The Orthodox Vision

Winter 1998

1998 Diocesan Assembly

The Orthodox Vision

In This Issue
Volume 3, Number 3

The Official Publication of the

Diocese of the West of the Letter from His Grace Bishop TIKHON 1
Orthodox Church in America

Diocese of the West Events From Days Long Gone By 2

650 Micheltorena Street A Look at the Early History of Our Diocese
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Phone: 1-800-323-6921
Holy Transfiguration Celebrates Her First
Publisher
His Grace Bishop TIKHON 100 Years 4
Bishop of San Francisco and
the Diocese of the West
The Diocese’s Newest Monastery 5
Address all stories and St. John of San Francisco at Point Reyes
editorial comments to:
Editor-in-Chief
Priest Eric G. Tosi Shoots From the Vine 6
14 Shadow Place Diocese Has Eight Seminarians This Year
Billings, MT 59102
Phone and Fax: (406)254-1194
Email: marsaba@aol.com 1998 Diocesan Assembly Held in Portland 7
Address all circulation
and advertising to: Youth Happenings in the Diocese 8
Office of the Chancellor
5400 Annie Oakley Drive Special Spread on Our Children
Las Vegas, NV 89120
Phone: (702)898-4800
Fax: (702)898-0303 Q&A: Pews in the Church? 10
The Orthodox Vision is published three times
a year by the Diocese of the West. It is free to Pueblo Mourns Loss of Matushka 11
all parish members and outreach within the
Diocese. Subscriptions outside the Diocese
is available for $10 per year in the United
States and $15 per year in Canada. From The Fathers Backpage
Arch. Sebastian (Dabovich) on St. Innocent
The articles contained herein do not neces-
sarily reflect the views or policies of the Dio-
cese or the editors. The advertisements con-
tained herein are not necessarily endorsed
by the Diocese or Editorial Staff.

From His Grace Bishop TIKHON
“Trinities”
In speaking of “the Holy and Consubstantial and Life-Cre-
ating and Undivided Trinity,” we name, according to our
spiritual and intellectual understanding, One Almighty God
the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, One Lord, Jesus
Christ, and One Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life. The
sublimity of both the concept and the understanding and of
the teaching are a given in our life in the One, Holy, Catholic
and Apostolic Church. Besides this Sublime and Ineffable
Trinity, there are some other more mundane, so to speak,
“trinities,” that exists in our life in Christ in the Church. At
our recent wonderful Diocesan Assembly, characterized else-
where in this issue of the “Vision,” I had the opportunity to
address a couple of these “trinities” before the assembled
delegates. They are an agenda: an agenda for our diocese,
our parishes, and an agenda for every soul in the diocese. I
want to re-address them now, briefly, so that the agenda is
not lost, and to insure that the message is not forgotten.
Our OCA Statute clearly tasks every diocesan assembly,
not just ours, not just one assembly, with this trinity of pur-
poses: One – strengthen Orthodox faith and piety; Two –
strengthen religious education; and Three – strengthen chari-
ties. I ask all members of the Diocese to consider, as stew-
ards of the Grace that we all receive from the Holy Trinity, to
seek together to build up these three areas of common en-
deavor throughout the diocese, and to insure that the elected
delegates for the assembly next year will be fully prepared
to take actions so that our diocese can consciously establish
and realize specific goals in those three areas.
The other “trinity” is well known, it is the trinity of Christian
endeavor that Our Savior has taught by His Own words and
example in His Holy Gospel: prayer, fasting and giving alms.
We must, each of us, focus on this trinity. This is our re-
sponsibility to God, to our neighbor and to ourselves. The
greatest danger to our prayer life nowadays is that we tend
to, or are tempted to, objectify our prayer life, rather than
to pray. We spend so much time “addressing” this or that
area in need of change or restoration, renewal or even re-
form, that we forget to do that which we are objectifying,
restoring, renewing, reforming. The greatest danger facing
us in the area of fasting is denial: we deny that fasting in-
volves fasting! The greatest danger in the third area, alms
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The Orthodox Vision
giving, is the urge to be
comfortable. The es-
sence of fasting is eating
nothing or, at least, less
at specified times and for
specified periods: be-
yond that, we restrict the
kinds of food that we eat, but this is not of the essence of
fasting. When we fast we must eat less. That is the kind of
fasting of which our Savior and His beloved ones that sought
to resemble Him spoke, that is the kind of fasting they did.
It is commonplace of our denial of fasting, that we cite vari-
ous Fathers, Saints that urge us to fast spiritually, and even
while the Saints and Fathers never said such a horrible thing,
we continue that, therefore, it is not important or even salvific
that we address how much we eat and what we eat! Broth-
ers and Sisters! Do you want to make your fast spiritual?
Feed your spirit by giving to the poor, the needy, and the
hungry from the means you have accumulated by eating less
and by eating nothing. Everyone can do that, both the rich
and those of little means. You may be extremely short of
cash. Your “cash flow” may have dried up entirely, or gone
into reverse. Nevertheless you are eating, and this eating
costs money. If you drink one less cup of coffee you have
saved probably from thirty-five cents to one dollar (more if
you are a Starbucks habitue!) Put that money in the collec-
tion plate. Give it to that homeless person instead of saying,
“I have barely enough for myself.” What about those suffer-
ing from vast and terrible calamities, like the people of
Carpathian Russia during the recent flooding, like the people
of Russia, where lawlessness and disorder and hunger reign
everywhere but in certain urban enclaves? It is mothers and
children that bear the brunt of all these calamities. Pray and
fast and you will have the means for alms for them, and you
will earn a rich reward.
Are there difficulties in your life? Follow this last “little trin-
ity,” prayer, fasting and alms giving, and your difficulties will
be consumed by the Love originating in the Holy and Con-
substantial and Life-Creating Trinity.
@ TIKHON
Bishop of San Francisco and the West
The Orthodox Vision

Interior of the San Francisco Cathedral at the turn of the century

Events of Days Long Gone

By Protopresbyter Alexander Kukulevsky
Note by Nicholas A. Cooke – My father, named above, a graduate of the Kiev Theological Seminary, first came to America in 1898, a
hundred years ago, sent here by the Holy Synod of Russia as a missionary lay reader and choir director. He returned to Russia in1905,
married, was ordained, and then served in various parishes in America until he retired in 1957. His last parish being Holy Virgin
Cathedral in Los Angeles (1947-57).

In Russia he knew the works of many American authors, especially those who told the tales about the West. He was one of the first two
instructors at the Theological Seminary in Minneapolis when it was founded in 1905 and later was professor of Pastoral Theology at
St. Vladimir’s Seminary. In 1917 he was selected by the clergy of the American Church to represent them at the All Russian Council in
Moscow which elected Archbishop Tikhon to the be Patriarch, the first since Peter the Great abolished the office in 1721.

Written decades later, this is an account of his early trip to California, translated from his memoirs in Russian. Two of the clergy
mentioned were later martyred and canonized.
CALIFORNIA – a land of incomparable climate, high moun-
tains, deep canyons, turbulent mountain streams, on the
shores of which argonauts pan gold-bearing sand and pour
handfuls of gold grain or nuggets into bags; a land on which
the first conquistadors placed their indelible stamp of ro-
manticism – old churches with their special facades, (archi-
tecture closely resembling our old seminary church in Kiev
in the Podol region), proud hidalgos in their colorful cos-
tumes, dark-eyed senoritas in black mantillas, indefatigable
vaqueros on their multi-colored ponies; the wide so-called
Pacific, carrying waters to the state’s edge – this fairy land
which had from me a special interest from the days of my
childhood, and for which I had a passionate urge to look
upon, if only with one eye. Bret Harte’s heroes stood be-
fore me as though alive, beckoning to me to come to them. I
had resolved absolutely to go there one day.
It is said that if a man wants something intensely enough, it
will come to him in the end. Having learned accidentally that
my schoolmate Theodore Pashkovsky, had left for the Ameri-
can mission and now lived in San Francisco, I wrote to him
at once, asking for his help in getting me assigned to America.
He kindly consented, gave me the necessary advice, and
thanks to his effort I received an appointment from the Holy
Synod for service in America.
A week hadn’t passed before I was in St. Petersburg, receiving
travel expenses and a passport from the ministry of Foreign Affairs,
in which the minister, Count Lamsdorf, on behalf of the Emperor of
All Russia, advised that the bearer is bound for service in Galveston,
Texas, and “to that end we request that all Exalted Domains and any
person who might become involved….free passage and offer all
courtesies to the person mentioned.”

2
 The Orthodox Vision
At the time, America was a land completely unknown to the sights on the
Russians. My friends were amazed at my bravery – to go to way. A stop in
a land where Indians with tomahawks in hand prowled the Colorado gave
land. I remember my uncle, who taught at the Second Semi- us a look at
nary in Kiev seriously advising me to arm myself with a re- Pike’s Peak,
volver “just in case”, since anything can happen in Texas. and even gave
Yet, they envied my fortune. me an opportu-
nity to climb to
I won’t speak of the trip, the stay in Germany, and the voy- the top (unsuc-
age across the Atlantic on a German ship, and the arrival in cessfully as it
New York. I had bought a Bedaeker Travel book in Bremen, rose 15,000
and through it was able to find my way to the Russian Church feet.) Crossing
on Second Street. The Archpriest Alexander Hotovitsky over the
and his dear Matushka M.V. greeted me cordially, as one’s 10,000-foot
own family. All of our old missionaries remember this man, Grant Pass
an ardent missionary, an excellent sermonizer, and a brilliant made a stunning
writer; to this day he has left our Church a deep impression impression on
of his work, and we lost much when he had to leave America. me, not having
Later, the Soviet government sent him to the Solovetsky seen anything Protopresbyter Alexander Kukulevsky.
Labor Camps for teaching religion to children. The soul- higher than the St. Vladimir Hills in Kiev. At the lower el-
less Soviet machine ground him away as it had been done to evations, the Autumn days were warm and clear – several
so many thousands of our best people. May the Lord God hours later a frightful cold, with snow storms and drifts higher
remember in His Kingdom the Servant of God the Archpriest than the railroad coaches….
Alexander and the Servant of God Mary Hotovitsky.
We rode quickly through the grim mountains, then through
At the time of my arrival in New York, Bishop TIKHON the barren area of the foothills, with rare stops at rail sta-
(later Patriarch of All Russia) was in California. I was of- tions, where groups of wild-looking people milled around.
fered the post of Choir Director in New York, but Texas And then we approached the slopes of the western moun-
seemed more attractive, and I left for my appointed destina- tains – the Sierra Nevada. As much as the Rockies were
tion by ship, and in six days was in Galveston. morose and sullen, the Sierra slopes were tender, pleasant
and soft.
Southern Texas, with its semi-tropical climate and Galveston
with its population, (more than one half black), and the par- Here the beauty began – wonderful fir forests, noisy streams
ish itself (I was the only Russian there; half of the parishio- below….one looks to see whether there are any “forty-
ners were Greeks and Serbs – the priest was a Syrian); all niners” with their pans for washing gold from the sands. After
this evoked a great Sacramento, the area became less interesting. In Oakland
interest in me, but it one could sense the mighty breath of the Pacific. Then the
was not California. I trip across the ferry, Market Street, a streetcar, and finally,
still had to go through the Russian Cathedral on Powell Street.
three stages: Texas,
Connecticut, and Bishop TIKHON was in the East, visiting parishes; all the Cathedral
Pennsylvania. clergy remaining: Fr. Theodore Pashkovsky, Fr. Peter Popov, and
Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich). The first two, having families,
In the Fall of 1903, I lived in private homes, but Fr. Dabovich, Deacon Elias, the Bishop’s
finally directed my brother, and Yasha Polozov, the Bishop’s monk-attendant, and an
steps towards the old cook lived in the Cathedral house. There was room for me as
West. The train rode well. The Choir Director, N.F. Greevsky, and the Psalter Stepanov
slowly, with many also lived in private quarters.
stopovers in order to
miss none of the Cont. on p. 12

3
The Orthodox Vision

HOLY TRANSFIGURATION CELEBRATES

100TH BIRTHDAY
by Anthony Dyl
Holy Transfiguration of Christ Orthodox Cathedral celebrated the various Orthodox
one hundred years of ministry in the Rocky Mountains on jurisdictions of North
the weekend of October 9 through 11th with symposia, ser- America. “The
vices and a grand banquet. Church by its very na-
ture is One. From
On Friday, October 9th, Holy Transfiguration with Regis beneath the veil of
University sponsored a symposium on The Future of Ortho- pan-Orthodoxy the
doxy in the Year 2000 and Beyond, in Denver, Colorado. lack of unity must be
The symposium, attended by approximately 80 participants, exposed. As Ortho-
featured contributions from Bishop TIKHON, as well as dox Christians we
our Diocese’ own Archimandrite Nicholas Soriach, Dioc- must acknowledge,
esan Chancellor, Archpriest Joseph Hirsch, the Rector of we must confess, that
Holy Transfiguration, and a panel of Orthodox priests and our Church is divided.
faithful from several jurisdictions. Only when we con-
fess the sin of division
On Saturday, a special Hierarchical Liturgy was served at The Denver Cathedral 100 Years Ago will we also discover
Denver’s Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral in com- that there is a lack of vision for the Church in America...”
memoration of one hundred years of Orthodoxy in the Rocky
Mountains. The Liturgy, presided over by Metropolitan “The vision for the Church in America must be one of unity.
Theodosius and Bishop Tikhon, was concelebrated by 17 For without unity our words and deeds will not be convinc-
clergy representing all the canonical jurisdictions of the Rocky
ing, will not be compelling. Only when there is unity which
Mountain region. Approximately one hundred faithful at- rooted in the gospel will the Orthodox presence engage the
tended this joyous celebration. culture. Only when there is unity based on purifying truth
and sacrificial love will pan-Orthodoxy (the stage of devel-
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan opment we are in today) be transformed into the manifesta-
Theodosius addressed the assembled pan-Orthodox faith- tion of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church which
ful. Recalling that Holy Transfiguration is the Mother Church is given to the world for the life of the world and its salva-
for all the Orthodox parishes in the Rocky Mountain region, tion.”
his Beatitude spoke on the pressing need for unification of
Saturday night saw a Hierarchical Vigil concelebrated by
Metropolitan Theodosius and Bishop Tikhon at Holy Trans-
figuration. The crowning moment of the weekend celebra-
tion was the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning at Holy Trans-
figuration, where the mysteries were celebrated in the hun-
dred year old Church with approximately 275 of the faithful
in attendance. Services were followed by a banquet in the
Church Hall, and the blessing by Metropolitan Theodosius
of the new ten foot Troitsa, or cross, erected at the rear of
the Church in honor of the Parish Centennial.

Have a Parish Event or Celebration?

Let The Orthodox Vision know!

The Gathered Faithful of Holy Transfiguration Let the whole Diocese celebrate!

4

The Diocese’s Newest Monastery: St John of San
Francisco at the St. Eugene Hermitage
by Hieromonk Jonah (Paffhausen)
Greetings from the Holy Monastery of St. John at St. Eugene’s Hermitage.
For those of you familiar with St. Eugene’s, you know what a jewel it is in the
Diocesan crown. For those of you unfamiliar with the Hermitage, we hope
to acquaint you with this special community. There have been significant
changes at St. Eugene’s.
St. Eugene’s Hermitage was founded in 1951 by the Priestmonk Dimitry
(Egoroff), on property which had been donated to the Diocese by the
Lewry family. Eugene Lewry was a young soldier from San Francisco, who
perished in the Second World War. His mother donated the 17 acres on the
Point Reyes peninsula to the Church in his memory. Hence, the Hermitage
was named after his patron saint, St. Eugene, a Persian martyr.
Father Dimitry had come to America from Russia, via France. He was a
Confessor, and had suffered greatly for the Orthodox Faith. He had been
imprisoned in Solovki, the deathcamp for the clergy, from whence he es-
caped to Finland and its Valaam Monastery. Following the desolation of
Valaam in the Russo-Finnish war of 1939, Fr. Dimitry made his way to Paris.
There he finished his theological education at St. Serge, and was tonsured
a monk and ordained a priest. He came to California and was at first as-
signed to Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco, where he was joined by
his old friend from Valaam, Priestmonk Mark (Schavikin), who came in
hopes of starting a monastery together. Fr. Mark was, however, given
another assignment. Fr. Dimitry established a hermitage here, had some
small buildings built, and was joined by a number of people over the next
fifteen years, none of whom stayed for long. Fr. Dimitry supported himself
and the monastery by serving parishes, some far away. Eventually, he was
assigned full time to a parish, which ended his fifteen or so years here.
Chapel at St. Eugene’s
During the interim period, there were a number of attempts to start a monas-
tic community at St. Eugene’s, none of which met with any long-lasting
success. There were caretakers, but the buildings became rundown. They
were rather ramshackle when they were built to begin with, with no founda-
tions and at best amateur wiring and plumbing.
In the 1983, Abbess Barbara and her sisterhood came to St. Eugene’s
having been expelled from the Assumption Monastery in Calistoga. They
lived here for thirteen years, struggling with the cold, damp climate, and
with unheated tumbledown quarters. They persevered here despite age,
5
The Orthodox Vision
illness, very poor health and great poverty. They were joined by several
sisters over the years, including Mother Barbara, who had been trained as
an iconographer in Russia after completing St. Vladimir’s Seminary.
Brotherhood of St. John of San Francisco and Shanghai
With much love and labor, a plan was made and money collected to begin
to build adequate quarters for the monastery and retreat house, beginning
with a chapel. In 1988, a beautiful chapel dedicated to St. Sergius of Radonezh,
the great founder of Russian monasticism in the north, was consecrated.
The chapel is a white jewel with a blue dome, surrounded by tall trees. The
rest of the project, however, was not pursued.
The Monastic Brotherhood of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco was
established by His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, in November, 1996. The sis-
ters, due to health and age, relocated to the Skete of Our Lady of Kazan, also
founded by Father Dimitry, in Santa Rosa, where they can live comfortably
and be taken care of appropriately. The brotherhood, Priestmonk Jonah
and Br. Vladimir, moved into the Hermitage on October 31st, 1996, and
began the work of a new men’s monastery, and the restoration of the
buildings.
The Hermitage quarters was in very poor condition, the buildings off level,
the electricity messed up, the walls and floors rotten and termite ridden, and
the plumbing in major need of repair. The only work space is a rusted out
shipping container, which had been dragged onto the property to house
the candle operation. The whole place was completely overgrown and the
gardens and fruit trees which had once been vigorous and fruitful had
disappeared into the underbrush. As with Fr. Dimitry, the main income for
the support of the community came from serving as priest for mission
parishes. The candle business was revived for a time with the old equip-
ment, but was not profitable.
After six months of work, and some kind assistance from some benefactors,
the property began to become more habitable. However, Br. Vladimir de-
cided to return to his spiritual father at St. Antony’s Greek Orthodox Mon-
astery in Florence, Arizona. Things looked bleak for a while, Fr. Jonah not
being the hermit type. But, beginning in June of last year, young novices
began coming to the hermitage, first Mark, then Andrew, then Daniel. In
Cont. on p. 11
The Orthodox Vision

Shoots from the Vine:

Diocese has Ten Students Studying at Seminaries this year
By Priest Eric G. Tosi
Asignofmaturityin
the Church is the
growth of voca-
tions. This year our
Diocese has ten
Seminarians study-
ing at the two Semi-
naries. Though the
studentscomefrom
Diocesan Students at St. Tikhon’s varied back-
grounds, they all have a similar goal: to serve Christ’s Church. It is
not easy for our students. They have to leave everything and move
themselves (and in some cases their families) across the country to
anunfamiliarplace,trustingfullyinGod’smercy. Moneyistight,their
time is tighter as they try to balance their studies, their Seminary
duties, chapel, etc….and of course still be, in some cases, a husband
and father. As one Seminary stated, “It is difficult….but possible.”
Six of the Seminarians are studying at St. Tikhon’s Seminary in South
Canaan, PA. Valerii Boulnikov is a second year student in the Mas-
ters of Divinity program. He came to St. Tikhon’s from Holy Virgin
Mary Cathedral in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
Hewas from the Ukraine and will be ordained to the Deaconate
soon. Another second year student is Stanley Brittain who comes
from St. Anne’s Mission in Albany, OR. Stanley has found that the
hardship of Seminary studies are far “outweighed by the spiritual
benefits.” Richard Armstrong is the other second year student at St.
Tikhon’s. He arrived there this year with his wife and four children
after completing other studies. He came to Orthodoxy through St.
John of Damascus Church in Poway, CA.
St. Tikhon’s also has three new students form the Diocese this year.
Paul Hamadi is a first year student who came from Holy Trinity in
Tacoma, WA. He actually worked in Montana for a number of
years with the
U.S. Forestry Ser-
vice. The other
two students are in
a pre-formation
program for col-
lege students.
Matthew O’Brien
whose father re-
cently graduated
for St. Tikhon’s Diocesan Students at Saint Vladimir’s
and was assigned as the second Priest in Las Vegas, decided to stay
at St. Tikhon’s and continue his studies. Michael Tarris, son of
Archpriest Eugene Tarris who is rector in Littleton, CO is also in the
pre-formation program.

St. Vladimir’s Seminary in Crestwood, New York has four stu-

dents from the Diocese. Jeff Guadreau, who was on the 1998
Octet, is a second year student who comes from St. Nicholas in
Billings, MT. Jeff is thankful for the experience to learn about the
Church but more importantly “about prayer, patience, humility and
sacrifice.” A new student at St. Vladimir’s is John Robinson also
came to Seminary from St. Nicholas in Billings, MT. John was a
former Lutheran pastor who recently was chrismated into the Church
with his wife and five children. John Ramos is a second year student
whocametotheChurchthroughProtectionoftheHolyVirginChurch
in Santa Rosa with his wife and two children. John said that Semi-
nary has been an “eye-opening experience.” The final student is also
from Santa Rosa, John Beal who is in his first year of studies.

This diverse group of students have taken a huge step in their life. In
their years of studies they will experience many hardships as they
grow in Christ and find their vocation in the Church. But as one
student put it, “There is so much joy here. It must be of God.”

6
 The Orthodox Vision

Diocese Gathers For 1998 Annual Assembly

Once again, the clergy and laity from around the Diocese The Assembly continued with reports from the Deaneries
gathered for the Annual Assembly. This year the Assembly and Diocesan institutions. Stewardship was pleased to re-
was held over three days in September at the Menucha Re- port that $8000 was raised for Diocesan programs. There
treat Center outside of Portland, Oregon. Over 83 people
were in attendance for the three sessions including His Grace
Bishop TIKHON and Archimandrite Nikolai (Soraich).
Also in attendance was Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick,
Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America represent-
ing His Beatitude Metropolitan THEODOSIUS.

His Grace’s opening address focused on the many threats

that the Church faces today. He believes that the only way
to combat these threats is by putting our full trust in Christ
and following His example by prayer, fasting and the giving
of alms. His Grace also reviewed the health of the Diocese
over the last year including ordinations, vocations, projects were also positive reports from such departments as the
and the assignment of new priests. Diocesan Outreach to Refugees, the Communications De-
partment and the Mission Board.
Archimandrite Nikolai’s address also focused on the health
of the Diocese. He has been able to visit many of the par- The final sessions of the Assembly were for meeting with the
ishes and was pleased at the growth and vitality that he found. clergy, the election of new officers and the approval of the 1999
He also highlighted the new plans for the Russian Women’s budget. John Della Monica and Mary Caetta were elected as
Home of Mercy in San Francisco as well as the compara- Lay members of the Diocesan Council, Archpriest Basil Rhodes,
tive strength of monasticism. Following Archimandrite Igumen Benjamin were elected as clergy representatives.
Nikolai’s address, the Diocesan Treasurer spoke about the Archpriest Joseph Hirsch and Katherine Vitko were elected to
relative health of the finances in the Diocese and how well the Metropolitan Council. Archpriest Michael Regan and
the Diocesan Percentage Assessment system seems to be Johann Morse were elected as auditors. The proposed budget
working. of $189,310 was unanimously approved. There was a 2%
increase in Diocese supported salaries and expected appeal
income was increased to $19,000.

The Assembly sessions were completed with a new addition

by His Grace called “Current Affairs” in which a freer discus-
sion could be held. His Grace stated that we need to “pass
measures to strengthen the Orthodox Faith and piety, religious
education and charities of the Diocese.” Thus issues such as
educational material, prayer life and charitable works were dis-
cussed.

Also highlighted at the Assembly was the works of the Ortho-

Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick was able to impart to the Dio-
cese some national issues for the Orthodox Church in America in-
cluding the question of continued participation in the World Council
of Churches and our relationship to some “non-canonical” Churches.
One of the important issues will be the renewed meeting of SCOBA
(Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America). He also
remarkedonthenewclergyguidelinesandtheupcomingAll-Ameri-
can Council next summer in Pittsburgh.
dox Churches in the Portland area. A presentation by Raphael
House, a women’s shelter supported by Holy Annunciation
was given by Dn. Mark Story and other staff members. There
was also a chance to visit the bookstore operated by Holy
Apostle’s. Vigil was held on Thursday evening at Annunciation
followed by a dinner hosted by the parish. A Hierarchical Di-
vine Liturgy was held the next day at the newly consecrated
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church followed by a luncheon.

7
The Orthodox Vision

A Reflection on Youth
and the Church
by Priest Anthony Karbo

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be trans-

formed by the renewing of your mind....” Romans 12:2

Each week prior to services, Johnny was faithfully dropped

off by his parents for Church School. Forty-five minutes
later, Johnny would be stealthily picked-up. Johnny’s par-
ents eagerly entrusted that their “church” would train him
in “religion”, teach him the Bible, morality, faith.... In
class Johnny learned the Ten Commandments, the Ser-
mon on the Mount, the lives of the Saints, the Feasts of
the Church, what is prayer, the meaning of fasting, the
need to give alms, etc. The Sundays when Johnny was in
Church for the Liturgy (i.e. when it wasn’t baseball sea-
son, a fishing trip, ski vacation, football game, work around
the house) he listened attentively to the priest’s sermons
Project Mexico Teaches on living the Christian life.
Teens to Serve Others When Johnny was six years old his mother was caught
speeding. She made him lie in the back seat with his eyes
Over 2000 Orthodox teens and adults from around the coun- closed. “I’m sorry officer, I wasn’t paying attention,”
try have already experienced an unforgettable time on a mis- she said, “My son’s ill and I am taking him to the hospi-
sion trip to Mexico. For the third year in a row, youth from tal.” She was issued only a warning. “It’s OK son,” she
around our Diocese will gather in Tijuana, Mexico in obedi- said as the officer pulled away, “everybody does it.”
ence to the Gospel command, directly involving themselves
in the lives of some of the “least of these brethren.” During When Johnny was eight, he and his parents went out to
the week, the group will help build an entire house for a eat for dinner. As they were eating, Johnny suddenly
needy family inthe region - a family that through no fault of remembered from Sunday School and blurted out: “Its
their own, presently live in a dirt floor shack of tin or card- Holy Week! We’re not supposed to be eating meat!”
board. “It’s OK son,” said his parents, “everybody does it.”

While ministering to others, the group will have a chance to
learn from the people they serve. Participants in the past
have had their own values challenged, received new per-
spectives on life, and deepened their commitment to the Lord
Jesus Christ. Each participant is charged a fee which is di-
rectly applied to the cost of materials for the home they will
build. After a hard and enjoyable day’s work, free time is
spent around the campfire in group discussions, recreating
with the childrenof St. Innocent’s Orphanage, and of course
time for shopping and sightseeing.
If you are interested in participating in this trip, please
call Fr. Anthony Karbo at (719)473-9238 for details
and available spots.
When he was twelve, he watched innocently as his father
perused some unfamiliar magazines at the store while mom
was getting some items. The picture on the cover had
Johnny intrigued and embaressed. As mom came back,
dad smoothly replaced the magazine. “It’s OK son,”
winked his father, “everybody does it.”
When he was fifteen, he made right guard on the high
school football team. His coach taught him how to block
and at the same time grab the opposing player by the
shirt so the officials wouldn’t see it. “It’s OK son,” the
coach said, “everybody does it.”
Cont. on the next page

8

Johnny (cont.)
As a junior in high school, Johnny learned about “safe-sex” in class
and soon thereafter had an opportunity to implement his new-found
knowledge. Feeling a little guilty afterwards he was encouraged by
his friends. “It’s OK, everybody does it.”
At eighteen, Johnny’s girlfriend was pregnant. Scared, nervous,
embaressed, he went to Planned Parenthood. Presented with the
real option of abortion, Johnny was uncomfortable. “It’s OK son,”
the counselor advised him, “everybody does it.”
In college Johnny was in all ways distant from the church he remem-
bered from his youth. Sometimes late at night he would recall the
warm smell of incense, the glow of the candlelight, the soft chant of
the choir, the “other-worldliness” of the icons, the humble people
who stood and offered prayers. He longed for the meaning of life -
something more than classes, beer, idle talk, and shallow aspirations.
He triedto share his thoughts with his friends, his parents, his teach-
ers. He felt empty for having drifted so far fromGod. “It’s Ok
son,” came the unanimous chorus, “everybody does it....”“....after
all, you’re only young once.”“Yeah, I guess you are right,” ac-
knowledged Johnny.
There is only thing Johnny’s parents can’t figure out, why are all the
young people not coming to church. And we wonder where it all
started.
“In the last days temptations will be so great that it will be more
difficult for youth to simply keep their faith than it was for the
martyrs of old to shed their blood for Christ. So great will be
their spiritual battle that they will receive greater crowns in
heaven than the martyrs of old.”
A Contemporary Elder of the Church
9
The Orthodox Vision
Special Appeal From His Grace
Early in November as the massive floods hit South America; an-
other region was affected which received little coverage in the press.
The area of Uzhorod and Mukachevo in the Transcarpathian region
of the Ukraine were devastated by massive flooding, where ac-
cording to the American Red Cross, 117 villages were destroyed .
This represents about 10% of all the villages in the region! Many of
these villages simply no longer existas they were literally swept away
by the flooding water. Bridges, roads and parts of the infrastructure
were destroyed; isolating many of the people in this mountainous
region….and snow has begun to fall.
The people in this region are in a desperate situation. They need
food, salt, matches, bread, warm clothes, medicine, heaters,
blankets….anything to see them through the winter. Already 178
people have been diagnosed with various maladies including hepa-
titis and dysentery due to unfiltered water.
His Grace has asked for a special appeal. Donations can be sent
either to the Red Cross or to the Orthodox charities. Specifically
indicate the donations as TRANSCARPATHIA. For more infor-
mation on the flood see http://www.carpatho-rusyn.org/flood.htm
The Orthodox Vision
Why Do Some People Say It Is Wrong To Have Pews Or Rows Of
Seats In Orthodox Church Buildings?
By Archpriest Joseph Hirsch
It is very curious, or perhaps not so surprising, considering human nature,
how allowing little, seemingly innocuous, innovations in the life of the
Church, even for what appear to be the best and most compelling of rea-
sons, can have unforeseen negative consequences for the faith and spiri-
tual health of believers which can negatively effect the purity of that
Church Life for centuries.
Indeed, one can make an historical argument for the proposition that the
greatest wound in the Body of Christ, the schism of the Latin West from the
Orthodox Catholic Church, was as much the cumulative consequence of a
plethora of “little” compromises with the received tradition as of any great
global theological issue; although these larger issues did emerge over the
centuries. Such is the question of pews or rows of chairs being allowed in
Orthodox Temples in the U.S. (and almost no where else in the world) is an
early twentieth century compromise with Protestant and late Roman Catho-
lic culture which, on the surface, would seem to be a matter of no great
import, but which, in fact changes both the character and practical liturgical
theology of the Orthodox Church..
To begin with, we Orthodox Christians understand our TEMPLES to be
just that. Not theaters or auditoriums where audiences are entertained or
lectured, but Icons of Heaven itself, in which the People of God, The Royal
Priesthood gathers to offer Worship “In spirit and in truth” to the Divine
Trinity. In the worship of the Old Covenant, the worship of the pre-Christian
Jews, The Temple at Jerusalem was the only place where sacrifices and
burnt offerings could be presented to God. In the center of this complex, or
rather at its focal point, was the Temple Shrine or Holy Place. Into this
building, only priests were allowed access and then, generally only one at
a time during the morning and afternoon sacrifices. We will remember from
the story of Zacharias the father of St. John the Forerunner, that these
priests, chosen by lots, were expected to enter the Temple shrine, offer
incense and pray quickly, and then exit the shrine lest the people should
become fearful. Now the same Jewish prophets who insisted that sacrifices
could only be offered in this way and only in Jerusalem, prophesied that, at
some time in the future, acceptable sacrifice and sweet smelling incense
would be offered “In every place…from the rising of the sun to its setting”
When Our Lord opened the Kingdom of Heaven to us by His Life-giving
death and resurrection, he made us able to “Draw near boldly to the Throne
of Grace” Thus, we enter the Holy Temple of God, the Orthodox Christian
Temple, not as observers or auditors but as priests and stewards of the
mysteries of Christ. For this reason, our correct posture in Church is that of
standing and offering. St. Paul beseeches us by the mercies of God that we
present our bodies, our persons, as a living sacrifice and he says that,
herein, we offer spiritual worship which is entirely acceptable to God.
It is in this posture of standing before God that we offer our Liturgy (Peoples
Work or Worship). In standing, we show forth the mystery that we “Have
been risen with Christ and seek those things which are above.” When we
prostrate or kneel in Church, uninhibited by a jungle of furniture, we show
forth our profound humility before the presence of this same God who has
“Not ceased to do all things for us till [He] had taken us up to Heaven and
endowed us with [His] Kingdom which is to come.
10
The open spacious floor of an Orthodox Temple in which clergy and wor-
shippers are able to move freely, to turn about and follow liturgical move-
ment, to “Worship and fall down before Chris…” without banging their
heads on pews and chairs, reflects this theological reality that we are all
active participants in this royal priesthood. Lining up in rows, “Like the
teeth of a comb” is a Moslem practice.” Sitting in pews, which were,
originally wooden boxes, was introduced by the continental Protestant
reformers . They served the dual purpose of emphasizing the idea that the
Church building is really some kind of fancy Sunday school where wor-
shipers are students or auditors while the “Clergy” dawned the academic
gowns of university professors and were transformed from priests into
preachers or “Teaching Elders”. Roman Catholics resisted this trend but
began to add benches or chairs to their Churches to allow something to
lean against as the posture of kneeling came to replace those of standing
or prostration in Roman worship. Thus, the Mass became a private act of
devotion participated in by each worshipper rather than the corporate act
of the ecclesial assembly.
Now, as Orthodoxy began to spread, many of our forebears developed a
strong sense of cultural inferiority vis a vis their Protestant and Roman
Catholic neighbors. This, combined with a powerful residual influence from
the Uniate or Greek Catholic party who had compromised their Orthodox
tradition and taken on a great deal of Latin practice and ideology , confused
many of these early arrivals into the delusion that the adoption of the
ubiquitous pew would make them more “American” without compromis-
ing their faith. This is not to say that those with pews became heretics. It
does mean that those American immigrants who adopted this innovation
deprived themselves and their children of the ability to participate in our
ancient Orthodox worship in the fullest and most meaningful way.
And, having mentioned children, allow me to conclude with a practical
observation. Of all instruments inadvertently devised for the torture of
children, perhaps none is more heinous in its effects than the traditional
Church pew. In these wooden benches, little ones are constrained ever to
be blocked from sight of the Holy Altar and the action of the Liturgy. If they
stand on the pew, they are told to sit down. If they sit, their feet won’t reach
the floor. If they swing their little legs they make horrible banging noises
and if they sit still, the edge of the seat cuts off the blood from their young
legs. Finally, often in desperation, they get down on the floor and play.
Then, one hears from behind, the helpful comment, “Can’t these people
make their children behave?”
Not just children, but all Orthodox believers, ought to be liberated from this
forest of furniture to move about in appropriate way during the actions of
Divine Worship and to participate, according to their gifts, in that Royal
Priesthood into which even the youngest Baptized child is a full initiate.
Yes, wee need some chairs around the edges and out of the traffic patterns
where old, sick or crippled adults can sit as they need too. Oddly, we often
find that it is this very group who hold tenaciously to the traditional Ortho-
dox posture of prayer.
To conclude my answer, then, the reason some people say that we shouldn’t
have pews and rows of chairs in our Orthodox Churches is because they
are right.

St. John’s Monastery
Cont. from p. 5
January, Priestmonk Barnabas came to the community before his journey to
Mt. Athos. (Last, and least, are our new puppy, as mischievious as any
novice, and 17 little chickens.) The restoration of the property began to
gather momentum, with help from many friends. Gardens were built, a
greenhouse was put up, and the candle business was revived with new
equipment from Rhode Island. Trees and underbrush was cleared. By the
grace of God, the Hermitage filled up. Divine Ascent, A Journal of Ortho-
dox Faith, the monastery’s publication has been well received throughout
the country and the English speaking Orthodox world (though there have
been a few major delays). Most recently, Father George moved in, and
Stephen came from Arkansas.
There are several men who will be coming to join the brotherhood, but there
is a great problem where to put them. The buildings are inadequate to
house more than five, save for the space under the chapel, which has been
partly given over to guest quarters, partly to office space. Even the dining
area is not big enough when there are more than a few guests, a regular
weekly occurrance. This is still on top of the poor structural conditions of
the building, and the need for major additional space. During the El Nino
storms, several large trees fell on the property, and others need to be taken
down as well. By the grace of God, there was no damage to any of the
structures.
The St. Eugene’s Committee has been reconstituted by His Grace, Bishop
TIKHON, and has met several times with Archimandrite Nikolai (Soraich).
It is chaired by George Artemoff, a long time friend of St. Eugene’s, and
composed of people from parishes throughout the Bay Area. After
muchconsultation with lawyers, architects and the County, the Committee
The Orthodox Vision
has determined that the best course of action for the restoration of the living
quarters (two small houses) at St. Eugene’s will be a major remodel. It
appears that any significant development of the property will be out of the
question, as the zoning would have to be changed. This is next to impos-
sible both financially and given the current local political climate.
The vision for St. Eugene’s Hermitage is for a monastery which receives
pilgrims and guests on retreat, a place of refuge from the busy lives of our
Orthodox people. Already this is being realized, albeit with rather rustic
conditions. The services are being prayed, and guests come frequently
and are always welcome! St. Eugene’s will always remain a skete in the
wilderness, quiet, tranquil, remote and peaceful.
St. Eugene’s Hermitage and Retreat is a great treasure of the Diocese of the
West. It it the only property owned by the Diocese itself. It has a long way
to go to reach its full potential, both as a monastery and a retreat for spiritual
growth and consolation. The Diocese and its members and friends need to
take up the challenge to develop this property to its full potential. The
Monastery is the key to this: it is the reason the Hermitage exists! It is not
simply a pretty picnic spot with ecclesiastical accoutrements. The Brother-
hood has restored the property to the limits of its abilities, financially. (In
other words, very limited!) In order for the monastery to grow, the facilities
need to be thoroughly remodeled and expanded. In order to be able to
properly receive guests on retreat, the facilities need to be further expanded.
In order to serve the Diocese, the Monastic brotherhood needs to have
adequate space to work and earn a living, as well as to live. This depends
to a great extent on YOU.
There are several major needs for St. Eugene’s Hermitage. First, the build-
ings need major structural remodelling. This will cost a lot of money,
upwards of $100,000. An additional 50% increase in size can be added
without any further change in zoning, legally. Planning and work can be
commenced as soon as there are funds.

To Help the Brotherhood, Contact them at (415)663-1705

or write to St. John of San Francisco Monastery
P.O. Box 563, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956-0563

Leaving shortly thereafter for an extended family trip home

Fr. Peter, Matushka Olympia and Family
to Canada to visit with five generations of her family, she
stopped the next day at the Cathedral in Denver to again
participate in the Divine Liturgy. That afternoon, Sunday
July 26th, Matushka Olympia was in an automobile accident
near Wheatland, WY that resulted in her death.

Pueblo Mourns the Death of Matushka Two of her children in the car, Jesse and Rosanna were se-
By Priest Daniel Jones riously injured but survived. Her other child, Desiree and
Matushka Olympia was born on October 29, 1959 in Saska- her granddaughter Aquilina were not injured. Her son Elijah
toon, Saskatchewan, Canada. She moved to Pueblo with was in Canada waiting her arrival and her husband, Fr. Pe-
her husband, Priest Peter Isaac and their children in 1996 to ter was at home doing parish work. Her family and parish
live and serve at St. Michael’s Orthodox Church. On July mourn her lose and clergy and laity came from all over the
25th, 1998 the feast of St. Olympia she participated in the Diocese for her funeral. However, a small bit of consolation
Divine Liturgy celebrated at her specific request for her was that she seemed especially peaceful and prepared for
namesday and communed of the Life-giving Holy Mysteries her encounter that day. “Blessed are those whom Thou
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. has chosen and taken O Lord.”
11
The Orthodox Vision

Events of Days Long Gone passages. At the completion of Vigil, Bishop TIKHON would say
with good nature, “See, today Mainov read the Six Psalms against
Cont. from p. 3
me.”
The Russian style of discipline was very evident, judging from the
orderliness and cleanliness in the Cathedral. Bishop TIKHON’s Bishop TIKHON returned from his eastern trip about two months
predecessor, Bishop NICHOLAS, was very demanding and stern after my arrival in San Francisco. The brethren all pulled themselves
(although good natured) and had left his stamp on everyone and his up a bit more taut, but the relationship remained easy, as previously.
traditions remained under the more soft, benign, “most calm” His Grace was a soft and lenient man who treated things simply; if
TIKHON. Church attendance was sparse by today’s standards; someone erred he did not throw himself at him like a lion, but cor-
at the time there were not many Russians in the city, most of the rected him quietly and plainly, advising him to be more careful in the
parishioners being Serbs and Greeks. The Cathedral choir, under future.
the direction of N.F. Greevsky who knew his work well, was not
very large. Perhaps at the time we all did not appreciate these qualities in a
Bishop, but did only later, when the cold wind of the Synodal Office
With few parishioners, there was not much to do. All of the clergy, blew across the ocean and emphasized the differences between the
with the exception of Fr. Dabovich, worked in the office of the two regimes.
Ecclesiastical Consistory. All who lived in the house ate together on
a shared basis, which was not very expensive. In those distant days N rare occasions, we went off to picnic – all: Bishop, Priests, Dea-
the relationship between senior and junior members of the clergy cons, Psalters, and Yasha Polozov. The favorite spot was south of
was very simple. There was no official and unnecessary deference Mt. Tamalpias. There was a marvelous forest, coniferous trees of
to rank; at the same time each knew his place and there was not the heights unheard of, the “Sequoia Gigantica”, found only on the West
familiarity which some American priests now practice toward their Coast. We sat on the grass, ate, drank, told stories of the past, and
bishops of similar origin. Each recognized his responsibility toward took pictures. Having finished tea, the Bishop’s nature became even
his superior, and each had his appointed task. calmer than usual, and he would begin singing quietly, always the
same words, Lo-o-ord Have Me-e-ercy.” Toward evening, tired
Archimandrite Sebastian, the “California Rose”, as he called him- and content, we turned homeward. I was an ardent photographer
self, was a gentle man of frail body structure. He did not work in the at the time and still have with me photographs taken on such excur-
office, but spent his time writing “Words of Wisdom,” teachings in sions.
the English language. Most of the workload fell on the secretary, Fr.
Theodore, who always could be seen working at his table. Fr. Peter Much water has flowed by from that time. By the Will of God the
and others helped him. Deacon Elias, an indomitable Russian pa- quiet Bishop was elevated to Patriarch of All Russia; then came the
triot, knew only his deacon’s duties. He wanted no part of any non- kingdom of evil, darkness, and wickedness. His Holiness was con-
Russian language, and any American who wanted to speak to him fined in prison, where he met his death under questionable circum-
had better learn Russian. He constantly crossed swords with N.F. stances. Yasha Polozov was shot to death in the presence of the
Greevsky, accusing him of being “overly americanized.” These ex- Patriarch, Fr. Hotovitsky was sent to the Solovetsky Labor Camp
changes were a source of amusement to us all. for preaching the Word of God, and perished there. Fr. Popov,
Stepanov, and Mr. Greevsky all have since died, and the rest are
At the time, Fr. Nicholas Mitropolsky lived in San Francisco with his scattered over the face of the earth.
family. He was not well and was not attached to any church and
took no part in Church matters. Mainov, a most interesting charac- The humble Archpriest Theodore became THEOPHILUS, Met-
ter, attended every service. A former Psalter in Alaska, he was let ropolitan of All America and Canada, and with the help of his clergy
go for some reason, and from there went to Canada where he had kept the dark red shadow overseas from falling over our Church,
stayed with the Dukhobors for two years. They fed him and gave which remained free. Yet all around us continues the battle between
him living quarters, but gave him no money – not a penny for a light and darkness.
postage stamp. Disenchanted, he returned to the States and awaited
an opportunity to return to Russia. He was considered quite odd Now it is comforting to recall the morning of our missionary work,
and perhaps a little out of his mind and playing the jester. This mask when life was not yet distorted and there were fresh feelings and
permitted him to speak his mind and say whatever he pleased. A simple relationships between people.
superb reader, he would read the Six Psalms and emphasize certain

12
 The Orthodox Vision

From the Fathers

Excerpts from an adress delivered in the presence of THE MOST REVEREND NICHOLAS, Bishop of the Orthodox Church in Alaska and the United
States,before the the parish school of St. Sergius at the Celebration in honor of the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of INNOCENT, first Bishop
of the Orthodox Church in America,by the Rev. Sebastian Dabovich in San Francisco, California on August 15, 1897.

GRACIOUS BISHOP and Most Reverend Father in God! Dear Friends!

Dear Children! I have strong reason for maintaining my assertion that the missionary priest
John Benjaminof also landed on our shores here, and how I love to dwell on
As I stand here in the midst of this gathering, I picture in my mind another the thought — he bestowed God¹s blessing upon our beautiful California.
company, greater than this, filling the spacious halls of a more magnificent It was in the Fall of 1838 that this God-fearing worker left Sitkha in a sailing
structure in the first capital city of the Russian Empire — Mother Moscow. vessel to voyage down the whole length of the great Pacific and make his
My imagination reaches still farther out, and I behold another throng of way around Cape Horn to Europe and St Petersburg. And so it is possible
grave citizens, together with young Seminarians, and prayerfully inclined that our dear missionary may have even offered the Divine Liturgy in the
christians, away off in Siberia, in the city of Irkutsk. I think I hear them speak chapel at Fort Ross, and also baptized the Indians in Russian River. I do not
the very name of Him, whom they have come to honor. Innocent. My attempt to speculate on the idea that our Apostle trod the sands — where
whole being thrills with veneration at the sound of that name. My heart is now our splendid City of San Francisco is built. For the sake of justice to
filled with gladness when I think of the pure joy and reasonable pride of the memory I simply ask: is there not a history attached to Russian Hill in San
country-folk in rural Anginskoe of the province of Francisco?
Irkutsk — the native home of the Most Reverend
Metropolitan Innocent. Yet all these multitudes and It has been and still is the habit of some persons, who
territorial distance are but a part of the celebration of are unfriendly to the Orthodox church, to speak of
a great event. Look you, the tribes of Kamtchatka Her as a dead church. Such a daring charge could be
with the Yakont race sing of him, while the Aleut and uttered for three reasons, and they are these: such
the Alaskan Indian gratefully commemorate their persons are either determined upon a certain course
teacher on this day - the one hundredth anniversary of public policy, with no respect for the truth, or they
of his birth. While the great Orthodox Missionary are not inclined to think well of Eastern Christians,
Society of Russia, which today upholds our prosper- whom it would be inconvenient to recognize as breth-
ous Church in Japan and in other parts of the world, is ren while enjoying personal comfort through social
paying honor to the sacred memory of its founder, we connections, but if it not be that, it is then because of
too — bless this one hundredth birth day of our first a light head and total ignorance of the facts in univer-
Bishop in America — the same Innocent, Metropoli- sal history. As of old, also in modern times the Rus-
tan of Moscow. sian Church has proved, in more instances than one,
that She is alive with the missionary spirit. May we
This great missionary, who passed away from this condemn the Slavonic Orthodox Church in the
visible world eighteen years ago, and whose remains Balkan States and in Austria, because She is strug-
rest in the holy Troitse - Sergief Monastery, still dwells Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich gling for her existence in spite of the aggressive in-
in the loving hearts of the different peoples of his trusion on her own ground on part of the brethren of
spiritual charge. I understand and feel the special privilege which I enjoy the Society of Jesus? Nor is the influx of American Sectarian preachers in
tonight, and for which I most heartily and humbly thank the Gracious Aralia and in Palestine a reason which could justify any one in saying that
Bishop and Most Reverend Father in God. Deeply feeling the love of our the church of Christ in those parts is dead! Has not the Greek Church
Archpastors, I become bold and venture to look into the unseen, where I shown the steadfastness of Her faith?
behold the spiritual eyes of our first hard working missionary, with kindly
light beaming upon this gathering, and approving of the feeble words of But it is not our purpose to lecture on history. Nor is it that, out of mere
your son, and your brother and pastor — one of the first born of the young curiosity, we are here. Let us now look to the duty we have before us this
Orthodox American Church. hour. We are gathered here to show our gratitude to our benefactor, and
also in a becoming way to honor the memory of our dear Archpastor
John Benijaminof was a great man, indeed! As one of the first Priests in Metropolitan Innocent. Remembering him who has had the rule over us
Alaska he labored for fifteen long years in several parts of that vast region, and our fathers — the Christians of this Diocese; remembering him who
making his home principally first in Ounalashka and then in Sitkha. In those had spoken unto us the word of God, let us now according to the Divine
pioneer days of Alaska an Aleutian baidarka, or small canoe made of the commandment consider his end, so that we may be able the better to follow
skin of a walrus, was the only means he had for his voyages of longa corsa. the example of strong faith, which he gave us through out his whole life.
It often happened that, in a mean, wet climate, his only comfort for whole Although he was much weakened in his last days by old age and sickness,
yet the Venerable Prelate retained his mind clear up to the last, and truly his
months would be found in an earthen dug-out covered with skins. I will not
course on earth was appropriately crowned with a bright christian end. Tell
detain you by repeating; you will hear and read of his life, and you will see
them, he said as he was about to sleep, that no eulogies be pronounced at
how in the Providence of God, the Reverend Father John became to be
my funeral, they only contain praise. Let them rather preach a sermon: it
known as Innocent, and how he returned to Alaska as the first Bishop
may be instructive; and here is the text for it: The ways of man are ordered
there, and likewise our first Bishop in America!….
by the Lord.

12
The Diocese of the West BULK RATE
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The Orthodox Vision

In The Next Issue:

....Fort Ross Celebration
....Raphael House: A Woman’s Shelter in Portland
....Whole Life Center: A Homeless Shelter in Phoenix
....And Other News From Around the Diocese