A New North American Saint

The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America has proclaimed the Righteous Matushka Olga Nicholai of Kwethluk, known by the pious peoples of the Kuskokwim as Arrsamquq, as a saint of the Orthodox Church. This has been long-awaited by the faithful of the Church.

In 2016, I had the blessing of meeting her grand-daughter, who was very kind and gracious to me. She took great care in listening to me and wrote down all the particulars and promised to take the request to the grave of her righteous grandmother.

My grandson, Eli, was born later that year, quite healthy, and has been a great joy to us all. There are many miracles attributed to St. Olga of Alaska. I have seen icons of her scattered across the country and in the homes of the faithful. The “glorification” of saints in the Orthodox Church often begins “from the ground up” with such pious devotions.

Bishop Alexei of Alaska presented his petition to the Holy Synod this week and it met with unanimous approval, and will, no doubt, be received in the same manner by the whole Church.

Her feast day is appointed as November 10.

I could not have heard more joyful news today!

About Fr. Stephen Freeman

Fr. Stephen is a retired Archpriest of the Orthodox Church in America. He is also author of Everywhere Present: Christianity in a One-Storey Universe, and Face to Face: Knowing God Beyond Our Shame, as well as the Glory to God podcast series on Ancient Faith Radio.



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16 responses to “A New North American Saint”

  1. Byron Avatar
    Byron

    Wonderful! Oh Blessed Olga pray for us!

  2. Michael Bauman Avatar
    Michael Bauman

    Amen. My wife and I have long included her in our prayers as a righteous intercessor.

  3. Adrienne Avatar
    Adrienne

    A glorious birthday gift! Many years, Father!

  4. Esmee Noelle Covey Avatar
    Esmee Noelle Covey

    Our parish has a diaper bank charity named after her, where we provide mother’s in need with diapers and other essentials for their babies. I am thrilled by the news of her glorification!

  5. Nicholas Stephen Griswold Avatar
    Nicholas Stephen Griswold

    Axios, axios, axios. Saints Mary and Martha Monastery has a stained glass window Icon of Saint Olga. What wonderful news.

  6. Margaret Avatar
    Margaret

    YAY!!! Praise God!!! St. Olga of Alaska pray for us!

  7. George Avatar
    George

    Thank you for sharing this with us Father Stephen!

  8. Dee of St Herman Avatar
    Dee of St Herman

    I have prayed to her for years since I was a catechumen. I am so delighted. As far as I know, she is our first declared North American and Indigenous female saint.

  9. Dana Ames Avatar
    Dana Ames

    My heart leaped as my eyes saw the title of this post! So grateful to God! Righteous Olga, keep praying for us!

    Dana

  10. Julia Schrom Avatar
    Julia Schrom

    Beautiful way to wake up.
    Axios Axios Matuska Olga.

  11. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    Where can we go to read her story?

  12. Alice Carter Avatar
    Alice Carter

    Saint Olga Respite Care Association in Corvallis rejoices in her glorification. She guides us in our care for our houseless sick and injured neighbors.

  13. Mark Spurlock Avatar
    Mark Spurlock

    Michelle:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga_Michael

    At the bottom of the wiki article are source links.

  14. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    Thank you! Her story was/is a blessing.

  15. Mark Spurlock Avatar
    Mark Spurlock

    There is a live talk currently on Ancient Faith’s YouTube channel discussing Matushka Olga: https://www.youtube.com/live/5H3JEenu5jM?feature=shared

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