St. Herman Of Alaska

St. Herman was part of the group of nine missionaries who first set foot on the North American continent in 1793. This group came from Valaam, Russia near the Finnish border and endured many hardships in planting the Cross here in America. Of that first group, some died from the hardship, some were martyred, and some returned. In the end only the simple monk Herman remained to carry on the work. He settled on Spruce Island and worked among the Native Americans who to this day remain Orthodox. Blessed Fr. Herman is the antithesis of what America stands for today.

In fact, he would be considered a failure by modern standards. He had no formal education and very little human skills. He made no name for himself while he was here. He was not in the public eye. He had no power, owned no property and in fact had very few possessions. He died in obscurity among an outcast people as a simple monk. Yet he is venerated in thousands of churches by millions of people with countless icons made in his honor.

St. Herman represents the exact opposite of what it means to be an American. He did not seek power, possessions, profits or pleasures. We measure people by the wealth they possess, the skills they exploit and the height they reach in society. Yet St. Herman fled from all of these, concentrating rather on salvation. He taught the people the Gospel, attended to their needs, defended them against the cruelty of the traders, and pled their cause before the Imperial throne. He was even beaten and persecuted by his own people for defending the natives. How totally opposite of what America considers glorious!

Yet Herman knew before his death that his actions would be a light for the future Church in America. He foretold of his own glorification and that millions of immigrants would come to this continent. His feast now stands as an important point in the Nativity celebration for all Orthodox in North America. From such humble origins stands our Church today. We pray that St. Herman hears our prayers!

"O Blessed Father Herman of Alaska, North Star of Christ's Holy Church! The light of your holy life and great deeds guides those who follow the Orthodox way. Together we lift high the Holy Cross, you planted firmly in America. Let all behold and glorify Jesus Christ, singing His Holy Resurrection." -Troparion to St. Herman of Alaska