Orthodox Alaska: A Theology of Mission

by Michael Oleksa

Includes index and appendices.

In 1794, the first Orthodox missionary monks arrived at Kodiak to found what they believed would be an indigenous Orthodox Church in the New World. They recognized as integral to their mission the defense of Native people who were being abused, exploited and enslaved by an unjust regime. The mission understood its function in cosmic terms: to sanctify, here and now, this land, these people, and bring them to the unity-in-love which is the goal of authentic Christian mission.

The history of the Alaskan Church confirms the eternal and indestructible character of the Church's vision, integrating into her worship the cosmic, scriptural and eschatological dimension of faith. Among the Native Americans in Alaska, Orthodoxy has become an integral part of an authentically American culture. Consequently it is appropriate that an Orthodox theology of mission should originate from the Alaskan context. If an American Orthodox missiology is to emerge, its formulation should serve not only the Church in America but contribute to the clarification of Orthodox theology for the universal Church as well.

Archpriest Michael J. Oleska, Alaskan Orthodox missionary for nearly three decades, completed his doctoral work in Church History and Patristics at the Orthodox Theological Faculty in Presov, Slovakia, in 1988. Upon completing a year of research and teaching at Moscow's St Patriarch Tikhon Theological Institute, he was elected Dean of St Herman's Seminary in Kodiak, Alaska, in 1996. He is also the editor of Alaskan Missionary Spirituality.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, 20th Century, Religion, Theology, Faith

252 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book beautifully relates a particular historical/cultural/geographic story of universal significance. It helped me untangle some questions relating to missions I’ve been wrestling with for many years. I’m adding an Alaskan pilgrimage as a life-goal!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably one of the best, if not the best, book I've read this year. This is the first introduction I've had to the history of Alaska. I studied history all of my life, never had I really had a history of Alaska, outside of the general purchase from Russia. It is both amazing and a dark history. A dark history because it is a stain on American history at how Orthodox Alaska, Christian Alaska was treated by America at the hands of protestants. But, despite this treatment, Orthodoxy has survived. To summarize the book, which is also a use of a particular line towards the end of the book, it is not Orthodoxy that destroyed Alaskan culture, but secularism. Alaska is but a historical microcosm of what we face today on a grand scale in America.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally read or enjoy straight nonfiction history, but the chapter summarizing Orthodox theology is alone worth the price of admission, and the many colorful characters throughout made it an overall enjoyable read

[John Paterakis · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books in English on Orthodox missiology.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This history of the Orthodox Church in Alaska was easy to read and informative. It gave me a better understanding of the native Alaskans and their conversion to Christianity.