Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Congratulations with the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord and with the Sunday of All Saints!

This coming week, with the help of God, a significant event in the history of the Orthodox Church in North America will take place. On Thursday evening, the 19th of June, as well as Friday morning, in the village of Kwethluk, Alaska the Righteous Olga will be glorified (canonized). Perhaps not all of you know about her, therefore today, on the day when we remember all the saints, let’s focus our attention on one of the Lord’s newest faithful servants.

The Righteous Olga was born in 1916 in the small and poor native Alaskan village of Kwethluk. Here she would spend the rest of her life. From her earliest years, she had a special love for the church, the church services and prayers. She knew many of the church hymns by heart in either Church Slavonic or her native Yup’ik language. Through her good example and warm prayers, she led her husband to the faith. He believed with such zeal that with time, he was ordained the local priest. Thirteen children were born into this family, of which eight survived until adulthood. Apart from her family obligations, Olga was the local midwife not only for her village, but also for surrounding areas. She was especially kind, cared for the sick, fed the hungry, clothed destitute children, read and proclaimed the Gospel to her neighbours, comforted those who were hurt, especially women. The Holy Righteous Olga, in a poverty-stricken, harsh, difficult environment, vividly demonstrated the kind characteristics of a Christian heart. She reposed on the 8th of November in 1979. After her death the local people did not cease to come to Olga for help, and she, in turn, did not leave them without an answer to their prayer requests.

Today we can rejoice that the life of this humble woman is now known not only in Alaska, but throughout the world. Although our existence here in Ottawa has little in common with life in faraway Alaska, much from the life of the Holy Righteous Olga is familiar, especially for women and medical professionals. Childbirth, the raising of children, an unbelieving spouse, household chores, long and unpredictable work hours, physical and spiritual sorrows both at home and at work, and temptations that come with active participation in parish life are familiar for many. Through the prayers of this new saint, may the Lord God comfort all those who sorrow.

priest Alexis