Orthodox Church in America Diocese of Alaska

Religious organization in Alaska, United States

The Diocese of Alaska (Russian: Епархия Аляски, romanized: Yeparkhiya Alyaski) is a diocese of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).^[1] Its territory includes parishes, monasteries, and missions located in Alaska. The diocesan chancery is located in Anchorage. The Diocese was founded when Alaska was part of Russia and is one of the oldest in the United States. The Church of the Holy Ascension (1826), which belongs to the Diocese, is one of the oldest American churches.

Altogether, twenty-three churches are listed on the National Register of Historic Places; thirty churches are considered National Historic Landmarks.^[2] As of 2013, the Diocese includes 89 parishes,^[1] which represents the highest concentration of Orthodox Church in America parishes among the states.^[3]

According to the Los Angeles Times, the diocese had around 30,000 members statewide as of 2006.^[4]

Deaneries

The diocese is grouped geographically into deaneries. Each deanery is headed by a parish priest, known as a dean. The deans coordinate activities in their area's parishes, and report to the diocesan bishop. As of 2015, the deaneries of the Diocese of Alaska are:^[5]^[6]

Alaska Peninsula Deanery
Aleutian Deanery
Anchorage Deanery
Bethel and Kuskokwim Deanery
Bristol Bay Deanery
Iliamna Deanery
Kenai and Prince William Sound Deanery
Kodiak Deanery
Russian Mission and Yukon Deanery
Sitka and Southeast Deanery

Bishops

Alaska Vicariate of the North American Diocese

Innocent (Pustynsky) (14 December 1903 - 1 May 1909)
Alexander (Nemolovsky) (15 November 1909 - 6 July 1916)
Philip (Stavitsky) (6 August 1916 - April 1919)
Anthony (Dashkievich) (11 December 1921 - 1922)
Amphilochius (Vakulsky) (28 July 1924 - September 1930)
Antonin (Vasilyev) (11 October 1930 - 1934)

Diocese of Alaska

Alexis (Panteleev) (November 1934 - 1944)
John (Zlobin) (10 March 1946 - ca. 1952)
Ambrose (Merezhko) (11 September 1955 - 1967)
Theodosius (Lazor) (6 May 1967 - 30 May 1972)
Gregory (Afonsky) (13 May 1973 - 20 July 1995)
- Herman (Swaiko) (1995 - ca. Consecration. 2001) locum tenens
Nicholas (Soraich) (4 March 2002 - 13 May 2008)
- Locum tenens: Herman (Swaiko) (13 May 2008 - 4 September 2008)
- Locum tenens: Benjamin (Peterson) (4 September 2008 - 21 February 2014)
David (Mahaffey) (21 February 2014 - 27 November 2020)
- Diocesan administrator: Alexis (Trader) (3 November 2020 - 27 March 2022)
Alexis (Trader) (27 March 2022 - present)

References

^ ^a ^b Diocese of Alaska.
^ Alaska’s Russian Orthodox Churches.
^ Krindatch, A. (2011). Atlas of American Orthodox Christian Churches. Brookline, MA: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, p. 70.
^ Verhovek, Sam Howe (October 1, 2006). "In Alaska, a Tradition of Russian Faith". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
^ 2014 Diocesan Assembly: Deanery Reports
^ The Diocese of Alaska Parish Directory