The Diocese of Sitka & Alaska (OCA) held its annual clergy retreat in Anchorage from Friday the 8th through Sunday the 10th of March, hosted by His Grace Alexei, Bishop of Sitka & Alaska. As a special guest, His Grace Luke, Bishop of Syracuse and abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY led the retreat meditations, speaking on the theme "Confessing Holy Orthodoxy." The retreat commenced with a solemn and joyful All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy served in St. Tikhon Church in South Anchorage. The resplendent service included a universal memorial for all the Orthodox faithful departed. Bishop Alexei offered fervent prayers and blessed kolyva for the departed in anticipation of the Sunday of the Last Judgment.

Following the beautiful Vigil, St. Tikhon’s faithful hosted the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful to a delicious late-night feast including many Alaskan delicacies like smoked salmon and moose meat.

On Saturday morning, Bishop Luke began his presentation to the clergy brotherhood, his main theme being the dogma of the Church. His Grace first presented the heroic life and work of Venerable Job of Pochaev, who was responsible for defending and confessing the Faith in Carpatho-Russia, a region much like Alaska flooded by well-funded missionaries and sects trying to proselytize Orthodox faithful. He also highlighted the teachings of the Hieromartyr Hilarion (Troitsky) of Vereya, whose writings delineate the boundaries of the Church and emphasize that one must be a member of the Orthodox Church to practice Christianity. Bishop Luke also debunked "branch theory" ecclesiology and highlighted some of the excesses found in the ecumenical movement. His presentation encouraged the clergy to "fight the good fight" and continue their pastoral and missionary labors in the face of challenges brought by sects well-funded from outside sources.

At the end of the lectures, Bishop Alexei gifted each clergyman two flags to hang in their parishes: one emblazoned with the crest of the Diocese, one bearing the icon of the Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut, quoting his immortal words: "I am an Orthodox Christian, and I will not betray my Faith." Following Bishop Luke’s fortifying presentation, clergy attended All-Night Vigil and Sunday-morning Liturgy at St. Innocent of Irkutsk Cathedral.

Following the hierarchal Divine Liturgy, a triennial anniversary celebration was held in honor of Bishop Alexei’s ongoing archpastoral spiritual care. A highlight of the celebration was a captivating performance of traditional dancing by the Anchorage Unangax Dancers who all received a blessing from His Grace on this special occasion.

On Monday, Bishops Alexei and Luke journeyed to Kodiak Island in order to make pilgrimage to St. Herman’s Monk’s Lagoon and offer encouraging words to the seminarians of St. Herman’s Seminary. During his Tuesday talks, Bishop Luke emphasized the need for seminarians to become true pastors and hold fast to the deposit of Faith. He also recounted stories about the Russian Royal Martyrs Nicholas and Alexandra, in order to inspire piety and Christ-centered family life.

The two Hierarchs were blessed with sunny weather crossing the sub-Arctic waters of the Shelikof Strait to arrive safely at the stillness and quiet of Monk’s Lagoon, which Venerable Herman sanctified by his holy prayers and ascetic struggles. Both hierarchs offered prayers at the holy sites, and returned to Kodiak strengthened for the upcoming Great Fast.

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