St. Peter the Aleut History and Personal Story Hosted by Holy Assumption Monastery June 27, 2020 Robin Joy Wellman [email protected] Thank you Holy Assumption Monastery Russian American Company 1799-1867 Alaska, California, Hawaii Alexander Baranov California – Settlement Ross 1812-1841 Watercolor by Ilya Voznesenskii Sea otter pelts, trade with the Spanish Missions, and farming were the three main reasons for settling in California Chernykh Ranch 1817 Treaty between the Russian American Company and California Indians Spiritual Connection in Alaska and California During the Russian American Company Era Ivan Veniaminov (1797-1879) Russian religious St. Innocent of Alaska. leader, ethnographer, missioner, first scholar to study language of Alaskan Natives, created a written language for Aleuts, translated Bible to Aleutian. Father Veniaminov visited Fort Ross in 1836. Fort Ross State Historic Park St. Nicholas Chapel - Holy Trinity Chapel at Ross. Russian Orthodox services at Fort Ross Russian Orthodox memorial services at the cemetery St. Peter the Aleut, martyr and saint, was a native to Kodiak Islands, born with the name of Cungagnag in 1800 and died in 1815 at the early age of 15. Peter the Aleut was glorified as a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and locally glorified by the Diocese of Alaska of the Orthodox Church in America as the ‘Martyr of San Francisco’ in 1980. His feast day is celebrated September 24. He is holding a Cross to show his martyrdom. His hand is raised to show that it is fully restored in the resurrection! Man from Oonalaska 1779 Russian brig Rurik anchors at St. Paul Island, while Alaskan native hunter paddles in baidarka near sea lions, by Louis Choris, 1817. Alaska State Library, Louis Choris Collection St. Peter the Aleut – A Discovery on the Fort Ross Beach Archpriest Lawrence who held the blessing of the icon at St. Seraphim of Sarov. St. Herman of Alaska Born in the 1750’s and died in 1836 at Spruce Island. When he heard of the torture of Peter the Aleut, St. Herman stood before an icon and pronounced, "Holy New Martyr Peter, pray to God for us!"! Troparion (Tone 1) O Peter, upon the rock of thy faith hath Christ built His Church, and in the streams of thy blood hath He hallowed our land. In thee thy people hath been sanctified, O Aleut; from the farthest islands of the west hath He raised thee, a light unto all. Glory to Him that hath glorified thee. Glory to Him that hath crowned thee. Glory to Him that worketh healings for all through thee. Thank you to the Holy Assumption Monastery for keeping St. Peter the Aleut icon St. Theophan the Recluse writes: “Some icons are miraculous because it so pleases God, but the power is not in the icons, or in the people turning to them, but in the mercy of God.” An icon is said to be a window into the heavenly realm. The Lord creates miracles anywhere, anytime, and through anything. I believe this is true .