Syosset, NY – Imagine being able to walk, work, and pray at some of the most holy sites of the Orthodox Church in America. The Department of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry is announcing its 2nd OCA Young Adult Service Trip to Alaska, the birthplace of Orthodox Christianity in North America. From July 31- August 7, 2004 young adults (ages 18-27) are invited to take part in a week of service, worship, education, and fellowship in the Diocese of Alaska.

Participants will finish various restoration projects on the buildings of St. Herman’s Seminary (Kodiak, AK) as well as on the Chapel of SS Sergius and Herman of Valaam (Spruce Island - the island on which St Herman lived and was buried). Projects include light construction, cleaning, and painting. No special skills are necessary and all tools will be provided. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit some of the sites in the Anchorage area.

Estimated costs for participating are approximately $1,300. Cost includes airfare, meals, housing, and some tourism. Since the trip is service in nature, interested participants will receive a packet of information to help enlist sponsors to support them in this ministry. Any funds that are raised above the trip expenses will be donated to Outreach Alaska, the humanitarian project of the Diocese of Alaska (www.alaskanchurch.org) that funds programs of education, sister parish sponsorship, and church building/restoration. All contributions to help sponsor participants are tax-deductible.

About the Trip
Our goal: To give young adults of the Orthodox Church in America the opportunity to serve the Church while experiencing the holy sites of the Diocese of Alaska.

Project locations: St. Herman’s Seminary, Kodiak and SS Sergius and Herman of Valaam Chapel, Spruce Island.

Project requirements: A desire to serve the Orthodox Church in America and the willingness to work

Accommodations: Participants will be housed at St Herman’s Seminary.

Cost: Approximately $1300

Sign-up
Participation is limited to 10-15 so apply now. Interested participants must send in the Application Forms by May 1, 2004 with a $100 deposit to the Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry at yyacm@oca.org, FAX: 516-922-0954, or USPS: PO Box 675, Syosset, NY 11791 to guarantee their place on the trip.

Click here for the Application Forms in Microsoft Word format.
Click here for the Application Forms in .pdf format (you can fill them out online).

Fundraing Materials

Click here for the Fundraising Materials in Microsoft Word format.
Click here for the Fundraising Materials in .pdf format.

Additional Information/Links
About St Herman

• For information on St Herman and Spruce Island http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/feasts-and-saints/oca/st-herman-alaska/album1.html
• For a chronology of St Herman go to http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/feasts-and-saints/oca/st-herman-alaska/chrono.htm
• For the life of St Herman go to http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/feasts-and-saints/oca/st-herman-alaska/hermanbio.htm
• To read about the life of St Herman as presented in icons go to http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/feasts-and-saints/oca/lifeicons/herman/lifeicons.html

About St Herman’s Seminary
For information on St Herman’s Seminary go to
http://www.oca.org/pages/ocaadmin/seminaries/shs/index.html and click on their catalog.

Other
For information about the origins of the Orthodox Church in North America go to:

• http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Orthodox-Church-Introduction/intro.oca.html, or
  http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Orthodox-Church-Introduction/North-America-1794-1994/index.htm

For information about the Diocese of Alaska go to: http://www.alaskanchurch.org.

St. Herman's reliquary resides in Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Kodiak, AK and offers the faithful a chance to venerate the cross & heavy chain he secretly wore as a monk.