Page 39 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

A POR TR AIT OF ALASK A  37

The Holy Assumption
of the Virgin Mary
Russian Orthodox
Church, in Kenai,
was completed in
1895. A distinctive
crown-shaped cupola
marks this National
Historic Landmark.

The iconostasis separates The Russian Bishop’s House is the oldest intact
the church from the altar
and symbolizes separa tion Russian building in Sitka. Built in 1842 by the
between the human Russian American Company as the Bishop’s
world and the Divine. Only residence, it also functioned as an orphanage,
men may pass this wall. school, and seminary.
The altar, behind the
iconostasis, is where
the priest celebrates
the Holy Liturgy.

St. Nicholas
Russian Orthodox
Church (1893)
was founded for
Juneau’s mostly
Tlingit Orthodox
community.

Orthodox Interiors
The interiors of Russian Orthodox churches are
simple in layout, but are lavishly decorated with
rich colors and beautiful, vibrant icons, as seen St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral, in
here in the chapel at St. Herman’s Theological Sitka, was begun in 1844 when the original
Seminary in Kodiak. In most Orthodox churches cornerstone was laid by Bishop Veniaminov.
there are no pews, as worshipers are expected to Destroyed by fire in 1966, the church was
stand in deference to Christ’s suffering. rebuilt and reconsecrated by 1976.

Spirit houses grace
the churchyard behind
St. Nicholas Russian
Orthodox Church in the
tiny Athabaskan village
of Eklutna. Each of these
structures is a gravesite
and is deco rated
according to indi vid ual
family traditions.

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