2010 marked the 40th anniversary of the glorification of St Herman of Alaska jointly by the OCA and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) in 1970.*
In honor of this festal and historic occasion, we launched in August of 2010 this new page to collect in one place as many significant resources as possible regarding our beloved patron saint of Orthodoxy in North America. This page has been updated numerous times since with new materials, books, icons, and much more. Scroll down for audio, videos, books (including children's titles), excerpts from St Herman's teachings on the Orthodox Way, online articles, icons and much more, all related not only to St Herman, but to his message for us today, which can be summed up in his rightly famous word:
As a special blessing, the final entry at bottom features the icon of St Herman by Archbishop Job of Beloved and Eternal Memory, which was painted and presented to the Holy Resurrection Church (Kodiak, AK) for the Glorification on August 9, 1970. This icon shows Fr Herman standing on Spruce Island with mainland Alaska in the background, holding his blessing cross (which is preserved along with St Herman's relics at Holy Resurrection Church), and has become one of the two main prototype icons for depiction of our patron saint of North America. Thus our beloved archpastor Job is eternally connected to the humble monk and saint of Spruce Island, whose spirit and example he certainly emulated. Memory Eternal, Vladyka Job!
Troparion to St Herman (Tone 4) O blessed Father Herman of Alaska, North Star of Christ's Holy Church! The light of your holy life and great deeds guides those who follow the Orthodox Way. Together we lift high the Holy Cross you planted firmly in America. Let all behold and glorify Jesus Christ, singing His Holy Resurrection! ![]() |
Listen to the Troparion and Kontakion
for St Herman, in MP3 format, as chanted by the Sign of the Theotokos Orthodox Church, Montreal Canada, directed by Vassilis Hadjinicolaou. Order the CD, Byzantine Music in the New World, where this recording is found (Liturgica.com). |
Immerse yourself in the soul-vivifying life of St Herman through the books, articles and icons below!
Herman ~ A Wilderness Saint
This new title is translated from Russian and contains material not previously available in English, which only became accessible in Russia after the fall of communism. Through its use of primary sources such as letters and reports, St. Herman’s life and character is revealed with startling clarity, together with many aspects of the wider Russian ecclesiastic mission to America of which he was an integral part. The three appendices bring the story of New Valaam up to our own time, offer details of the saint’s canonization by both the OCA and ROCOR in 1970 and provide more biographical background to some of the eyewitnesses to the saint’s life. The primary text is supported by easily referenced endnotes and rounded off by an index.
Paperback, 260 pages — Available in eBook format.
Also available through Amazon.com
St Herman of Alaska ~ His Life and Service
St Herman of Alaska Press
Presented here is a Life of St. Herman, originally commissioned by Abbot Damascene of Valaam and incorporating the latest research on the Saint’s early years, as well as a complete Vigil Service to the Saint, composed by the St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood and Archbishop Alypy (Gamanovich) of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
Softcover, 48 pages, $9.
St Herman of Alaska Press
In 1914, F.A. Golder, a leading scholar on the American Northwest at the turn of the century, spent two weeks at Valaam Monastery located on Lake Ladoga (between present-day Russia and Finland). Golder went to Valaam to learn of this missionary monk who was sent to America to bring the Orthodox Faith to the natives of the land.
72 pages, illustrated with paper-cut illustrations, paperback, $8.00
North Star ~ St Herman of Alaska, Dorrie Papademetriou
St Vladimir Seminary Press
Hardcover, full color, 8.5 x 11, 32 pp, Price: US $18.00
Spruce Island Alaska, A Pilgrim's Guide
St Herman of Alaska Press
Softcover, 48 pages, full color, $8.
St Herman of Alaska,
Written and Illustrated by S.A. Smith
Regina Orthodox Press
Paperback, Full Color, 28 pages, $9.95.
TWO UNIQUE TITLES!
"A monk like me, fleeing the glory of men, will come and live on Spruce Island.” —St. Herman of Alaska
Abba Gerasim, and his Letters to his Brotherhood
St Herman of Alaska Press
240 pages, illustrated, full-color cover, paperback, $10.00
Father Gerasim of New Valaam
St Herman of Alaska Press
112 pages, illustrated, full-color cover, paperback, $5.00
A SPIRITUAL CLASSIC!
Out of Print, but available used through Amazon.com.
Possibly available to borrow from the Christ the Savior Library.
Selections available online; see below following book description.
Little Russian Philokalia, Vol. III, St Herman of Alaska
St Herman of Alaska Press
Color Cover, Illustrated throughout, 200 pages, originally $10.
Read the Prima Vita (Original Life) online.
Read selections from the Treasury of St Herman's Spirituality.
St Herman and Mount Athos ~ A Spiritual Connection
The Living Witness of the Holy Mountain: Contemporary Voices from Mount Athos, by Hieromonk Alexander Golitzin
St Tikhon Seminary Press
Softcover, 310 pages, $24.95
We offer here a collection of links to other sites, a digest of resources on our beloved St Herman. Here you will find the Life of St Herman, OCA articles and photos of his glorification in 1970, the Akathist Hymn to the Saint, icons, and more. We hope this small effort of love and devotion for our Patron Saint of Orthodoxy in North America blesses you, and inspires you— "from this day, from this hour, from this minute!"
Description of the Life Icon of St Herman at right, including each of the panels surrounding the main image. Long unavailable, this beloved icon can be ordered from Uncut Mountain Supply.
Wikipedia Article on St Herman: Very useful, and condenses a wide range of information about St Herman's joint glorification by the OCA and ROCOR, his impact on the Orthodox Church, and his veneration. Features numerous links to other resources.
Extensive Photo Collection from the Kodiak (OCA) Glorification of St Herman, including: pilgrimage to Monk's Lagoon and Spruce Island; Vigil, Hierarchical Liturgy and Procession at Holy Resurrection Church in Kodiak; St Herman's reliquary, klobuk, hand (blessing) cross, paraman (chains and cross) and more. Almost four dozen photos in all! (OrthodoxPhotos.com)
All Saints of North America Church (Hamilton Ontario, CA) resources on St Herman: Some overlap with the citations above, with several additional articles of enormous value. Includes resources on all the North American saints and righteous ones.
The Valaam Monastery Prima Vita of St Herman (1864) (from The Little Russian Philokalia Vol III).
A Treasury of St Herman's Spirituality (from The Little Russian Philokalia Vol III).
Uncut Mountain Supply
ArchangelBooks.com
St Isaac of Syria Skete
OCA Icon of St Herman with scenes from his life explained
St Herman on 'The Way of a Christian'
(From a Letter of St Herman, dated June 20, 1820)
The Importance of St Herman for Orthodox Christians in America Today
"From this day, from this hour, from this minute,
let us love God above all, and strive to fulfill His holy will!"
* Schema-Hieromonk Ambrose (Young).
ST. HERMAN OF ALASKA (c.1756 - 1837)
Feast Days: August 9th (canonization), December 13th (repose)
Posted at Firebird Videos
A beautifully carved wooden reliquary in the Resurrection Church contains the coffin with Father Herman's relics (photo to the right). On top of the reliquary are: a large icon of the saint (center); as well as the "paramon" cross and metal chains (on the left) that he wore (shown in the icon at the top); and his klobuk (monk's hat) (in the glass box on the right). Also to be found at this church is Father Herman's hand cross, which he is shown holding in the icon at the top.
This article was written by Jane M. deVyver, M.Th., Ph.D., and the photos are by the author. The icon at top left was painted/written by His Grace, Bishop Job of Chicago (formerly, Fr. John Osacky), and presented to Holy Resurrection Church by him at the time of the glorification of St. Herman on August 9, 1970. The second icon was painted/written by Fr. Theodore Jurewicz of Erie, PA, and is at St. Innocent Orthodox Church in Redford, MI; it contains a small particle of the holy relics of St. Herman.
Amen! And glory be to God!