August 2009
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Every August 9th, the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of the “Uncovering of the Relics” of Saint Herman of Alaska. This feast commemorates his canonization as the first American saint to be glorified by the Church, which took place on this date in 1970. Saint Herman, a lay monk, was part of the original missionary band that brought Orthodoxy to the North American continent. He arrived in Alaska in 1794 as part of the original Russian Orthodox mission and lived there until his repose in 1837. For more than forty years he ministered to the natives and taught them by word and example. With his own severe asceticism kept as a secret, he ministered to both physical and spiritual needs of the people. His memory is preserved, fresh and personal, among their descendents who to this day lovingly refer to him as “Apa” Herman. As we commemorate him on August 9, we pray that by his prayers we, also, will truly receive the Gospel he brought to this continent and follow the way that he taught. Like him, we hope to grow in holiness and ourselves be numbered among the saints—the common vocation of all Christians.
But how can we grow in holiness? How can we best respond to the Lord’s call to
holiness? What is the “secret” of becoming a saint?
The way in which we each can become holy, is as unique as each one of us and so we can be certain that there is no one answer to these questions. But we can be assured that for all of us sanctity is achieved by uphill battles and spiritual struggles as well as by surprising moments of grace and unexpected blessings. As Orthodox Christians, we know that are called to grow in holiness, using the great gifts of the Church, the Scriptures, the Holy Mysteries, the prayerful intercession of the Holy Theotokos and the Communion of Saints. And we are supported in our journey to holiness by one another, by our families, by our parish community, and by all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
As we reflect upon the life of Saint Herman—and upon the lives of all our brothers and sisters, the Saints—let us also reflect upon our own response to the Lord’s call to holiness. Through the prayers of our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, may the Lord God grant each one of us- and all of us together- the grace to continue our growth in holiness. Until that great day that we are all united in the presence of the Lord in the Kingdom of Heaven.
With love in the Lord,
Father David