Father Andrew, the superior of the monks living on Spruce Island, says the new chapel will give the small community living in the middle of the island their own place of worship.
A golden dome has already been raised over the structure, but final artistic work still needs to be done. Father Andrew said he’s hoping that it will be open for services in spring of 2023.
“Like other churches in Alaska,” he said, “although it’s very remote, you can see some nice architecture and fine carpentry.” Over 200 years ago, the first Russian Orthodox monastery in North America was founded in Kodiak, in the modern-day city of Kodiak. The head of the monastery at the time, Herman of Valaam — known today as St. Herman — renounced his position and took on the life of a hermit on Spruce Island.
“He ended up taking care of orphans, especially after the 1819 epidemic. Many orphans were sent to him, and he had a community down in Monk’s Lagoon, and there are now four chapels down there,” said Andrew. “And it is a place of pilgrimage where people come from all over the world.” Father Andrew said many visitors from Russia and Ukraine typically pilgrimage to Spruce Island during the summer months. He doesn’t expect them this year due to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, but he is still expecting summer visitors from around the United States and Alaska.
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