Saint Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church
A Parish Church of the
Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
Tucson, Arizona
St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church: A Brief History
"The date of the establishing of the church named in honor of St. Herman of Alaska is unknown to me,"
reports Fr. John McCuen, who was charged with seeing to the pastoral care and potential re-establishment of the
parish upon being sent to Arizona by His Eminence, KYRILL, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America, in
June of 2002. (Fr. John is also the Rector of Holy Archangels Orthodox Church in Phoenix, Arizona, who are
supportive of the efforts to restore St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church to operation.) "I do know that the
priest who served in the parish for many years was Hieromonk Innokenty, who died in the mid-1990s. For a time,
there was a priest in Phoenix who was charged with ministering to the needs of the parish, but when this priest
left the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia for another jurisdiction, there was no one available to serve in
the parish. This is why Vladika Kyrill asked me to take on this responsibility."
Efforts were made in 2003 to resume some services, but the core group necessary to support these activities did
not begin to coalesce until the summer of 2006. Finally, the commitments necessary for a decision to begin were
made, and a molieben to St. Herman of Alaska was celebrated on July 13th (n.s.). The first Divine Liturgy was
celebrated on July 17/30, 2006. A second Divine Liturgy was held on August 14/27, 2006.
The situation remains "fluid" for the parish community, as there is, as yet, no permanent place for the church to
meet and have services. By God's grace, and with your prayers, this critical need will be met.
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