The Eagle River Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies is sponsored by Saint John Orthodox Cathedral of the Antiochian Archdiocese. It is held each summer August 1-5 at the Cathedral in Eagle River, Alaska, and offers sixteen hours of college level instructions in a variety of Orthodox topics, including Theology, History, Liturgy, Spirituality and Scriptural Studies.

Our Goal

The primary aim of the Institute is to offer ongoing instructions in the Orthodox Faith to the parishioners of St. John's and to other Orthodox Christians in Alaska, who are often unable to attend similar conferences and seminars regularly held in the "lower 48." However, the Eagle River Institute is also open to any who wish to attend and each year the Institute has been enriched by several who have traveled from outside the state to attend. The Institute lectures are also audio-taped and made available through "Orthodox Christian Cassettes" (OCC).

Registration or Questions

If you're ready to register, or if you just have questions, then send your name, address, phone number, and church affiliation to:

Eagle River Institute
St. John Orthodox Cathedral
P.O. Box 1108
Eagle River, AK 99577
Phone: (907) 696-2002
Email: StJohnERI@aol.com

Tuition is just $50 per "Track" and may be paid before or on July 31. There is no cost for high school and college students who attend, but registration is still required.

To download a copy of the ERI brochure in PDF form, click here.

For a list of past speakers, click here

1. The Importance of Beauty in the Orthodox Christian Tradition: How Will Beauty Save the World?
2. Beauty and the Restoration of the Soul: The Value of Monasticism in the Contemporary World
3. Liturgical Living: Music for Transfiguration

Fr. Igumen Sergius, the current Abbot of St. Tikhon's, America's oldest Orthodox Monastery founded in 1905, grew up Catholic in San Jose CA most of his life. He eventually converted to Orthodoxy in the mid-late 90's and went to join St. John of Shanghai Monastery in 1998, a Monastery which was established and run by the now Metropolitan Jonah, Primate of the OCA. After being sent to St. Tikhon's in 2000, Fr. Sergius studied Theology and Church Music and received a Master of Divinity. He continued on at the Seminary as the head of the Music Program after graduation and was ordained priest in 2008 and elected Abbot of the Monastery in 2009. He has traveled extensively in his time at St. Tikhon's, giving talks, retreats and leading the St. Tikhon's Seminary Choir for almost a decade across much of North America. His current music project can be seen on line at Orthodoxtwopartmusic.org along with the Monastery website Sttikhonsmonastery.org.


 

1. Functional Atheism
2. I Believe in One God
3. Maker of Heaven and Earth
4. Adam and Eve

Deacon Ezra Ham is on staff as the administrator of Saint Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Church in Oklahoma City. He has a BA in Philosophy from Oklahoma Baptist University, a MDiv in New Testament from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a MA in History from the University of Central Oklahoma. He has also done graduate studies at the Baptistiche Theologische Hochschule (Zurich, Switzerland), PhD studies at Baylor University and D.Min studies at Oral Roberts University. In addition to his work at St. Elijah Deacon Ezra is also an Adjunct Professor of History at UCO; an Adjunct Professor of Ancient & Medieval Humanities at UCO; and an Adjunct Professor of Religion at the University of Phoenix-Oklahoma City Campus. His most recent book is These Things We Believe: the Orthodox Defense of Reasonable Christian Faith.

EAGLE RIVER INSTITUTE • AUGUST 1 – 5

This will be the 17th year St. John’s has hosted this series of teachings, the dates of which are always August 1-5. While the primary purpose is to provide Orthodox teaching for Alaskans who are far removed from many such opportunities in the “lower 48,” we have also been blessed over the years to have visitors join us. This year’s teachers are Fr. Sergius, the abbott of St. Tikhon's Monastery in South Canaan, PA,and Dn. Ezra Ham from St. Elijah Orthodox Church in Oklahoma City.

All of us at Saint John’s are looking forward to this valuable time and we invite you to join us if you can find a reason to visit Alaska this summer. We are always greatly blessed by our guests and we have some lodging available right on the cathedral grounds. On this website you will find all the information about this year’s Institute, giving the schedule and lecture titles, along with some general information about our local community. You may also find a brochure for this years institute helpful. We hope to see you at this summer's Institute.

Sincerely,

Fr. Marc Dunaway

For those with the time and means to do so, there is an opportunity for a very special "add-on" to the Eagle River Institute. Each year Holy Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral, Kodiak, hosts an annual pilgrimage to Spruce Island on the anniversary of the canonization of St. Herman of Alaska which took place on August 9th, 1970.

The schedule of events and activities is normally available on the Alaska OCA web site, though at the time of this writing (June 21) the page is not yet ready.  For further information please contact Rev. Innocent Dresdow at 907-486-3854.  The "Frequently asked questions" page has helpful information, and contact numbers for transportation and local lodging.

There used to be a warning on the itinerary that said "Subject to Change", referring to the unpredictable weather and ocean conditions. It isn’t there now, but the weather can still be unpredictable and play havoc with the pilgrimage plans-there have been years when the visit to Spruce Island had to be delayed or canceled due to bad weather. In any event, you would still be able to venerate the relics of St. Herman during the Divine Liturgy at the Kodiak cathedral.

Weather permitting, the fishing boats that carry pilgrims to Spruce Island depart the Kodiak docks around 8am. Weather conditions are often cool and damp, so it would always be prudent to have a windbreaker or other wet weather clothing on hand. The year I attended I made the mistake of going over in a vintage Navy landing craft, and was drenched with sea water each time the flat prow smacked into a wave. You should try not to make the same mistake!

Lunch is provided at the beach on Spruce Island by the women of the church following the pilgrimage so you needn't bring your own food. You may want to bring a small bottle to fill with holy water from the spring, and a bag or small container for soil from the island.

Both Alaska Airlines and Era Aviation operate flights from Anchorage to Kodiak. Since Era Aviation is a regional carrier that only operates in state, they have no security screening requirement. Alaska Airlines does not operate separate check-in gates for in-state destinations, so all their passengers are processed through the same security gate. At the time of this writing, the lowest round trip airfare from Anchorage to Kodiak is quoted as $298 on Expedia.com, with a discount advertised for flight+room.

For a more adventuresome and leisurely connection, the Alaska Marine Highway System operates a ferry between Homer and Kodiak. I found their published schedules to be difficult to read, and wound up phoning their Anchorage office at 907-272-4482 for personal assistance.

The high-end commercial lodging is the Best Western Kodiak Inn, the only national chain lodging in Kodiak. They can be contacted directly at 907-486-5712. Current rates range from $92-$140 per night. They offer an airport shuttle service, which makes hiring a taxi unnecessary. Once in Kodiak, everything is within easy walking distance - in fact, the Inn is directly across from the boat harbor where the pilgrimage departs from. Of the other two establishments, the Russian Heritage Inn (a modest motel, actually, despite the name) is the most centrally located, and folks who’ve stayed there reported that they were entirely satisfied with their rooms.

Directly across the street from the Russian Heritage Inn is Monk's Rock Bookstore, which is not to be missed. Operated by the faculty and youth of the St. Innocent's Academy, they offer coffee, tea, sandwiches and snack items; books on theology, history, society and culture; icons, prayer ropes, incense and other miscellaneous items of interest. If Fr. Paisius offers an Open House of the Academy again this year, go and learn about the wonderful work being done in turning around the lives of "at-risk" teens.

In years past the Academy would throw a post-pilgrimage party in the parking lot of the bookstore. It was not part of the "official" pilgrimage itinerary, but nevertheless it was an exuberant musical celebration that often lasted late into the evening, unforgettable for anyone who was able to attend. Fortunately, the Academy has now been incorporated into the official program, and they perform at the 5pm "Festival in the Park". Don't miss it!

If you do decide to make the pilgrimage we pray it will be a very special and significant experience for you. If you care to write a little something about it we'd love to hear from you!

For questions, comments, or more information about the St. Herman pilgrimage, please contact me, St. John's pilgrimage coordinator at: jpiper51@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

John Morrison
St. John's Pilgrimage Coordinator