Project: Preservation work on Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in Juneau, Alaska

Current Campaign

The St. Nicholas Church Community and the Church itself are preparing for a large-scale fundraising effort for Phase 2 of preservation and restoration work, which will include the installation of the fire suppression system and work on the restoration of the rectory.

Preservation Status

ROSSIA, Inc. is pleased to report the completion of Phase 1 of its preservation work for St. Nicholas Church in Juneau. Through grant awards from Rasmuson Foundation (2012 and 2013), National Trust for Historic Preservation (2010), Alaska Association for Historic Preservation (2010), and State of Alaska (2012) much work has been accomplished.

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Church History

Juneau’s gold rush in the 1880s and the growth of the then frontier town initiated efforts by various missionaries to convert the Amerindians people to their faith. American missionaries were instructed to suppress the use of native languages and as a result, many Tlingits chose to embrace the Orthodox Church which used native languages in worship. St. Innocent Veniaminov, who studied the Tlingit language, was the first to translate the Christian Scripture into that language and taught Native Alaskans to read and write in their own language. Juneau Tlingit leaders, led in part by Taku leader Anathahash, were eager to develop a parish and in July of 1892, Bishop Nikolai visited Juneau and baptized nearly 700 of 1,500 natives in the town.

By 1893 community support was growing to establish a church in Juneau. Funds were raised to buy two lots in town and construction was started in July of that year. The church passed building inspection in later November of 1893 and a school house was built sometime later and remained open until 1917. Bishop Nikolai consecrated the church in June of 1894.

In its first decade, St. Nicholas Church was served by Father John Bartnovsky, and Father Alexander Yaroshevich, both Russian clergy who were familiar with the Tlingit language. In 1913, Juneau’s most prominent and famous pastor arrived from Kodiak. Father Andrew Kashevaroff, an Aleut-Creole who championed many causes from the protection of Native traditions of the potlatch to protection of eagles put under bounty in 1917, thus earning the title of the “Fighting Priest.”

The church and associated buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in September of 1973.

Architecture

It is believed the flame-shaped dome was constructed in 1895. Apparently a lack of funds prevented the community from installing a bell in 1894, but the bell and belfry are believed to have been added in 1905 or 1906. The bell was likely cast in St. Petersburg, Russia. The unique octagon plan of St. Nicholas is known to be the last of the Russian Orthodox churches of this shape. Architecturally, the building is beautiful example of the Russian American architecture at both the exterior and interior with small gable dormers on a steep polygonal roof which is topped by a characteristic onion dome. The interior space is beautifully adorned with a seven-bay iconostas and high ceiling.