Be Joyful, Brothers and Sisters, and Keep your Faith
by Archimandrite David (Mahaffey)

Now that I have arrived in Alaska, I want to share a few thoughts with you all as we begin together this new chapter in the rich history of the Orthodox Church of Alaska. I must admit that when I was first approached about coming to Alaska, I was hesitant. A land so far, so different and with an entirely different culture that I had ever know, could God possibly want me to even visit there? Yet, as always, I put my trust in God’s will first and I came to see if this was His will or my own ambition. It was January and I was sent to the Kuskokwim where the temperatures in January are almost never above zero degrees. I also visited other places as well, Sitka, Juneau, Anchorage and Kodiak, during one of the worst winters on record. Yet, the weather played little role in what I experienced; it was the warmth of the Faithful, clergy and people, that gave me a wonderful warmth and a loving, spiritual embrace that overcame any difficulties I encountered with the weather. I was becoming very attracted to this land and its people and I could feel a gentle “push” from God to return when I could. Two more visits, one in March and one in July/August and I was hooked (forgive the pun, but the analogy was Christ’s own for his Apostles, was it not?). After discussion with my children, and armed with their support and many prayerful nights, I decided that if it was God’s will, and the people of Alaska chose me, I would return as their bishop elect.

So here I am, not quite settled yet, but able to work amid the boxes and clutter attached to moving, and finding it even better than I imagined. Very soon we will begin in earnest the Great Lent, with all the Divine Services and added prayers, we will be become “Spiritually Busy”.   This is the best kind of busy, in which we unite our daily lives more closely to the life of Christ,  as we all take on the “Podvig” of Lent both individually and collectively, supporting each other on the journey to Holy Pascha. St. Theophan the Recluse says that the spirit hates sin, while the flesh dwells in it. How is this battle within ourselves to be resolved? Through podvig, that spiritual struggle of bringing the soul into mastery over the body. So my own Lenten effort will require an even greater podvig as I work to integrate my life into an Alaskan life, filled with an Alaskan-styled Spirituality, Faith and Cultural growth centered around that goal we should all have, a life more like Christ’s life in every way. That is the only life that exemplifies a genuine and authentic manner of living, one that says, no matter where we live, or what era of the Church we exist in, it always must have only one and the same goal, to become an authentic Christian, a witness to those around us that tells them, Christ abides here, in me, in my church, and in my diocese. 

When I arrived on February 27, the first service I attended was the Akathist to Saint Herman of Alaska at St. Innocent’s Cathedral. I want to reiterate to all of you what I said then, so that we all understand what we are doing together for the uplifting of God’s Holy Church. If there is one “theme” that should underscore our every action, our every desire as Christians, it should be that one, common, simple but significant idea of the Christian life as given to us by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that we need the Church of Christ for our Salvation. It exists for that purpose, and was given to us by Christ, through the Holy Apostles and handed down century after century, bishop by bishop, priest by priest, laity by laity, working together to fulfill the Gospel of Love that is Jesus Christ.

So if anyone asks, “What did this new Administrator say when he came here?” You tell them he said, “I cannot be saved without you, and you cannot be saved without me, we are all in this