Alaska's northernmost Orthodox parish, St Herman's in Fairbanks began as a small study group in early 1975. It quickly progressed to weekly Sunday Reader services held in various locations, which down through the years included living rooms, a historical amusement park, the University of Alaska campus, local churches, and even a converted garage. A land parcel of three acres approximately 10 miles from downtown Fairbanks was purchased in 1985, and a small, simple chapel was constructed by volunteers in 1987. Special features in the chapel are an iconostas written by Alaska artist Charles Rohrbach and a reliquary icon of St Herman written by Iouri Sidorenko. There had not been a resident priest in Fairbanks except for two brief periods of time (totaling less than five years), yet the parish was served by visiting clergy traveling from Kodiak (700 air miles away) and Anchorage (360 road miles away). Father Lawerence Whitehurst now serves as the rector of St. Herman's Orthodox Church and the community is now experiencing steady growth.

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Published with the blessing of
His Grace The Right Reverend NIKOLAI, Bishop of Sitka, Anchorage & Alaska
©2003 Russian Orthodox Diocese of Alaska

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