Saint Romanos Choir Completes Alaskan Pilgrimage

By Joan Stroner

A group of 24 pilgrims, 17 of whom were part of the St. Romanos Choir, a mainly Chicago area Pan-Orthodox group of singers, under the auspices of the Society of St. Romanos and under the direction of Dr. Peter Jermihov, left O’Hare Airport for Anchorage Friday, August 5, 2005 for the 35th anniversary celebration of the canonization of St. Herman of Alaska. There they joined hundreds of other pilgrims to participate in the momentous events of the pilgrimage. They sang the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy at St. Innocent Cathedral in Anchorage, the Divine Liturgy at Ss. Sergius & Herman of Valaam Chapel on Spruce Island, and the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of St. Herman at Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Kodiak. Invited by Bishop Nikolai after he heard them sing at the Annual Pilgrimage to St. Tikhon’s Monastery in 2003, choir members enjoyed special opportunities as guests of the Russian Orthodox Diocese of Alaska.

Chief among these was the heartwarming hospitality shown by His Grace and his staff, as well as the many clergy and lay volunteers who carted luggage, saw to hotel accommodations, taxied the group to all the services, and cooked and served memorably delicious meals. Above all, the cheery generosity and fellowship of The Alaskan Orthodox was a blessing and comfort to the weary travelers, as well as a manifestation of the living spirit of St. Herman.

On Saturday, Feast of Transfiguration, choir members had an opportunity to sightsee on their own or participate in a tour to the Eklutna Cemetery where the graves are covered with spirit houses, a unique expression of how the Orthodox Faith became a fulfillment of the spiritual ancestry of the Alaskan natives. The graves are first covered with a blanket reminiscent of the way one would tuck in a loved one going to sleep. After a period of time a house is built over the grave which is designed to capture the personality of the one who has fallen asleep in the Lord. This effort makes each “house” unique, arrayed in the person’s favorite colors and containing items appropriate to the deceased, as well as religious symbols, especially the Orthodox cross.

The tour included a trip to the newly opened Russian Orthodox Museum in downtown Anchorage. This museum features artifacts dating from eighteenth century Russian America to the present day. Among the objects on display are recently restored processional banners (possibly dating to 1794), rare icons believed to have been written in the Sitka School of Iconography (19th century), personal items used by St. Innocent and objects created by native artisans. A museum café and gift shop are also available to the eager tourist.

On Sunday, August 7, the St. Romanos Choir flew to Kodiak. Upon arrival they were greeted by the ubiquitous boys from St. Innocent’s Academy, a school which is a ministry under the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church. These young men were carrying luggage, acting as guides on the school bus (a charming yet indestructible vehicle adorned with Orthodox symbols), and later manning the skiffs for the trip to Spruce Island and waiting tables at the banquet, as well as participating in all the liturgical services. Choir members were transported to their accommodations at St. Herman Theological Seminary which served as home during the remaining days of the pilgrimage. During this time, the choir was treated to a tour of St. Innocent’s facilities. Besides academics, there is a strong emphasis on work (physical labor) and prayer, rather resembling a monastic regimen. The young men are in the process of building an addition to the structure which will provide more dorm space. They also work at various construction-type jobs in the Kodiak area. Fr. Paisius De Lucia serves as the director of the academy and the spiritual mentor to its students.

The social highlight of the Alaskan adventure was the Tuesday evening concert at Monk’s Rock coffeehouse and bookstore in “downtown” Kodiak. The place itself is a cozy den wherein to enjoy lattes and ice cream specialties while browsing through the many books available. Icons, incense, crosses, even samovars are available for purchase as well as handmade prayer ropes and wildflower note cards made by the nuns (famous for their kayaking ventures in the manner of St. Herman) of nearby St. Nilus Island. The concert began when Fr. Paisius, an accomplished musician and emcee extraordinaire, led St. Innocent’s students and staff through the evening’s program. This exuberant performance consisted of Celtic music, Irish sea chanteys, Alaskan native music and dances, some specialty numbers including a rendition of “Don’t Fence Me In” ala the Andrew Sisters, and even a classical quartet. For the latter, Bishop Benjamin delivered an impromptu performance on violin to the delight of the audience.

After the official entertainment ended, the block party began in the parking lot. This time the musicians accompanied the dancing – mostly different types of folk dances, the steps being taught on the spot by Matushka De Lucia. Then everyone joined in the singing, a spontaneous potpourri of folk music in different languages. Finally, the choristers settled on their favorite liturgical pieces, and directed by Dr. Irina Jermihov, rendered one after another in English and Slavonic, not wanting the evening to end. Singing hymns to God in the waning twilight facing the glorious, eternal mountains, the revelers were overwhelmed by the feeling that St. Herman’s legacy was alive and well in this place and in its inhabitants; and that his spirit infused the gathering in a warm and joyous way. Sometime after midnight, Fr. Paisius declared: “This is the best block party we’ve ever had!”

Before departing Kodiak on Wednesday, choir members were the guests of seminary dean, Archpriest Chad Hatfield and Matushka Thecla for brunch in the seminary dining room. Father thanked the group for its hard work and beautiful singing, and for making sacrifices in order to be a part of the pilgrimage. Speaking for the St. Romanos Choir, Dr. Jermihov insisted that the singers did not consider the trip to be a sacrifice. Rather they saw the experience “as a rare privilege and a very special blessing,” he said.

Photo Index | Pilgrimage Marks 35th Anniversary

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