The historic St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox church in Eklutna in the Municipality of Anchorage is being restored to its former glory with $350,000 from the National Parks Service. What a wonderful tourist attraction it will make!
I hope, after St. Nicholas church is restored, a Russian Orthodox bishop will be sent to bless it in a formal ceremony, and a priest will be assigned to serve there, so that we may worship there once again. Russia was an important nearby trading partner to Alaska, and we used to have a visa-less travel agreement for Native people between Siberia and Alaska.
I pray this event will be a first step in reestablishing friendship and cooperation with Russian Federation after so much hostility and bitterness has come between our peoples for so long. Let us pray for peace and work toward not wasting such a wonderful opportunity.
— Daniel N. Russell
Anchorage
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