Saturday, December 13, 2008

Sts. Herman of Alaska, Peter the Aleut and Juvenaly

Greetings!

Yesterday and today are celebrated (for those in the New Calendar) the first Orthodox Saints of North America. Yesterday (December 12th) was the Feast of the Synaxis of the First Martyrs of the American Land, which includes St. Juvenaly and St. Peter the Aleut. Today (December 13th) is one of the feasts of St. Herman of Alaska the Wonderworker. Also, the Synaxis of All Saints of North America is celebrated the Sunday after Pentecost I believe. Their full lives are included elsewhere, but I thought I would post some links to their lives, etc.


Icon of All Saints who have shown forth in North America (taken from: http://ocaphoto.oca.org/MiscEventViewer.asp?EID=894 )
December 12th - The Synaxis of the First Martyrs of the American Land (Sts. Juvenaly and Peter the Aleut)
Thy martyr, O Lord, Holy Hieromartyr St. Juvenaly of Alaska, through his suffering, an incorruptible crown did obtain from Thee, our God; for, rejoicing in Thy strength, he laid low his tormentors and did beat off impotent affronts of the demons also; at his intercessions save our souls.
Troparion to St. Peter the Aleut (from: http://www.allsaintsofamerica.org/orthodoxy/peter.html):
Thy martyr, O Lord, St. Peter the Aleut, through his suffering, an incorruptible crown did obtain from Thee, our God; for, rejoicing in Thy strength, he laid low his tormentors and did beat off impotent affronts of the demons also; at his intercessions save our souls.
-Introduction to the Protomartyrs of America, Sts. Juvenaly and Peter: http://www.roca.org/OA/7/7a.htm
-For the life of St. Juvenaly, see: http://www.oca.org/FS.NA-Saint.asp?SID=4&Saint=Juvenaly , http://www.allsaintsofamerica.org/orthodoxy/juvenaly.html
-For the life of St. Peter the Aleut, see: http://www.oca.org/FS.NA-Saint.asp?SID=4&Saint=Peter , http://www.allsaintsofamerica.org/orthodoxy/peter.html

December 13th - St. Herman the Wonderworker of Alaska
Troparion of St. Herman in Tone IV (taken from: http://www.allsaintsofamerica.org/orthodoxy/herman.html):
O venerable Herman, ascetic of the northern wilderness and gracious advocate for all the world, teacher of the Orthodox Faith and good instructor of piety, adornment of Alaska and joy of all America: entreat Christ God, that He save our souls.
-For the life, writings, hymns, etc. of St. Herman, see: http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/herman.htm#n2 , http://www.oca.org/FS.NA-Saint.asp?SID=4&Saint=Herman , and http://www.allsaintsofamerica.org/orthodoxy/herman.html


We are truly blessed by God to be in the same land where, only after a few hundred years of Orthodoxy, many Saints and miracles have shown forth. May God bless our Land as well as every Land, and may all the Holy Saints of America intercede for us all and help us!

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

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