Monk Herman of the Valaam Monastery arrived on Kodiak Island near Alaska along with other clergy by decree of Catherine the Great. Their Christian mission was to help corner the fur trade and pave the way for the Russian-American Company. But when they saw how traders were exploiting the local Aleut people, the monks stepped in to defend the indigenous population – and in doing so, earned their trust.
The Aleuts turned to Herman for guidance and prayer. He helped those in need, cared for the sick, and ran a school for boys, where he taught them reading, writing, and the Law of God. Tradition even holds that he once stopped a flood in its tracks through prayer. In search of solitude, Herman later moved to Spruce Island, which he called ‘New Valaam’, and lived there until his death. He was canonised in 1970, and hundreds of pilgrims make the journey to Kodiak Island to venerate his relics every year.
What legacy did St. Herman of Alaska leave behind? Where beyond Alaska can monasteries dedicated to him be found? And how do his prayers and teachings still echo in the hearts of believers today?
