Pilgrimage Marks 35th Anniversary of
Canonization of
Saint Herman of Alaska
By Joan Stroner
 Spanning
three important historic and spiritual sites of Orthodoxy in Alaska,
the cities of Sitka, Anchorage and Kodiak were home to hundreds of
pilgrims who came to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the canonization
of St. Herman, August 2–9 2005. The logistical elements of hosting
such an event were formidable, but thanks to the organizational expertise
of Bishop Nikolai and his staff, plus the efforts of an army of volunteers,
participants were aware only of the once-in-a-lifetime deeply moving
spiritual experience the pilgrimage afforded.
Liturgies were concelebrated by Metropolitan Herman,
Archbishop Leo of Finland, Bishop Nikolai of Sitka, Anchorage and Alaska,
Archbishop Nathanial of Detroit, Bishop Nikon of Boston, Bishop Tikhon
of Philadelphia, Bishop Seraphim of Canada and Bishop Benjamin of Berkeley.
A Finnish delegation joined Archbishop Leo; this included a quartet
which sang the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of Transfiguration in Anchorage
and various troparia for other services. In addition to the hierarchs,
many clergy participated in the services, 37 in Kodiak alone according
to Archimandrite Isidore, Chancellor of the Russian Orthodox Diocese
of Alaska. There were approximately 1,000 pilgrims in Anchorage and
another 600 in Kodiak, over 300 of whom made the trip by boat to Monkís
Lagoon on Spruce Island, Fr. Isidore estimated.
 The
St. Romanos Choir, a Pan-Orthodox group mainly from the
Chicago area, under the auspices of the Society of St. Romanos and
under the direction of Dr. Peter Jermihov, 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. After hearing the choir
at the Annual Pilgrimage at St. Tikhon's Monastery in 2003,
Bishop Nikolai extended an invitation for them to sing at the 35th
anniversary celebration. Dr. Jermihov and his singers gratefully
and enthusiastically accepted His Grace's offer.
 A
number of highlights made this pilgrimage especially significant. First,
the faithful were able to venerate two icons of the Theotokos present
at the Cathedral in Anchorage: the Sitka Mother of God, Wonder-Working
Icon (currently touring Alaska and then the lower 48 this fall) and
the Wonder-Working Icon of the Valaam Mother of God brought to Alaska
from the New Valaam Monastery in Finland by Archbishop Leo. This icon
also traveled to Kodiak and Spruce Island. It has returned to Finland,
but His Eminence brought two replicas as gifts to the Alaskan Orthodox.
Second, the pilgrims were able to venerate the relics of St. Herman.
His monkís hat and his cross and chain were placed on top of
the reliquary which was opened for his feast day. A vestment covers
his body which remains incorrupt.
 The focal point of the pilgrimage was the voyage
to Spruce Island. Early Monday morning, August 8, pilgrims boarded
fishing boats captained by fishermen who gave up a day’s livelihood
in order to ferry the faithful. At a certain point skiffs met the larger
boats and passengers embarked on the small craft which brought them
to shore. A long walk followed up a hill into a breathtaking spruce
forest harboring trees laden with rich coats of moss existing nowhere
else in the world. At the chapel of Ss. Sergius & Herman of Valaam,
the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served. Metropolitan Herman concluded
his homily with the famous quotation from St. Herman: “From this
day forth, from this hour, from this minute, let us love God above
all.” After the service pilgrims were free to draw healing water
from St. Herman’s spring and to take dirt from the site of his
original grave under the chapel. Their physical hunger was also satisfied
by a delectable picnic lunch prepared by the women of Ouzinki and served
on the beach. They then returned to Kodiak for the Hierarchical Vigil.
The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Tuesday morning
was followed by a banquet at the High School Commons where most celebrants
were astounded by the exquisite taste of halibut and salmon caught
only the day before. When questioned regarding the outcome of the pilgrimage,
Bishop Nikolai replied that this was his fifth one, physically larger
and spiritually deeper than the others. “You can feel St. Herman
softening the hearts of the people,” he said. When asked about
the difficulties of dealing with the magnitude of the event, he smiled
philosophically. “If you’re confident that what you’re
doing is right, you have to let go of your anxiety and let God do His
work.” The bishop spoke with unabashed pride of his beloved flock. “It’s
a different world up here,” Vladyka said. He referred to the
sacrificial generosity shown by the dozens of clergy and lay volunteers
who gave cheerfully of their time and talent for “the glory of
God and in honor of St. Herman.” This loving kindness was indeed
obvious to the participants who considered the pilgrimage a God-given
gift and a blessing in their lives. It was evident to all that the
legacy of St. Herman lives in the hearts of the Orthodox of his adopted
homeland, the true Cradle of Orthodoxy in North America. |
