennial in 1987.  It must be understood that as the largest Aleut community in the world, and as past of the Aleut Nation, we have been Christian for only 200 years.  This has enabled us to have a more unique understanding of Christianity, as well as some very interesting developments as indigenous people in regards to Christianity.

Most of our worship services are done in English, although we use Church Slavonic and Aleut at times.  During Christmas, (we are still on the Old Calendar) we go from house to house using a large star, often referred to as “Starring,” singing the Troparion/Kontakion and other Christmas hymns at each home, after which refreshments are prepared for all participants in each home.

V. Rev. Stephan Heckman

Mailing address:

c/o E Waskey
Box 188
Pitkas Point, AK 99658

Russian Mission / Yukon Deanery
Founded 1925

Kenai / Prince William Sound Deanery
Archpriest Jame Gust, Rector

Kodiak Deanery
Founded in 1805
 

Mailing address:

c/o PO Box 210569
Anchorage, AK 99521

Founded 1784

Kenai / Prince William Sound Deanery
V. Rev. Thomas Andrew, Rector

Iliamna Deanery
V. Rev. David Askoak, Rector

Russian Mission / Yukon Deanery
V. Rev. Stephan Heckman, Rector
Founded in 1955

Alaska Peninsula Deanery