←

Saturday 9 August 2025

Ven. Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America

Saturday of the 9th week after Pentecost

→

Dormition Fast — Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed Tone 7

Dormition Fast, day 9

Saints commemorated

Saint of the day

Herman of Alaska

Herman of Alaska (c. 1756–1837) was a simple Russian monk of Valaam who became the great missionary and protector of the native peoples of Alaska and, in 1970, the first saint of the Orthodox Church in America to be glorified. Sent in 1793 with the first mission to Russian America, he outlived all his companions and withdrew to Spruce Island near Kodiak, which he called New Valaam, where for over forty years he lived in prayer and extreme asceticism, taught and fed the Aleut and Kodiak natives, cared for orphans, and stood fearlessly between the people and the abuses of the Russian-American Company. Reposing on December 13, 1837, he is venerated as the "North Star of Christ's Church" and the heavenly protector of America; his glorification is kept on August 9 and his repose on December 13.
Antiochian commemoration

Apostle Matthias (1st c.)

Matthias is the one member of the Twelve who was not called by the Lord in Galilee but chosen by lot in the ten days between the Ascension and Pentecost, when Peter stood up among the hundred and twenty and proposed that the place forfeited by Judas be filled (Acts 1:15–26). Already a disciple who had followed Christ "from the baptism of John" and numbered among the Seventy, he was set beside Joseph Barsabbas called Justus; the lot fell on him, "and he was numbered with the eleven apostles." The tradition sends him to preach in Judaea and then in Ethiopia — which the synaxaria locate on the eastern shore of the Black Sea, in Colchis — where he endured great hardship and was at last put to death, about the year 63. He is commemorated on August 9, and again with the whole college on the Synaxis of the Twelve, June 30.
Holy Martyr Anthony (2nd c.)

Antoninus — called Anthony in the Slavic and American calendars — was a Christian of Alexandria who preached Christ openly in the city and was arrested for it. He was hung up and his flesh torn with iron hooks, and then, when he would not yield, condemned to the fire; and while he stood in the furnace he went on exhorting the bystanders to care for their souls rather than for their bodies. He gave up his spirit in the flames, and the tradition adds that his body was found untouched, the fire having harmed not a hair of his head. Neither his century nor the emperor under whom he suffered is transmitted.
Constantine of Constantinople

Constantine I was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople for not quite two years, from September 675 to his repose on 9 August 677 — the last patriarch of the capital before the Sixth Ecumenical Council, and one of the churchmen whose refusal of the Monothelite compromise prepared the way for it. He had served the Great Church as deacon and as its treasurer (skeuophylax) before his election, and the Byzantine notices remember him as an opponent of the heresy of one will in Christ and as a man of weight and piety. The Greek calendars keep him on August 9, the day of his death.
Euthymios of Rhodes

Euthymios was Metropolitan of Rhodes in the first years after the island fell to the Ottomans, having been set over the Orthodox of Rhodes when the Knights Hospitaller surrendered it to Suleiman the Magnificent in 1523. Six years later, in 1529, he was arrested as the alleged head of a conspiracy against the new masters of the island and was impaled, together with other clergy and leading men of Rhodes. The Christians of the island honoured him as a martyr at once, and his tomb became the chief place of pilgrimage in Rhodes, resorted to especially by sufferers from the quartan fever. He is commemorated on August 9.
Irenarchus of Solovki

Irenarchus was igumen of the Solovki monastery in the White Sea from 1613 to 1626, in the years immediately after the Time of Troubles, and one of the very few Russian saints whose life can be traced almost entirely through account-books rather than through a hagiographer. He came to the islands as a young man in the 1580s, served as a salt-agent and a boat-master before he was cellarer, and was elected abbot on the death of St Antony; he then spent thirteen years rebuilding the monastery's ruined estates, negotiating a truce with the Swedes, digging the ditch and raising the wall of a frontier fortress that he also commanded, and, at the same time, restoring monastic discipline within the walls, for which he wrote out a cell-rule for his brethren with his own hand. He blessed and equipped the Anzer skete of St Eleazar. Having asked to be released, he lived his last two years in silence in his cell and reposed on 17 July 1628. His disciple Hilarion of Suzdal collected the Tale of the Wonders of Igumen Irenarchus; his relics were uncovered about 1675, during the Solovki siege.
Macarius of Oredezhsk

Macarius was a disciple of Alexander of Svir (†1533), the great luminary of the monastic north, and one of the several of that elder's spiritual children who went out from Svir to found houses of their own in the forests between Lake Ladoga and Novgorod. He settled beside the river Oredezh and there gathered a small brotherhood, the community afterwards known as the Makaryevskaya Pustyn. He reposed in 1532, a year before his teacher. Almost nothing else of him is transmitted: he is commemorated on August 9, and again with the Karelian saints and with the saints of Novgorod and St Petersburg in their synaxes.
Psoy of Egypt

Psoy — in Greek Ψόης, Psoes, a Coptic name borne by many monks of the Egyptian desert — is commemorated by the Byzantine books on August 9 as a venerable father of Egypt who reposed in peace while at prayer. That, with a couplet praising the scourge of his prayers against the demons, is the whole of what the Greek synaxarion transmits. The modern Slavic and American synaxaria fill out the notice from the Coptic tradition, making him a disciple of Pachomius the Great who settled in Scetis near the cell of Macarius, gathered disciples, founded a monastery of his own, and twice received Christ in the form of a stranger. That fuller life belongs, on the face of it, to the Coptic Anba Bishoy — whom this collection already carries as Paisius the Great (June 19) — and the relation between the two notices is an open question set out below.
Synaxis of the Saints of Solovki

The Synaxis of the Saints of Solovki gathers on one day all the saints of the Solovetsky Monastery on the White Sea — the founders Sabbatius, Zosimas and Herman, the abbot Philip who became Metropolitan of Moscow and was strangled for rebuking Ivan the Terrible, and the long line of hermits, elders, wonderworkers and martyrs of the archipelago and its dependent sketes. It is a modern commemoration: established by resolution of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow on 3 April 1993, as the monastery was returning to monastic life after seven decades in which it had been a prison camp, and appointed for 9 August — the day after the translation of the relics of Zosimas and Sabbatius, within the monastery's own patronal cycle of the Transfiguration.
Ten Martyrs of Constantinople

Ten Christians of Constantinople — Julian, Marcian, John, James, Alexius, Demetrius, Photius, Peter, Leontius, and Maria the Patrician — were put to death about the year 730 for defending the ancient icon of Christ that hung over the Chalke, the bronze ceremonial gate of the Great Palace. When the emperor Leo III the Isaurian sent an officer with a ladder to cut the image down, the crowd threw him from the ladder and killed him; these ten were seized as ringleaders, held some eight months and scourged daily, and at last burned with hot irons and beheaded. They are the first company of martyrs of the iconoclast century, and they suffered in the same tumult as the nun Theodosia of Constantinople, whose feast is kept separately on May 29.

British Isles and Ireland

St. Phelim, bishop of Kilmore (6th C)
St. Nathy, disciple of St. Finian of Clonard (c.610)

Troparia & kontakia

Apolytikion — Tone 4 (common of a hierarch)

O God of our fathers, who dealest ever with us according to Thy gentleness: take not Thy mercy from us, but by the prayers of Thy hierarch Constantine direct our life in peace.

Apolytikion — Tone 4 (common of a hieromartyr)

As a sharer in the ways and a successor to the thrones of the Apostles, O divinely inspired one, thou didst find in contemplation the means to ascend to divine heights; rightly dividing the word of truth, thou didst struggle for the faith even unto blood, O hieromartyr Euthymios: intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Apolytikion — Tone 3

O holy Apostle Matthias, make entreaty to the merciful God, that He grant unto our souls forgiveness of transgressions.

Apolytikion — Tone 8 (common of a venerable father)

In thee, O father, was preserved unfailing that which is according to the image; for taking up the cross thou didst follow after Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care rather for the soul, a thing immortal: wherefore, O venerable Psoy, thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels.

Kontakion — Tone 3

The eternal Light of Christ our Saviour guided thee upon the path of the Gospel to America, to proclaim the good tidings of peace. Standing today before the throne of glory, pray for thy land and its people, for the peace of the whole world, and for the salvation of our souls.

Kontakion — Tone 8

Set as a shepherd over the island house of the wonderworkers, thou didst build up its walls against the enemy without, and its rule of prayer against the enemy within; and having laid down thy staff, thou didst finish thy course in silence. Wherefore we cry to thee: Rejoice, O Irenarchus, adornment of Solovki.

Kontakion — Tone 4

Thy word went forth over the world like a sun of many rays, enlightening with its beams the whole creation, O Matthias worthy of all wonder, apostle of God.

Kontakion — Tone 2

Ten lamps kindled before the image of the Master, ye would not suffer His countenance to be dishonoured; and washing the Bronze Gate with your own blood, ye were shown to be the first-fruits of them that contend for the holy icons: wherefore we cry unto you, Rejoice, O glorious martyrs.

Troparion — Tone 4 (common of a martyr)

Thy martyr Antoninus, O Lord, in his contest received an incorruptible crown from Thee our God; for possessing Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and shattered the feeble insolence of the demons. By his intercessions save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 7

O most radiant star of the Church of Christ, shining forth in the north and guiding all toward the heavenly Kingdom; teacher and apostle of the true faith, intercessor and defender of the persecuted, and surpassing adornment of the holy Church in America: O venerable father Herman of Alaska, pray to the Lord our Saviour, that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 8 (common of a venerable one)

In thee, O father, was the divine image preserved unimpaired; for taking up the cross thou didst follow after Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, for it passeth away, but to have care for the soul, which is a thing immortal. Wherefore, O venerable Irenarchus, thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels.

Troparion — Tone 8 (common of a venerable father)

Troparion — Tone 8

O ye who upon the sea-girt rock made the wilderness a garden of prayer, fathers and martyrs of Solovki, who shone forth in fasting and in patience and in blood: entreat Christ our God, that He may grant to our land steadfastness in the faith, and to our souls great mercy.

Troparion — Tone 4 (common of martyrs)

Thy martyrs, O Lord, in their contest received incorruptible crowns from Thee our God; for possessing Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and shattered the feeble insolence of the demons. By their intercessions save our souls.

Readings

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon 3.1-9

¹But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. ²In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery, ³And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. ⁴For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. ⁵And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself. ⁶As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering. ⁷And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. ⁸They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. ⁹They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.

Wisdom of Solomon 5.15-6.3

¹⁵But the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the most High. ¹⁶Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with his right hand shall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them. ¹⁷He shall take to him his jealousy for complete armour, and make the creature his weapon for the revenge of his enemies. ¹⁸He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment instead of an helmet. ¹⁹He shall take holiness for an invincible shield. ²⁰His severe wrath shall he sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with him against the unwise. ²¹Then shall the right aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they fly to the mark. ²²And hailstones full of wrath shall be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them. ²³Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty. ¹Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. ²Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations. ³For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.

Wisdom of Solomon 4.7-15

⁷But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. ⁸For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years. ⁹But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. ¹⁰He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated. ¹¹Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. ¹²For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind. ¹³He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time: ¹⁴For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked. ¹⁵This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.

Matins Gospel

Matthew 11.27-30

²⁷All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. ²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Epistle

Romans 14.6-9

⁶He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. ⁷For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. ⁸For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. ⁹For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Galatians 5.22-6.2 (St Herman)

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ²⁴And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. ²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. ¹Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. ²Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Gospel

Matthew 15.32-39

³²Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. ³³And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? ³⁴And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. ³⁵And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. ³⁶And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. ³⁷And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. ³⁸And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. ³⁹And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

Luke 6.17-23 (St Herman)

¹⁷And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judæa and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; ¹⁸And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. ¹⁹And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. ²⁰And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. ²²Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. ²³Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.