Russia, September 19, 2024
Bp. Alexei of Alaska celebrating at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra. Photo: lavra.ru
Adelegation from the Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of Sitka and Alaska, led by His Grace Bishop Alexei, concluded a 2.5-week pilgrimage to holy sites of Russia earlier this week.
The main purpose was to visit sites associated with the great missionary St. Innocent of Alaska and Moscow, who arrived in Alaska 200 years ago. 
OCA bishop of Alaska leading pilgrimage to Russian birthplace of St. Innocent of AlaskaTomorrow, the American delegation will present the film Sacred Alaska at the Anga Youth House and will tell about the preaching of Russian missionaries among the peoples of Alaska in the 18th-19th centuries.
“>OrthoChristian reported on the first days of the pilgrimage two weeks ago, including a hierarchical Liturgy and diocesan-wide procession in Irkutsk on September 1.
The next day, Bp. Alexei participated in the events dedicated to the start of classes at the Irkutsk Orthodox Gymnasium of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. On September 5, he attended the consecration of the crosses of the Kazan Church in the village of Bolshaya Rechka, reports Patriarchia.ru.
That same day, Bp. Alexei, Fr. Daniel Charles, and the other guests from Alaska spoke at the meeting of the St. Innocent and Modernity round table. In particular, Bp. Alexei spoke of the confessing faith of believers in Alaska and spoke about the times of St. Innocent there and other historical periods in the life of Alaska. He also spoke of problems facing contemporary Alaska.
On September 6, Bp. Alexei concelebrated with hierarchs of the Russian Church at the Archangel Michael Church in Irkutsk, which was followed by the opening of a monument to the Holy Royal Martyrs. Bp. Alexei spoke about the importance of the Romanov dynasty for the evangelization of Alaska “from the mandate to bring the gospel of Christ to the natives as well as sending many gifts for the Churches and financial support through the Imperial Missionary Society,” the Diocese of Alaska reports.
Later that day, the delegation presented Sacred Alaska at the local Youth House. The film tells about the history of Orthodoxy in Alaska, including Sts. Herman, Innocent, Jacob, and the newly canonized Matushka Olga.
From the procession with the head of St. Innocent. Photo: Facebook
On September 7, the delegation visited the site of the church in Anga where St. Innocent was baptized and attended as a child. “Only crumbled remains of the foundation are present. They were blessed to stand at the center of the foundation where the holy saint read the epistle as a young boy seven years of age.” They also toured the original peasant home of St. Innocent.
Later, Bp. Alexei and the others joined in a procession with the precious head of St. Innocent, which is being carried in a 
5-year missionary procession with head of St. Innocent of Alaska beginsThe procession, entitled “The Second Missionary Journey of St. Innocent of Moscow,” will cover many of the places where the Holy Hierarch served during his lifetime.
“>5-year procession throughout 38 dioceses of the Russian Church.
On September 9, the delegation left Irkutsk for St. Petersburg, where they spent several days and visited many holy sites. On September 12, they headed for Moscow, where they first venerated the relics of St. Tikhon of Moscow at Donskoy Monastery and later the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. That evening, they traveled to the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra outside Moscow.
The relics of St. Innocent of Alaska. Photo: lavra.ru
On September 13, Bp. Alexei and Fr. Daniel concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with His Grace Bishop Kirill of Sergiev Posad, the abbot of the monastery.
There, the delegation had the opportunity to venerate St. Innocent’s relics, which are treasured in the Lavra’s Holy Dormition Cathedral. Bp. Alexei stressed the important of the missionary saint for the people of Alaska, who “cherish the memory of the one who brought them the light of the Gospel, the light of Orthodoxy.”
During the visit, Bp. Alexei met with theological students and spoke to them about Orthodoxy in Alaska.
At the OCA church in Moscow. Photo: ocapodvorie.ru
On Sunday, September 15, Bp. Alexei and Fr. Daniel celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the OCA’s St. Catherine’s Representation Church in Moscow together with parish clergy. The service was celebrated in Slavonic, English, and Yupik.
That afternoon, Bp. Alexei, Fr. Daniel Charles, and Fr. Daniel Andrejuk from the OCA representation church met with His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, head of the Russian Church’s Department for External Church Relations. They spoke about Orthodoxy in Alaska, issues in the Orthodox world today, and celebrations for next year’s 100th anniversary of the repose of St. Tikhon of Moscow.
The next day, Bp. Alexei and the Alaska delegation began their trip home.
See the Diocese of Alaska’s Facebook page for a wealth of photos and videos from the trip.
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