The 45th annual Saint Herman Pilgrimage to Kodiak and Spruce Island, AK opened on Friday evening, August 7, 2015 with the singing of the Akathistos Hymn in honor of North America’s first saint at Holy Resurrection Cathedral. Pilgrims filled the cathedral as His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon; His Grace, Bishop David; and His Grace, Bishop Daniel concelebrated with local and visiting clergy. At the conclusion of the service, the hierarchs, clergy and faithful venerated the relics of Saint Herman, which are enshrined in the cathedral.
During the weeks before the pilgrimage, numerous repairs were made to the cathedral, which endured major damage at the hands of a lone-wolf vandal on June 10. [See related story.] At the conclusion of Friday evening’s services, a new processional cross and fans were presented to the cathedral, a gift from the faithful of Saint Tikhon of Moscow Church, Anchorage, AK.
Tours of the precious Archives housed at Saint Herman’s Orthodox Theological Seminary rounded out the first day of the pilgrimage. The archival holdings are invaluable as a source of information concerning the missionary efforts that began with the arrival of Saint Herman and his seven companion missionaries in 1794. Among the recent on-line postings made possible by Archivist Daria Safranova-Simeonoff is an intriguing account of a visit to Spruce Island in the late 1890s by missionary priest Hieromonk Anatolli [Kamenskii], who later became Bishop of Tomsk and Altai. The account may be viewed in PDF format.
On Saturday, August 8, Metropolitan Tikhon and Bishops David and Daniel will lead pilgrims as they board boats bound for Spruce Island, where Saint Herman spent much of his life. They will celebrate the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy at Saints Sergius and Herman Chapel—the original burial site of Saint Herman—and enjoy a picnic lunch amidst the island’s natural beauty.
