By PETER SMITH, DANIEL KOZIN and MARK THIESSEN
ANCHORAGE (AP) — Orthodox Christians across Alaska have been taking part in three days of prayer for peace ahead of Friday’s summit there between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which will focus on the war in Ukraine.
Related Articles
Judge strikes down key parts of Florida law that led to removal of books from school libraries
Judge strikes down Trump administration guidance against diversity programs at schools and colleges
Texas Democrats set plan to end nearly 2-week walkout over Republicans’ redraw of US House maps
As federal activity takes root in DC, police chief orders more cooperation with immigration agents
Judge orders RFK Jr.’s health department to stop sharing Medicaid data with deportation officials
Orthodoxy is the majority religion in both Russia and Ukraine, although the religion has also been a source of controversy. The Russian church’s leadership has strongly supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the war has aggravated a schism among Ukraine’s Orthodox.
“With the leaders coming to Alaska, what is the one thing that the church can offer? That is prayers for peace,” said Archbishop Alexei of the Diocese of Sitka and Alaska in the Orthodox Church of America.
The OCA is the now-independent offspring of Russian Orthodox missionaries who planted the faith in Alaska when it was a czarist territory in the 18th and 19th centuries. The church has about 80 parishes statewide and hundreds more across North America.
Mark Kalashnikov, a native of Russia living in the United States, poses for a photo outside St. Innocent Orthodox Cathedral on Aug. 12, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
The first prayers held Tuesday sought the help of St. Olga of Kwethluk — an Alaska Native woman who was canonized in June as the first Orthodox woman saint in North America.
“She was known to be really a healer in families,” said Alexei, who led prayers dedicated to her on Tuesday at St. Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Anchorage. “And because of the great pain and hardship that is experienced by families in the Ukraine and also in Russia, it felt good to start there.”
Wednesday’s services sought the intercession of St. Herman, an early monk and missionary “known for standing up against Russian authorities when they were doing what was wrong to the people,” Alexei said.
FILE – This image provided by the Diocese of Sitka and Alaska in June 2025 shows a detail of the official icon of St. Olga of Kwethluk, Matushka of All Alaska. (Diocese of Sitka and Alaska via AP, file)
On Thursday, the prayers focused on a historic icon of the Mother of God at the cathedral in Sitka, which was the capital of Alaska under Russian rule. Alexei said he hopes the prayers “will touch the hearts of our leaders.”
Lorinda Fortuin, one of the worshippers at Tuesday’s service at the Anchorage cathedral, echoed the thought.
“My heart breaks for my Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox brothers that are killing each other, over what?” she said. “It’s just a shame, and I want to just do what I can to bring peace to this world, and I believe my prayers can play a part in that.”
Mark Kalashnikov, another worshipper and a native of Russia living in the United States, said many people he knows have suffered in the war.
Two parishioners pray at St. Tikhon Orthodox Church in Anchorage during an Akathist service dedicated to peace in Ukraine on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/ Daniel Kozin)
“It is reassuring to see there is at least some communication happening,” he said of the summit. “We are trying to do what is asked of us, to come together as a community locally and to pray.”
Smith reported from Pittsburgh.
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Leave a Reply