Aleut Orthodox Priest and Fisherman

November 2008

This is a story I wrote for the St Hermans' Seminary newsletter. It tells you something about Church life here in Alaska, which can be quite different from that in other places.

Alumnus Serves the Parishes of the Prince William Sound

The mission of St. Herman's Seminary is to prepare clergy and church workers to serve the Diocese of Alaska. One alumnus of the seminary now engaged in that service, is Father Alexei Knagin. Fr. Alexei, a member of the Alutiiq tribe, is the first native priest ever to be ordained who came from Kodiak Island, where St. Herman did much of his work, where the seminary in his name is located, and where St. Peter the Aleut was born.

Fr. Alexei's original home was the village of Afognak on Afognak Island, just north of Kodiak. When much of Afognak village was destroyed in the 1964 earthquake, the inhabitants were forced to relocate to Kodiak Island, where they settled at what is now Port Lions. It was from the Nativity of the Theotokos Church there, that Fr. Alexei came to St. Herman's Seminary, seeking to receive the education and training needed to equip him to serve God's people as a priest in Alaska.

As a young priest, Fr. Alexei was assigned to Holy Resurrection Church in Kodiak, while also serving the spiritual needs of the Alutiiq villages on Kodiak. Later he was designated a "missionary priest for the state of Alaska," serving communities in Nikolsky, Atka, Unalaska, King Cove, and Akutan. Then, as now, he also labored at fishing in Alaska's waters, to provide food for his family and supplement his income. To this day, he serves village parishes of Kodiak for three months each summer, while also working at fishing.

Fr. Alexei received a directive from Bishop Nikolai to move from his beloved home parish and to relocate, with his family, to St. Michael the Archangel Church at Cordova, some 270 miles to the northeast. Based there, he also serves parishes at Tatitlek, Valdez, and Chenega. These four localities ring the shores of the Prince William Sound.

Fr. Alexei is at Cordova for most Sundays of the year. He visits the other three communities about once a month. A typical monthly circuit might begin with his departure from Cordova on a Friday or Saturday. He might travel 60 miles to Tatitlek, arriving on Saturday. There he would celebrate Saturday vespers and Sunday Divine Liturgy. A 20-mile boat trek on Sunday would then bring him to Valdez on Sunday afternoon, where he would serve vespers the same evening and liturgy on Monday morning. Fr. Alexei would then make an 80-mile voyage to Chenega, where he would celebrate vespers on Monday evening and Divine Liturgy on Tuesday morning. An 85-mile crossing would then bring him back to Cordova. This schedule would rotate so that from time to time each parish would have Divine Liturgy on Sunday. His exact schedule of visits depends on what feast is to take place, where he is, and the weather.

Each community has its own special conditions, challenges, and progress. At Cordova, a cornerstone was planted recently for a new church of St. Michael to replace the decaying old building. The materials are paid for by the people and corporations. Contractors who are friends Fr. Alexei has made over the years, are doing the excavation and construction free of charge, while the parishioners and Fr. Alexei himself do some of the work.

At Tatitlek, a typical Sunday or even a weekday will see about 30 people attending services. At Valdez 15 to 20 souls meet at the Baptist Church for Vespers and Liturgy. Plans call for building a new church by 2010. At Chenega, some 30 parishioners worship in a brand new church.

In each of these communities, all are appreciative of having a priest, even if only once a month.

In his work, Fr. Alexei stresses the importance of educating the people -- adults first, then children -- about all aspects of our faith. He uses every opportunity to catechize, and works on getting church schools organized. He carries the work of evangelization also to outsiders, speaking to the Protestant clergy at their weekly gathering at Cordova Baptist Church. Finding them receptive, he has taught them about the sign of the Cross and other things.

For his pastoral journeys across the Prince William Sound, Fr. Alexei had a speedboat with a cabin constructed, as the cost of flying would be prohibitive. The boat is equipped like a house-boat, so that when visiting his various villages he can sleep right on board, for convenience.

In good weather his speed is 25-30 knots; in choppy seas this drops to 12-15 knots, doubling his travel time. The waters are cold, and very often storms come up. Should his boat overturn, he would likely lose his life, unless he were to be saved by a miracle. He has adorned his boat with icons of Christ and the Theotokos in the cabin, and around the sides icons of the Alaskan saints are built right into the hull. He prays as his boat plies the waters, carrying him on his mission for Christ.

Our supporters and benefactors donate having in view the goal of helping to educate our future priests. To draw inspiration for the seminary's ongoing work, it's helpful to look at the work of our alumni, and to study the good works of clergy such as Fr. Alexei Knagin and many others, as they serve the people of the diocese as laborer in Christ's vineyard.

(Since writing the above story, I've gotten to know Fr. Alexei a bit better, and his family too. One person spoke of Father's expert knowledge of the sea, calling him "the finest waterman I know." Fr. Alexei also travels by jet, by small propeller plane, by ferry, and by car in his frequent travels around Alaska).