Nestled in the heart of Alaska on the outskirts of the Chugach National Forest, just 30 minutes outside of Anchorage is the St. James House, a ministry of St. John Orthodox Cathedral. The St. James House has traditionally been a place for young adults to grow in their journey towards Christ as they live in community with one another and the wider community. In 2020, we had seven young adults ranging from 18 - 32 years old living together in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was successful, fruitful and encouraging to have the privilege of living together in community as a house in such an unprecedented time.
Our goal is to be a home to practice living in a community centered around Christ and the Church, while enjoying the wilderness of Alaska.
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Love your neighbor as yourself.' - Mark:30-31
The St. James House, often affectionately dubbed, “The Big House,” is in fact quite big. It has a preschool in the basement, host family apartment, common living room, common kitchen, common dining room, two apartments, as well as a comfortable guest room. The House is located on the Church lawn, across from Saint John Orthodox Christian School, and overlooks the Cook Inlet to the south, the Chugach Mountains to the East, and the Talkeetna Mountains to the North. It is a treasured heirloom of the community, often thought as the ‘living room’ of the Church. Many of the members of St. John’s have lived in the St. James House at some point. One of the unique aspects of St. John’s is that member families live within walking distance of the Church. This allows for the residents of the St. James House to experience what it is to live within the midst of a Christian community. There is seldom a dull moment in and around the House with so much interaction with the church, school and neighbors. You can read more about the interesting history of the Saint James House on the About Us/Our Parish and the Facilities pages of our website. You will find, among other things, that the House was once a Catholic convent visited by Fr. Thomas Merton.
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Love your neighbor as yourself.' - Mark:30-31
