Saint Herman of Alaska

Our venerable father Herman of Alaska (1756 - December 13, 1837) was an 18th century missionary to Alaska. In 1970, became the first saint to be glorified by the Orthodox Church in America, concurrent with parallel services in another location by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. St. Herman is remembered by the Church on August 9 and December 13

Life

Herman of Alaska was a Russian Orthodox monk from Valaam Monastery in Russia who traveled with eight other monks in 1793 to bring the Gospel to the native Aleuts and Eskimos in the Aleutian Islands. As part of the Russian colonization of the Americas, Russians had been exploring and trading there since at least 1740. Thus, he marks the first arrival of Orthodox Christian missionaries in North America. He built a school for the Aleutians, and he often defended them from the injustices and exploitation of the Russian traders. He was known to them as Apa which means "Grandfather." He lived most of his life as the sole resident of Spruce Island, a tiny wooded island near Kodiak Island.
St. Herman's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Kodiak, Alaska) is named in his honor. A portion of his relics are enshrined at the St. Ignatius Chapel at the Antiochian Village, where he is regarded as one of their patron saints.

Hymns

Troparion (Tone 7)

Joyful North Star of the Church of Christ,

Guiding all people to the Heavenly Kingdom;

Teacher and apostle of the True Faith;

Intercessor and defender of the oppressed;

Adornment of the Orthodox Church in America:

Blessed Father Herman of Alaska,

Pray to our Lord Jesus Christ

For the salvation of our souls!

Troparion (Tone 4)

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.

Kontakion (Tone 3)

The eternal light of Christ our Savior

guided you, blessed Father Herman,

on your evangelical journey to America

to proclaim the Gospel of peace.

Now you stand before the throne of glory;

intercede for your land and its people:

Peace for the world and salvation for our souls!