Visits to Ouzinkie and Port Lions

On Monday, May 24, a group of seminarians unexpectedly visited Ouzinkie, Alaska. Ouzinkie is a village on Spruce Island, the same island that St. Herman lived and reposed on. It was a beautiful day and the first time some of us had seen the attractive village of Ouzinkie at ground level. We had a prayer service in the small church of the Nativity and then a picnic on the beach.

Usually the St. Herman's Seminary community visits Spruce Island and St. Herman's grave once during the spring and has a Divine Liturgy there. Our dean and one seminarian had been at Ouzinkie for Pentecost and they were able to reach Monk's Lagoon today for the Day of the Holy Spirit. But the rest of us, coming from Kodiak, were unable to land safely at the Lagoon today because of the surf. So after some deliberation we went to Ouzinkie instead, which is at the other end of Spruce island. There we did a prayer service with akathist in the church and then had our lunch and headed back. We felt the Holy Spirit arranged things so that we went to Ouzinkie.

We were grateful to Andy and Tatiana Berestoff who provided transportation on their fishing boat. There were 8 adults and 18 children in our group. The waters were somewhat choppy on the way over, but for the return weather conditions were warmer and sunnier, and the water calmer.

Ouzinkie has a boardwalk from the boat dock to the church that is just a beautiful scenic walk, framed by grassy hillside and shady trees. The church is beautiful!

This came on the heels of a memorable weekend trip to Port Lions. Several of us from the seminary community joined a large group form St. Innocent Academy in making the trip for Pentecost. The Academy provided the singing for the services and also put on meals and performances for the community. After the vespers service with kneeling prayers, we did a prayer for the renovation of the church. We then had lunch during which the Alutiiq Dancers from Port Lions entertained us with their graceful dances. And then we got busy removing everything from the church building in preparation for renovations now going on.

Glory to God!