This week on August 9th, we mark the 54th Anniversary of the Canonization of our beloved Father Herman as the first Saint of North America.
If you would permit me, I would like to share my own thoughts about this important event in the life of the Church. As a college student back in 1970, America was in the throes of division both of a racial as well as civil nature, Vietnam War, etc. Our nation’s colleges and universities became hotbeds of violent protests and dissension for a multitude of reasons seeking to divide us and separate us from one another. This was also the case within the Church in America at that time, especially within the Russian Orthodox Church of North America (Metropolia).
This was a period just before the Tomos of Autocephaly that was characterized with jurisdictional strife, rampant within many of our parishes. In the midst of this period just prior to 1970 and shortly thereafter many visionary clergy and lay people felt the time had come when we would finally be the Orthodox Church in America, independent of foreign rule and subjugation. Among those visionaries, a growing desire developed and took hold in which we would proclaim the sanctity of one of the first monks who came to this land and endeavored to missionize its native indigenous peoples for 35+ years.
The dissension and conflict in our land and Church, however, would continue for a period of time when a minority of people became disillusioned, angry and contrary to this vision perceived by those spearheading the establishment of the Orthodox Church in this land. Notwithstanding this trepidation and uncertainty, the dedicated bishops, clergy and lay people risked everything to follow the dream of our American Church.
Our own parish here grew out of these times when several groups gathered together uniting under a single purpose to prosper the Church here in Delaware County, PA. It was not an easy task, that we all know, but it was accomplished.
Now getting back to my reason for bringing up St. Herman’s Canonization, is that 54 years later, through countless obstacles and setbacks, the Church in America has canonized numerous saints, including bishops, priests and laymen both male and female. It now encompasses numerous converts to Orthodoxy along with new immigrants who through various ways have sought the faith of our Fathers.
Recently we learned about the life of St. Matushka Olga of Alaska, another shining example of how we have progressed as the Church of God in America. Imagine only 54 years ago we proclaimed our first saint and now we have a host of heavenly saints who have labored in this country for 230 years as of September 24, 1794. These are glorious examples of those who came before us whose soul purpose was to propagate the Orthodox faith in a new land.
So as I look back on that day in 1970 when we gathered in our churches on a Sunday afternoon to celebrate the Moleben Service to St. Herman, we did so not knowing where this would lead us. It was a day similar to Pascha, warm, bright and peaceful, when we sang the new words of glorification to America’s first saint.
I will always cherish that, for to me and my generation of Great grandchildren of immigrants, it solidified our identification and place within our country. We had earned a place in our society that was achieved by the perseverance of love and devotion to Our Lord Jesus Christ in our Orthodox Christian way.
So to all of you both those new and old Orthodox Christians, we have so much to be thankful for but it also beckons us to continue in our journey hopefully bringing the countless unchurched peoples of this great land into the truth and fullness of our Orthodox Christian faith, bringing peace and tranquility to a world and a nation in need of love and healing.
Amen, Amen, Amen!
Blessed Father Herman of Alaska Pray Unto God for us!
