Christmas in Alaska

by on December 28, 2007 in Education & Study

by Elizabeth Jackson
December 13 is St. Lucia Day, but it is also the day many remember the life and death of St. Herman of Alaska. I’d never heard of him until this year, but he truly led a fascinating life. He was one of the few who brought the gospel to Alaska over 200 years ago, enduring many hardships, and protecting the native people he had grown to love with his life. Some of his fellow missionaries were martyred. Father Herman died and was buried on December 13 (December 25 in the West).

I had the privilege of hearing his liturgy sung in a beautiful cathedral as a special birthday treat this year. (I have loved cathedrals ever since my mission trip to Romania in 2003). And I’ve thought about him several times, as the days here continue to get colder and darker. How blessed I am to have a warm home and relatively easy life; yet how wont I am to complain when my feet are a bit cold in the car, or there is ice covering the parking lot at the grocery store. I am humbled when I remember that many Christians have endured great hardships and horrible conditions to bring Christ to a dying people.

I believe that God has given us this great cloud of witnesses so that no matter what challenges we face in our daily lives, we can know that we are not alone. Someone at some time has faced similar things and more, whether in Alaska, or Jerusalem, Romania, or Ecuador. We remember them and rejoice in the faithfulness of God. He has a long history of doing great things with small people.

Merry Christmas from Alaska!

photo by Sarah Plett

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