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Friday evening, September 18, over 100 faithful gathered at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Anchorage, Alaska for the Great Vespers of Consecration, commencing the consecration rites for the Archdiocese’s northernmost parish.
> Learn about the Services of Consecration
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the service; also present were His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos, His Grace Bishop Ioannis of Phocaea, Holy Transfiguration parish priest Fr. Vasili Hillhouse, Fr. Edward Hillhouse (Fr. Vasili’s father), Fr. Luke Kontgas (a former priest of Holy Transfiguration), Fr. Seraphim Majmudar, Fr. Matthew Howell, and Fr. Alexis Clodfelter. Serving as chanter was Dimitri Katsiklis, Master Chanter at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine.
The community is the only Greek Orthodox parish in Alaska, separated from the rest of the Archdiocese by thousands of miles. But amid the cold, distance, and long, dark winters, Holy Transfiguration’s faithful have found warmth in one another.
“One of the difficulties, but also the blessings, is that we are very isolated,” Fr. Vasili said in an interview with the Orthodox Observer. “But what’s beautiful about that is we have each other.”
“We’re all very close, and it’s beautiful to see the lives of parishioners revolve around the parish,” Fr. Vasili said. “It’s like a parish in the old country.”
> Read about the history of Holy Transfiguration Church
In his remarks for the service, Archbishop Elpidophoros encouraged the community to view the long-awaited consecration not as a conclusion, but as a new chapter, comparing the parish’s new life to that of a newborn child.
“This is now your life, my dear brothers and sisters. You, with pain, with your effort, with your sweat, with your blood, with your sacrifices, gave birth to this magnificent church,” Archbishop Elpidophoros said. “This is not the end, it’s the beginning. You have the baby in your hands, and you want to make sure that this new life is healthy.”
Metropolitan Gerasimos offered his own remarks, introducing the parish to Archbishop Elpidophoros and welcoming the Archbishop to Alaska.
“Your Eminence, since your arrival in America you have called our Church to renewal, to open our doors more widely, to bring our young people closer, to unite the many peoples who now make up our parishes, and to face the world with courage rather than with fear,” Metropolitan Gerasimos said. “This parish is a living example of that vision … Here, converts and cradle Orthodox, Greeks, Romanians, Ukrainians, and Alaskans of every background kneel before one another–and what you have called the whole Archdiocese to become, they have already become.”
“So tomorrow, when you consecrate this altar, Your Eminence, know that you are also confirming a community that has taken your mission to heart,” Metropolitan Gerasimos concluded. “And my beloved parishioners of this community, when you receive your Archbishop tomorrow, receive him not as a visitor, but as the father who has come far to bless his children.”
At the service’s conclusion, Archbishop Elpidophoros also elevated Fr. Vasili to the rank of Protopresbyter of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, an announcement the parish met with a resounding applause and a standing ovation alongside the traditional shouts of ‘Axios!’
Earlier in the day, parishioners accompanied the hierarchs and other guests on a visit to the Alaska Zoo, where they had the opportunity to learn about Alaska’s Arctic and sub-Arctic wildlife. On Thursday, September 17, they visited Portage Glacier and joined a dinner with Holy Transfiguration’s founders, where parishioners shared stories from the community’s history.
> Read Archbishop Elpidophoros’s reflection from Portage Glacier
Today, the community will complete its consecration rites with the Consecration Service and Archierarchical Divine Liturgy, followed by a celebratory banquet held at the Anchorage Museum.
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