The Orthodox Christian community in the Alaskan village of Akhiok has celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Church of the Protection of the Holy Theotokos, one of the oldest Orthodox churches in this part of the state.

The parish belongs to the Orthodox Church in America. According to the Diocese of Sitka and Alaska, the centennial celebrations offered an opportunity to reflect on the history of Alaska’s Indigenous Orthodox Christians and the legacy of St. Peter the Aleut, the first Orthodox saint from Alaska to be canonized.

The church’s history in Akhiok began with Holy Trinity Church, which was destroyed by fire twice. The parish was later dedicated to the Protection of the Holy Theotokos, an Orthodox feast commemorating the protection and intercession of the Virgin Mary. For local residents, the dedication came to symbolize not only the church’s patronage but also the protection of the entire village.

During the anniversary service, Archbishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska highlighted Akhiok’s special connection to St. Peter the Aleut, who was born in the nearby settlement of Kaguyak. According to tradition, Peter was among the spiritual children of St. Herman of Alaska.

In 1815, Peter traveled to California, where he was captured by Spanish authorities. He was reportedly tortured and killed after refusing to renounce his Orthodox faith and convert to Catholicism. In 1980, the Orthodox Church in America canonized him as a saint.

The Diocese also recalled the challenges faced by Akhiok’s Orthodox community over the generations. Residents defended their faith not only during the missionary period associated with St. Herman of Alaska, but also in the 20th century, when representatives of various religious movements arrived in the village.

Local resident Barbara Amodo recalled that, when she was a child, her father and other men once expelled representatives of the Unification movement, followers of Korean preacher Sun Myung Moon, from the settlement. Years later, when another non-denominational religious group visited Akhiok, Amodo told its leader that village residents respected their elders, taught their children to respect others, and were nevertheless “deeply rooted in Orthodoxy.”

Ahead of the centennial, the historic church was restored and its grounds improved with the help of local residents and tribal organizations. During the celebrations, Archbishop Alexei recognized those who had made significant contributions to preserving the church.

The archbishop concluded by emphasizing the parish’s responsibility to pass its spiritual heritage on to the next generation.

Photo: Diocese of Sitka and Alaska / odosa.org