St Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church (11/9/2024)

Saturday, November 9, 2024

We attended the annual Food Festival at St Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church, located in Glen Mills, PA, featuring Eastern European cuisine. The church is under the auspices of the Orthodox Church in America/OCA.

St Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church (founded 1973,
this church built 1993-1995 in the style of the
Alaskan Orthodox churches)

St Herman was a Russian Orthodox monk who was sent as part of a mission to work with the indigenous people in Alaska, arriving in 1794. 

The Russian Orthodox monks actually 
 came from an island monastery in 
Lake Ladoga north of St Petersburg

Since 1741, fur-trading companies used the locals to hunt sea otters, and many had intermarried and some had converted to Russian Orthodoxy. The monks became the defenders of the native population on Kodiak Island, from the harsh demands of the fur trading companies. Herman was one of three from the original mission to become saints, and he was the first saint of the Americas.

Saints Innocent, Juvenaly and Herman
were able to convert members of
several indigenous groups in Alaska

The food festival included pierogies, stuffed cabbage,
beef stroganoff, blini, and more, as well as a
table laden with gourmet desserts

We enjoyed the company of Carole and Mel.

Entertainment provided by 
Valentina Kvasova (folk singer) and
Elena Stenkina (accordionist) (KSS)

Exploring the church:

The iconostasis/icon screen in the sanctuary with the
central Holy Doors through which only the clergy may pass

Icons lined the walls of the church,
many containing relics; these are
Saints Sergius and Herman of Valaam

Icon with relics of St Herman of Alaska

Mural of St Herman of Alaska, with
perhaps a bear?

The rightmost icon on the iconostasis is
the church patron, St Herman of Alaska

The Holy Doors have portraits of the four
Evangelists, and are flanked by the
Most Holy Theotokos/Mary and
Christ Pantocrator

The leftmost icon is St Innocent  of Alaska

St Herman's recently received a
700-year old icon (framed by the garland)

A bejeweled icon