Address delivered by the Right Rev. Tikhon Bishop of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands on first entering the once Cathedral Church at Sitka

It is not without deep emotion that I, this day, enter for the first time this holy temple, and this emotion will not, methinks, be unintelligible to you, my brethren. This was once a Cathedral Church.

Here, in Sitka, lived the pastors of the Aleutian fold,—chief of them the Metropolitan Innocentius of undying memory. Here was the centre of a diocese’s church life and church govern­ment. Here, too, was the seat of the country’s civil administration. But, in the Preacher’s words, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” [Eccles. 3:1][1]. And so, here in Sitka, things are not as they were thirty years ago. True, Sitka is still the seat of the country’s civil administration, but the ruling power is no longer Russia’s, but America’s. And what of the Orthodox Church? Will she endure and stay in the face of so many changes, amid so many conflicting currents? There be prophets who would predict that, in twenty five years from now, there will remain no trace of Orthodox Christianity in Alaska…

The destinies of the world, of empires and nations, are in the hand of God. He, the Almighty, “exalteth and abaseth, maketh rich or poor, giveth life or death.” [2] In His hands also lies the fate of the Orthodox Church in Alaska, and all that is left for us is to “humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and cast all our care upon Him, for He careth for us.” [1 Peter 5:6–7] [3]

But, while we place our hope in the Lord, my brethren, let us not ourselves be remiss and infirm of spirit.

Ye have heard in today’s Gospel Les­son that the Church of God is founded and built upon the firm rock of professed faith in Christ, the Son of God (Matth. 7:24-27) [4]. And wheresoever the faith in Christ abideth firmly in men’s hearts, there, in spite of circumstances and any disasters, the Church of Christ will stand firmly. Whether we let our thoughts carry us back to the first ages of Chistianity, or to a more recent period,—one century back, when Christian­ity was being introduced in wild Alaska, we shall find that through men poor in substance, but rich in faith, love and eudurance, the Church of Christ grew, throve, and waxed strong. Bearing this in mind, do ye also, brethren, lay within your hearts a firm foundation for the Church of Christ to stand upon, be ye even as strong and living stones (1 Peter 2:5) [5]. Having tasted in the Orthodox Church the good Word of God, and having there laboured in love, do ye, in the Apostle’s words, shew the same dilig­ence unto the end (Hebr. 6:5, 10–11) [6].

Therefore, brethren, be watchful, guard against open or concealed attacks against your faith, quit ye like men against your enemies, stand firm in the faith which ye have re­ceived from your fathers as a sacred and precious heirloom, guard and treasure it sacredly, more than the apple of your eye, and stablish yourselves in it more and more firmly. Then, though the enemy arm himself against you, ye shall not fear nor shall ye be troubled, for within you the foundation shall stand firmly—the holy Orthodox Church; and the gates of hell, sayeth the Savior, shall not prevail against it (Matth. 16:18) [7].

 
Sitka.
19-th of June 1899.
 

 

 
[1] To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

[2] The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. 1 Samuel 2:6-9

[3] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 1 Peter 5:6-9

[4] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:24-27

[5] To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 1 Peter 2:4-8

[6] For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:4-12

[7] He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:15-19
 

The Russian Orthodox American Messenger, Vol. 3, No. 15, 1–13 August 1899, pp. 394–395