Islasa Chang, Host:

We now go to a small village in Quathaluk, Alaska, where the conservative Christian tradition remains strong after about two centuries. The village recently welcomed hundreds of clergy and pilgrims from all over the world from the Orthodox Church in the US to demonstrate a local midwife and a local midwife and ointment as a saint. This is the story of Ivan Ericason with member station Kyuk. And a warning to the audience – this story includes the voice of the celebrations celebrating.

Unknown Boat Captain: Let’s remove it from the ground.

Ivan Ericson, Byline: Volunteers of small fishing boats in Bethel, Alaska welcome visitors, which is located 15 miles from the Kuskokwim River, which is not able to reach the roads.

Unknown boat captain: You can take another.

Ericson: In the village, the two -day glory ceremony is about to begin.

(Soundbite of engine chugging)

Ericson: Local people are all around four-wheelers. Matushka Olga, being a Upeic woman, was born here in 1916 and died in 1979. It is easy to find their direct descendants.

Atan ‘Winkelman: She was a real person to me who would catch me and piggback me. And we will sit and eat together, or I will sit and see it sew.

Ericson: Principal of a primary school in Bethel is the granddaughter of Vinkelman, Olga.

Vinkelman: I am finding out to fully instigate his body – full glory, canonization – very strange.

Ericson: Matushka Olga is remembered as a humble midwife and a gift of heellers of trauma, especially sexual abuse. The FBI says that Alaska has the highest sexual attack rates in the country. After his death, the accounts were attributed to the spread of miracles, often through appearance in dreams. The symbols of his equality began to appear in the churches. Birth Howard, one of his niece, sang his memories in Yugtun, Yupic language.

Birth Howard: (Speaking of Yugtun).

Ericson: “She helped. She was kind. I can say all this,” she says.

(Soundbite of gunfire)

Ericson: On the banks of a muddy river, about 200 pilgrims sing because boats come with conservative bishops and priests. A group of young boys set the rifles on fire.

(Soundbite of gunfire)

Ericson: In the collapsing cemetery of the old St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, St. Olga’s glory begins with its final cremation rites. The local priest, father Vasili Fisher, explains, moving forward, his death day will be celebrated as a saint as a saint.

Vasili Fisher: Our faith is about life. Saint is about life. Everything is done as if going backwards. They come back to the church and in the presence of life.

Ericson: Some people gathered in the cemetery have tears in their eyes. Others pat sweat pearls from their foreheads. The descendants of Matushka Olga stand far from nearby villages among the head-headed pilgrims and as Romania and Australia.

Unknown group: (singing) you are my cross (pH).

Ericson: After the funeral rites, there is a procession. The priests wear the flowers. The altar server takes the golden banner. Incense puffs and a couple are curious village dogs. Palabier tolerates the coffin with a small, dusty track for the new church in the village.

Unknown person: (chanting) Difference between all our-pure women, thotocos and sometimes-vyagin mary.

Ericson: Four -hour service is as follows. This is only room. Alaska does not have pews anyway in orthodox churches.

Unknown person: (chanting) On the suppression of Honorable, Gloud …

Ericson: Alaska’s Archbishop Alexi calls it a wide, beautiful dance. St. Olga’s casket is open for pilgrims to kiss her sacred remains and get her blessings.

Unknown Group: (singing) [inaudible],

Ericson: St. Olga’s granddaughter, Aton ‘Vinkelman, is touched that the ceremonies include the local Eugtoon language.

Vinkelmann: To use the word Elders in the song – Joe, eg, was the elderly of Quhethaluk. I am liking, oh, I have never heard that any other saint elsewhere.

Unknown Group: (song in Yugtun).

Ericson: Alaska Suba is now a new church, pilgrim’s lodge and wealth for the cultural center. It will cost millions of dollars. People here do not have much extra money, but they believe in miracles.

For NPR News, I am Ivan Ericason in Quethaluk, Alaska.

(Soundbite of Mazi Star Song, “Feed in You”)

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