Russian Orthodox Diocese of Alaska - Nikolai, Alaska

The Annual Conference developed in the 1960's as a means for the then few clergy to spend time with their bishop at convenient travel locations. They also became a means for the faithful of far-flung regions to have contact with the Diocesan Bishop and quickly became a highlight of summer village life. Today, although there are more priests, faithful from all over the various deaneries look forward to the conference as a time to gather together with faithful of neighboring parishes and to gather with the hierarch of the Diocese. Typically, a theme had been appointed for the conference -- but for the last couple years, an important point of the conference has been the 'conference meeting' at which His Grace fields questions from the faithful present and gives them a narrative on the life of the Diocese as a whole.

Kasigluk is a village of several hundred people, of whom nearly 80% are Russian Orthodox. Although there is no running water here, plans for plumbing the village are in the final stages. Even without running water, the village of Kasigluk is on the cutting-edge in many respects. Experimental work in the use of wind-power to offset the need for diesel to produce electricity have been met with some success. Already, three generators have been installed. If it proves to be a successful venture in Kasigluk, other villages will also put the program to work. Though we might consider far-away Alaskan villages to be 'backward' and 'primitive' in some respects, we can see that Kasigluk and other villages like it are far ahead of the mainstream when it comes to self-sufficiency and making use of new technology to provide villagers with a better life. Diesel and gasoline can cost as much as $5 per gallon in Interior Alaska!

The conference provides a spiritually uplifting and informative time for all the Orthodox Christians who gather for it.