Russian Alaska and a Creole Priest
One struggle I was looking for in the journals of St. Jacob is racism. St. Jacob was half Russian, half Alaskan native. And in much of the world’s history during this colonial era, racism is thoroughly embedded. I did find one reference of such an issue from Governor Chistiakov in Sitka, when St. Jacob, his […]
Yes, Lord — Scriptures, Church, Christ
The holy scriptures—Christ’s Church—Christ himself: how incredibly fortunate we are! First, the scriptures. John Chrysostom says this: Great is the profit of the holy Scriptures, and all sufficient is the aid which comes from them…for the divine words are a treasury of all manner of medicines. Whether it be needful to quench pride, to lull […]
St. Jacob’s Greatest Gifts to the Church
St. Jacob followed in the footsteps of many who came before him, not only the big names like St. Herman, St. Juvenaly, and St. Innocent, but more than that, the faithful, everyday folks who worked for the Russian-American Company and lived a faithful witness among the Alaskan peoples. What we find all over St. Jacob’s […]
St. Tikhon visits Oklahoma
Visitation by His Grace Bishop Tikhon (Bellavin), Bishop of the Aleutians and North America to the Orthodox parish in Hartshorne, Indian Territory (Oklahoma) as related in the Russian Orthodox American Messenger, May 1904 Our Orthodox Visitor: On April 6 (19), Bright Tuesday, Hartshorne had the good fortune to receive His Grace, Vladyka Tikhon. Meeting the […]
The Monk Who Never Judged Anyone and Died Joyfully
Coming up on the Sunday of the Last Judgment, we might feel a stirring of some of those fears we have, deep down, of that Judgment Day. But there is a trick. We actually have a large amount of control over how we are judged. Christ says, Judge not, and you will not be judged. […]