Although there were no Russians in Juneau at that time and Alaska had been under United States control since 1867, the Russian Orthodox Church of St Nicholas was established there in 1894. Many tourists who visit our church during the summer months are surprised to learn that it was the native Tlingit people who were the catalyst for the establishment of our church.
By the mid 1880's, Juneau was a robust frontier town enjoying the boom of the gold rush. I sometimes say that, "First came the prospectors and gold miners. Then came the saloon keepers and their associates, closely followed by the missionaries wagging their fingers."
It was those same missionaries, from various denominations in the Lower 48, that sought to convert the local Tlingit people to their faith. However, in neighboring Sitka and in the village of Killisnoo, a great majority of the Tlingit had embraced Eastern Orthodox Christianity during the Russian period (1741-1867).
About 1892, some of the Auk Bay Tlingit, living just a few miles north of Juneau, had visited Sitka and were baptized there. In Sitka, the Tlingit had their own Orthodox chapel where the services were conducted in their own language. In contrast to this, the American missionaries were under strict instructions from their own church authorities and the United States government, to suppress the use of the native languages and customs, and force the use of the English language. To many of the heterodox missionaries, the Eastern Orthodox Church was no better than the natives own pagan religion.
As a result of this oppressive policy, many more traditional Tlingits gravitated toward the Orthodox Church where local languages had been used in worship since about 1800 in Kodiak, and 1824 in the Alutian Islands. The Tlingit felt that there was no need to adopt the "language and faith of the foreigners." The church in Juneau became strongly established through the efforts and initiative of local Tlingit leaders.
In 1890 Taku leader Anathahash went to Sitka to be baptized. The Rev. Father Vladimir Donskoy returned with him to Juneau and was the first priest to conduct church services. During his stay he instructed and baptized many of the local Tlingit people. This same year saw also the conversion of Alexei Yaakwaan, son of a Tlingit leader. He encouraged his father, Yees Gaanaalx, leader of the L'eeneidi (Dog Salmon) people of Auk Bay to become baptized. Through Sitka Chief Khlantych, the church was informed that Yees Gaanaalx was intent on embracing Orthodoxy and that many would follow his example.
Orthodoxy in America
