Wednesday, October 20, 2010
OCMC Missionary Katie Wilcoxson Appendectomy Update
By God's grace and through your heartfelt prayers, Katie has come through and is recovering from her recent emergency appendectomy. This week Katie, Michael and Felice traveled to Bukoba where they take permanent residence, continuing language studies and beginning ministry in the hospital. Thank you for your continued prayers for Katie and for the entire team of long-term Orthodox missionaries serving in Tanzania.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
From OCF to OCMC
From OCF to OCMC
Involvement with the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) at the University of Florida led me to service as a long-term Orthodox Christian missionary in Tanzania, East Africa.
In the fall of 2005 I arrived in Gainesville, Florida as a graduate student in Linguistics and was welcomed warmly by fellow Orthodox Christian students. OCF was small at the time, but students were committed to one another and to Christ. Although we had few official functions we gathered frequently for informal prayer, fellowship, and book study. I found myself with a leadership role in these "unofficial" activities, and when our president graduated in 2007 I was asked to take on that post.
Gainesville is just down the road from St Augustine, Florida, where the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) is headquartered. So there was frequent contact between OCMC and OCF. OCMC Executive Director Fr. Martin Ritsi's kids were fellow Florida Gators, and our chaplain Fr. Ted Pisarchuk served on the OCMC board. So I quite naturally began to hear about possibilities for long-term missionary service.
As president of OCF at the University of Florida, I began to learn about leadership. I was surrounded by prayerful officers who took their role seriously and became great friends. Together with other nearby OCFs we organized a statewide retreat for Orthodox Christian college students and young adults which has since become a yearly event. At UF we continued to pray regularly for our campus and to develop a vision for the future.
We also started to bring in a regular speaker: Fr. David Rucker, who had just accepted a position as Associate Director of OCMC. And we received a new chaplain: Dn. James Nicholas, Assistant Director of OCMC's Missionary Department. Through Fr. David and Dn. James I learned more about Orthodox Christian missionary work and began seriously considering a vocation as a long-term missionary.
When our parish priest of blessed memory, Fr. Peter Kastaris, became suddenly ill at the beginning of Lent 2008, I was asked to call Fr. David to serve us during the emergency. He accepted this midnight call with grace and love as Fr. Peter suffered and died shortly before Holy Week. In the season leading up to Pascha, I saw Fr. David and the whole Rucker family doing true missionary work in our midst - loving us first, suffering together with us, bearing our burdens, and being available. Only after establishing this relationship of love and trust did Fr. David begin to work positive change and gently correct our errors.
It was thus through relationships with OCMC staff that I made the decision to apply for long-term missionary service, and those relationships were established in OCF. Now I am in Tanzania, and have been asked to assist the Holy Archdioces of Mwanza to develop a ministry for young adults. The positive experiences I had in OCF at UF are a major guidepost in this process. I am very excited by this opportunity to share here in East Africa the great gifts I received as part of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship there in the United States.
It is an extra blessing to have the prayers, encouragement, and even financial partnership of OCFs in Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, California and British Columbia. When I was on the road raising support in the fall of 2009, my favorite moments were on university campuses with young faithful Orthodox Christians. I visited OCFs not because I thought students would give money, but because I simply love being with OCF. Surprisingly, some of my most consistent and generous support has come from people I met during OCF visits.
The most important tradition we established in OCF at UF was prayer. Three times weekly, a few students would gather for short midday prayers in the basement of the union building on campus. There were periods when "Midday Prayer" was the only thing OCF did, and when it might be attended by two people at most. But it was and continues to be the heart of Orthodox Christian spiritual life on the university campus. While other programs, events, etc succeeded or failed to whatever degree, the core of faithful consistent prayer is what sustained us and is what led, I firmly believe, to the tremendous growth OCF at UF experienced in the three years since my service as president. Even here in Tanzania, I know that every time I pause in the day to remember my God I am joined in this prayer by my fellow Orthodox Gators.
Involvement with the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) at the University of Florida led me to service as a long-term Orthodox Christian missionary in Tanzania, East Africa.
In the fall of 2005 I arrived in Gainesville, Florida as a graduate student in Linguistics and was welcomed warmly by fellow Orthodox Christian students. OCF was small at the time, but students were committed to one another and to Christ. Although we had few official functions we gathered frequently for informal prayer, fellowship, and book study. I found myself with a leadership role in these "unofficial" activities, and when our president graduated in 2007 I was asked to take on that post.
Gainesville is just down the road from St Augustine, Florida, where the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) is headquartered. So there was frequent contact between OCMC and OCF. OCMC Executive Director Fr. Martin Ritsi's kids were fellow Florida Gators, and our chaplain Fr. Ted Pisarchuk served on the OCMC board. So I quite naturally began to hear about possibilities for long-term missionary service.
As president of OCF at the University of Florida, I began to learn about leadership. I was surrounded by prayerful officers who took their role seriously and became great friends. Together with other nearby OCFs we organized a statewide retreat for Orthodox Christian college students and young adults which has since become a yearly event. At UF we continued to pray regularly for our campus and to develop a vision for the future.
We also started to bring in a regular speaker: Fr. David Rucker, who had just accepted a position as Associate Director of OCMC. And we received a new chaplain: Dn. James Nicholas, Assistant Director of OCMC's Missionary Department. Through Fr. David and Dn. James I learned more about Orthodox Christian missionary work and began seriously considering a vocation as a long-term missionary.
When our parish priest of blessed memory, Fr. Peter Kastaris, became suddenly ill at the beginning of Lent 2008, I was asked to call Fr. David to serve us during the emergency. He accepted this midnight call with grace and love as Fr. Peter suffered and died shortly before Holy Week. In the season leading up to Pascha, I saw Fr. David and the whole Rucker family doing true missionary work in our midst - loving us first, suffering together with us, bearing our burdens, and being available. Only after establishing this relationship of love and trust did Fr. David begin to work positive change and gently correct our errors.
It was thus through relationships with OCMC staff that I made the decision to apply for long-term missionary service, and those relationships were established in OCF. Now I am in Tanzania, and have been asked to assist the Holy Archdioces of Mwanza to develop a ministry for young adults. The positive experiences I had in OCF at UF are a major guidepost in this process. I am very excited by this opportunity to share here in East Africa the great gifts I received as part of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship there in the United States.
It is an extra blessing to have the prayers, encouragement, and even financial partnership of OCFs in Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, California and British Columbia. When I was on the road raising support in the fall of 2009, my favorite moments were on university campuses with young faithful Orthodox Christians. I visited OCFs not because I thought students would give money, but because I simply love being with OCF. Surprisingly, some of my most consistent and generous support has come from people I met during OCF visits.
The most important tradition we established in OCF at UF was prayer. Three times weekly, a few students would gather for short midday prayers in the basement of the union building on campus. There were periods when "Midday Prayer" was the only thing OCF did, and when it might be attended by two people at most. But it was and continues to be the heart of Orthodox Christian spiritual life on the university campus. While other programs, events, etc succeeded or failed to whatever degree, the core of faithful consistent prayer is what sustained us and is what led, I firmly believe, to the tremendous growth OCF at UF experienced in the three years since my service as president. Even here in Tanzania, I know that every time I pause in the day to remember my God I am joined in this prayer by my fellow Orthodox Gators.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Orthodox Conference on Missions and Evangelism to be Held at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan from October 15-17.
The Orthodox Conference on Missions and Evangelism offered by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America will be held on October 15-17, 2010 at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Speakers include: Fr. Nicholas Triantafilou, President of Holy Cross Seminary; Fr. Peter Gillquist, Chair of the Antiochian Archdiocese Department of Missions and Evangelism; Fr. Wilbur Ellsworth, Pastor of Holy Transfiguration Church, Warrenville, IL; and Dn. Michael Hyatt, President and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing. Please contact the Department of Missions and Evangelism by phone at 805-685-8999 or by e-mail at missions@antiochian.org for more information, or visit http://www.antiochian.org/missions/conference.
OCMC Now Offers Electronic Receipting
We are pleased to inform you that we are now able to provide your receipt electronically. Not only will this provide you with faster service, it will reduce our office and postage costs. If you would like to receive future receipts through the e-mail system, please email bookkeeper@ocmc.org and request this new service. When emailing, please be sure to include the e-mail address you want to use, your name, and your mailing address.
In Christ,
Orthodox Christian Mission Center
In Christ,
Orthodox Christian Mission Center
Monday, September 27, 2010
My Trip to Korea was a Treasure
My Trip to Korea was a Treasure
by Korinna Garbis
My trip on an OCMC Mission Team to Korea had the ingredients of a wonderful adventure: one part do-good, mixed in with one part spiritual journey. Words don’t seem to adequately describe the sheer joy I experienced in Korea, or the love I feel for my Korean family. My experience was very personal and in hindsight seemed to be something I worked toward my whole life without even knowing it.
I loved the Korean culture, and I loved the Korean people. While the Japanese culture gets the credit for Sumo Wrestling, Origami, Tempura, Sushi, Pagodas, and fan dancing, the Koreans have their own similar versions. The Korean culture is more familiar than I originally anticipated and left me wondering if they conceived of some of these beloved treasures. Most importantly, I fell in love with the children I taught. They were bright, inquisitive, fun, sweet, and respectful. Every day was great in Korea, which was probably why it was so hard to leave.
Korea is an industrialized country with hard working people, efficient transportation systems, and a strong economy. The country has been able to rebound economically after struggling to overcome the ravages of centuries of wars and what the children simply described to me as their “sad history.” Father Alexandros, the priest from the church in Busan, explained to me that the children are the best natural resource their country has. Anything they can do to improve their children’s future success is important. Learning the English language from a native speaker is a marketable asset for the Church to offer, and I was happy to help in any way I could.
I never expected to meet a family of friends in Korea. I walked my path to the church in Busan everyday with an amazing new friend. My fellow mission team member was a warm, knowledgeable, and helpful theology student. She answered my questions about Orthodox theology, which helped fulfill an educational component of my journey. That, along with the devotion and love of the people I met in Busan, helped to solidify my faith even more than I could have anticipated.
I was welcomed into this refreshing community with bright smiles and open arms. The Busan church has a nucleus of members including Father Alexandros, his wife Presbytera Patapia, teachers at the school, children, and other parishioners. They routinely attend church, share meals together, help one another, sing in the choir, and all work toward the same goal: serving God through serving others. There is no pretense here, just goodness. These people go out of their way for one another happily, and they did so for us. They came to trust us and let us into their world, which is a haven. I never wanted to leave.
Most of the people that I worked with at the church attended the daily services along with their families. They sang in the choir. They help their neighbors. After liturgy on Sundays they have a big Korean-style family lunch the church provides. It’s a good opportunity for everyone to be together. Afterward there are Bible studies for children and adults, and the smaller children are looked after. It’s all figured out.
Every morning we’d wake up, get ready, and go to church. At the church building, you could feel sustained all day and never need to leave. The actual church is on the fourth floor, a general recreation room is on the third floor, classrooms for the pre-school are on the second floor, and a kitchen and dining area are on the first. We would attend church in the mornings to start the day off right. When adults weren’t present to offer the responses of the “people” during the service, the older children would do so beautifully in Korean.
Our daily routine included an English language camp during the first week, and then assisting with the regular pre-school the second week. There were classes and activities for the children throughout the day. The children were meticulous artists and wonderful singers and dancers. Aside from their academic work, the pre-school students learned how to perform Korean fan dances and Korean drum routines. By 5:00pm children headed home. The teachers were bright, enthusiastic, wonderful caretakers of the children. They gave 100% every day. It was inspiring. Thereafter, the teachers cleaned up the school. The whole school is scoured top to bottom. Finally, after over a week of being there, I was able to convince the teachers they should let me take part in this afternoon ritual. It felt good to do something so small for them, especially after seeing how hard they work to instruct the children so well. In the evening we often had another church service, or some straggling kids left to entertain, followed by dinner prepared by Presbytera or some of the teachers.
The food we were provided was fresh and local. Busan is known for its fresh seafood. The children ate healthfully, and if they wanted seconds they were happily given. The children didn’t seem to have the type of body image and food issues that American kids do. They are happy just being, and it was refreshing to see.
I felt so accepted by the Busan church and so appreciated for simply being myself. What little I had to give they were happy to receive. I appreciated the opportunity to be a part of a close traditional Orthodox community. I’m enthusiastic about any opportunity to speak at length about the Korean Orthodox Church and the people I met and easily grew to love. I knew almost as soon as I arrived that I wouldn’t be able to stay away for long. I look forward to seeing my friends again soon and to helping to teach their children again.
The only concern I had about going on this OCMC Team was trying to determine what I had to offer. This was a teaching trip, and I am not a teacher. I’m a businesswoman, and I couldn’t immediately wrap my head around what my skill sets had to offer. But after I was there, I began to realize I was trying too hard. All I needed I had the whole time, and I am fortunate enough to have a lot of it. Since I’ve been given a lot of love, I had a lot to give. I could show my love by playing with the children, making them laugh and patiently teaching easy things like their letters, numbers, colors, etc. I could smile, laugh and give a big hug. I could hold their hand or play “Duck Duck Goose” with them. I could throw them up in the air and spin them around. And so I did. And that was enough.
The important thing to note is that everyone has something to give, even if they don’t realize it. Presbytera and I discussed this in detail, and it provided me the encouragement I was looking for. She was so helpful and always gave wonderful advice. When I shared with her that I wasn’t sure how my future career path would satisfy my desire to passionately serve our world in some grand way, she quieted me. She told me to remember that people can give in different ways, including their time, talents or treasure. Each is important, and having a solid career can lead someone to provide a great deal to the world. She made me promise I would work hard to build my company, and she is praying for me to do so.
Many people talk about fate as though it’s magic or luck. They think things seem to work themselves out in the cleverest of ways because fate made it so. As I get older, I realize that blessings are the only reason why things happen. By traveling to Korea, I was offered the blessing of a lifetime. I continue to immediately disregard any thanks that I am offered for going to Korea, because I was the one who benefited immensely from the experience.
My being in Korea allowed me to take a break from my day-to-day thoughts and responsibilities. All I had to focus on was the children and church. It was perfect. And amidst that focus there were certain moments of clarity that I couldn’t deny. It was the push I needed to re-center myself. I feel more at peace with my life after going on this trip. Being halfway across the world provided me with an opportunity to reexamine my choices with fresh perspective, and I feel I have a renewed purpose and appreciation for the many opportunities I have in my life.
by Korinna Garbis
My trip on an OCMC Mission Team to Korea had the ingredients of a wonderful adventure: one part do-good, mixed in with one part spiritual journey. Words don’t seem to adequately describe the sheer joy I experienced in Korea, or the love I feel for my Korean family. My experience was very personal and in hindsight seemed to be something I worked toward my whole life without even knowing it.
I loved the Korean culture, and I loved the Korean people. While the Japanese culture gets the credit for Sumo Wrestling, Origami, Tempura, Sushi, Pagodas, and fan dancing, the Koreans have their own similar versions. The Korean culture is more familiar than I originally anticipated and left me wondering if they conceived of some of these beloved treasures. Most importantly, I fell in love with the children I taught. They were bright, inquisitive, fun, sweet, and respectful. Every day was great in Korea, which was probably why it was so hard to leave.
Korea is an industrialized country with hard working people, efficient transportation systems, and a strong economy. The country has been able to rebound economically after struggling to overcome the ravages of centuries of wars and what the children simply described to me as their “sad history.” Father Alexandros, the priest from the church in Busan, explained to me that the children are the best natural resource their country has. Anything they can do to improve their children’s future success is important. Learning the English language from a native speaker is a marketable asset for the Church to offer, and I was happy to help in any way I could.
I never expected to meet a family of friends in Korea. I walked my path to the church in Busan everyday with an amazing new friend. My fellow mission team member was a warm, knowledgeable, and helpful theology student. She answered my questions about Orthodox theology, which helped fulfill an educational component of my journey. That, along with the devotion and love of the people I met in Busan, helped to solidify my faith even more than I could have anticipated.
I was welcomed into this refreshing community with bright smiles and open arms. The Busan church has a nucleus of members including Father Alexandros, his wife Presbytera Patapia, teachers at the school, children, and other parishioners. They routinely attend church, share meals together, help one another, sing in the choir, and all work toward the same goal: serving God through serving others. There is no pretense here, just goodness. These people go out of their way for one another happily, and they did so for us. They came to trust us and let us into their world, which is a haven. I never wanted to leave.
Most of the people that I worked with at the church attended the daily services along with their families. They sang in the choir. They help their neighbors. After liturgy on Sundays they have a big Korean-style family lunch the church provides. It’s a good opportunity for everyone to be together. Afterward there are Bible studies for children and adults, and the smaller children are looked after. It’s all figured out.
Every morning we’d wake up, get ready, and go to church. At the church building, you could feel sustained all day and never need to leave. The actual church is on the fourth floor, a general recreation room is on the third floor, classrooms for the pre-school are on the second floor, and a kitchen and dining area are on the first. We would attend church in the mornings to start the day off right. When adults weren’t present to offer the responses of the “people” during the service, the older children would do so beautifully in Korean.
Our daily routine included an English language camp during the first week, and then assisting with the regular pre-school the second week. There were classes and activities for the children throughout the day. The children were meticulous artists and wonderful singers and dancers. Aside from their academic work, the pre-school students learned how to perform Korean fan dances and Korean drum routines. By 5:00pm children headed home. The teachers were bright, enthusiastic, wonderful caretakers of the children. They gave 100% every day. It was inspiring. Thereafter, the teachers cleaned up the school. The whole school is scoured top to bottom. Finally, after over a week of being there, I was able to convince the teachers they should let me take part in this afternoon ritual. It felt good to do something so small for them, especially after seeing how hard they work to instruct the children so well. In the evening we often had another church service, or some straggling kids left to entertain, followed by dinner prepared by Presbytera or some of the teachers.
The food we were provided was fresh and local. Busan is known for its fresh seafood. The children ate healthfully, and if they wanted seconds they were happily given. The children didn’t seem to have the type of body image and food issues that American kids do. They are happy just being, and it was refreshing to see.
I felt so accepted by the Busan church and so appreciated for simply being myself. What little I had to give they were happy to receive. I appreciated the opportunity to be a part of a close traditional Orthodox community. I’m enthusiastic about any opportunity to speak at length about the Korean Orthodox Church and the people I met and easily grew to love. I knew almost as soon as I arrived that I wouldn’t be able to stay away for long. I look forward to seeing my friends again soon and to helping to teach their children again.
The only concern I had about going on this OCMC Team was trying to determine what I had to offer. This was a teaching trip, and I am not a teacher. I’m a businesswoman, and I couldn’t immediately wrap my head around what my skill sets had to offer. But after I was there, I began to realize I was trying too hard. All I needed I had the whole time, and I am fortunate enough to have a lot of it. Since I’ve been given a lot of love, I had a lot to give. I could show my love by playing with the children, making them laugh and patiently teaching easy things like their letters, numbers, colors, etc. I could smile, laugh and give a big hug. I could hold their hand or play “Duck Duck Goose” with them. I could throw them up in the air and spin them around. And so I did. And that was enough.
The important thing to note is that everyone has something to give, even if they don’t realize it. Presbytera and I discussed this in detail, and it provided me the encouragement I was looking for. She was so helpful and always gave wonderful advice. When I shared with her that I wasn’t sure how my future career path would satisfy my desire to passionately serve our world in some grand way, she quieted me. She told me to remember that people can give in different ways, including their time, talents or treasure. Each is important, and having a solid career can lead someone to provide a great deal to the world. She made me promise I would work hard to build my company, and she is praying for me to do so.
Many people talk about fate as though it’s magic or luck. They think things seem to work themselves out in the cleverest of ways because fate made it so. As I get older, I realize that blessings are the only reason why things happen. By traveling to Korea, I was offered the blessing of a lifetime. I continue to immediately disregard any thanks that I am offered for going to Korea, because I was the one who benefited immensely from the experience.
My being in Korea allowed me to take a break from my day-to-day thoughts and responsibilities. All I had to focus on was the children and church. It was perfect. And amidst that focus there were certain moments of clarity that I couldn’t deny. It was the push I needed to re-center myself. I feel more at peace with my life after going on this trip. Being halfway across the world provided me with an opportunity to reexamine my choices with fresh perspective, and I feel I have a renewed purpose and appreciation for the many opportunities I have in my life.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Please Pray for OCMC Missionary Katie Wilcoxson
We request your prayers for OCMC Missionary Katie Wilcoxson, serving in Tanzania. After hours of severe pain her missionary colleagues took her to hospital (Dar es Salaam). The CAT Scan diagnosed appendicitis and they quickly prepared her for surgery which began around 4:45 AM and concluded around 6:30 AM (US time—Tanzania is 7 hrs. ahead of US Eastern Time). She is now in recovery. Her missionary “family” in Dar es Salaam include Felice Stewart (also a nurse) and Michael Pagedas (public health care admin.) and others who are caring for her. His Eminence, DIMITRIOS, (Met. of Irinoupolis) is at the hospital with her even as I write making sure she is well cared for.
Thank you for joining with us in prayer for Katie and for all who are caring for her. Remember her parents, Fr. Aidan and Khouria Cynthia and all at Katie’s home parish, St. John the Forerunner Orthodox Church (Cedar Park, TX), who have kept vigil with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) and her fellow-missionaries praying for Katie and providing love and support.
Thank you for joining with us in prayer for Katie and for all who are caring for her. Remember her parents, Fr. Aidan and Khouria Cynthia and all at Katie’s home parish, St. John the Forerunner Orthodox Church (Cedar Park, TX), who have kept vigil with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) and her fellow-missionaries praying for Katie and providing love and support.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Sacred Ground in Alaska
Our OCMC mission team to Eklutna, Alaska was a wonderful experience, and we want each of you to know how much we appreciate the opportunity made possible by your support and prayers.
Alaska is a beautiful state with very warm and hospitable people. The weather was perfect (between 45-60 degrees). The mosquitoes were incredible, especially in Eklutna, but we had been warned and came prepared! On a more positive note, there are no fleas, ticks, termites, or snakes.
The Athabascan Alaska Natives moved the original St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church (completely constructed without nails!) from Knik to their sacred ground in Eklutna around the early 1900s. This area has since become a historical park, with up to 15,000 visitors each year from around the world. So as we worked in this remote spot, we watched people driving up and touring the grounds speaking many different languages.
The park is home to the Spirit Cemetery. When the monks arrived in this area from Russia, they converted the natives to Orthodoxy but did not try to completely change their customs and way of life as long as it did not conflict with Christianity. They were allowed to continue making their spirit houses but could no longer cremate. Believing the spirit hovers over the grave for a year, they cover the grave with a blanket to keep the spirit warm and build a house over the grave. In the house they place favorite items of the deceased person. The bright colors of the houses represent the tribes they are from or married into, and if they place a fence around the house it represents a chief.
In 1962 Chief Alex, thinking he was dying, was told by the bishop he would not die but would build a church, so the new St. Nicholas Church was where our Team of eight began work. Team members included Adam Bieker from Nevada, Amy and Chris Burdette from Florida, Dean Gionis from Florida, Nastassia Hill from Ohio, our team leader Charlie Varelos from Florida, and the two of us (Elaine and John Roussos from Alabama). The low ceiling in the altar and the old insulation was removed. New electrical wiring, insulation, and lights were installed in the new cathedral ceiling. Large new icons were hung in the sanctuary. The bell tower was repaired, and at the outside entrance a brick landing was laid. We gold-leafed a large piece of plywood, attached an icon of St. Nicholas, and hung it over the outside entrance door of the church. We dug huge stones from a pit and lined the outside of the entire church with the stones for a flower bed. Then we added plants and bark. We cut grass throughout the park and cleaned around the spirit houses and repaired and painted crosses. The picket fence around the park had to be repaired and then completely painted, along with many signs.
After our work was finished each day, we went to a parishioner’s home for dinner, fellowship, and to share our Orthodox faith with one another. Many days we attended services. Women wore scarves, and we did as well. There were no pews, and Divine Liturgy could easily last two hours or more, with standing room only for around fifty people. Although the worship service was the same, the customs were very different and very interesting. We enjoyed visiting after church with the parishioners. Everyone was most appreciative of the work we had done during our time there.
Because of this mission and the repairs to St. Nicholas, many more people will come not only to tour the Eklutna Historical Park, but also to visit and pray in St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church and continue to learn about Orthodoxy and the strong faith of the Alaskans.
Alaska is a beautiful state with very warm and hospitable people. The weather was perfect (between 45-60 degrees). The mosquitoes were incredible, especially in Eklutna, but we had been warned and came prepared! On a more positive note, there are no fleas, ticks, termites, or snakes.
The Athabascan Alaska Natives moved the original St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church (completely constructed without nails!) from Knik to their sacred ground in Eklutna around the early 1900s. This area has since become a historical park, with up to 15,000 visitors each year from around the world. So as we worked in this remote spot, we watched people driving up and touring the grounds speaking many different languages.
The park is home to the Spirit Cemetery. When the monks arrived in this area from Russia, they converted the natives to Orthodoxy but did not try to completely change their customs and way of life as long as it did not conflict with Christianity. They were allowed to continue making their spirit houses but could no longer cremate. Believing the spirit hovers over the grave for a year, they cover the grave with a blanket to keep the spirit warm and build a house over the grave. In the house they place favorite items of the deceased person. The bright colors of the houses represent the tribes they are from or married into, and if they place a fence around the house it represents a chief.
In 1962 Chief Alex, thinking he was dying, was told by the bishop he would not die but would build a church, so the new St. Nicholas Church was where our Team of eight began work. Team members included Adam Bieker from Nevada, Amy and Chris Burdette from Florida, Dean Gionis from Florida, Nastassia Hill from Ohio, our team leader Charlie Varelos from Florida, and the two of us (Elaine and John Roussos from Alabama). The low ceiling in the altar and the old insulation was removed. New electrical wiring, insulation, and lights were installed in the new cathedral ceiling. Large new icons were hung in the sanctuary. The bell tower was repaired, and at the outside entrance a brick landing was laid. We gold-leafed a large piece of plywood, attached an icon of St. Nicholas, and hung it over the outside entrance door of the church. We dug huge stones from a pit and lined the outside of the entire church with the stones for a flower bed. Then we added plants and bark. We cut grass throughout the park and cleaned around the spirit houses and repaired and painted crosses. The picket fence around the park had to be repaired and then completely painted, along with many signs.
After our work was finished each day, we went to a parishioner’s home for dinner, fellowship, and to share our Orthodox faith with one another. Many days we attended services. Women wore scarves, and we did as well. There were no pews, and Divine Liturgy could easily last two hours or more, with standing room only for around fifty people. Although the worship service was the same, the customs were very different and very interesting. We enjoyed visiting after church with the parishioners. Everyone was most appreciative of the work we had done during our time there.
Because of this mission and the repairs to St. Nicholas, many more people will come not only to tour the Eklutna Historical Park, but also to visit and pray in St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church and continue to learn about Orthodoxy and the strong faith of the Alaskans.
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