www.byzcath.org Forums Happy St. Herman's Day

Z'Praznikom for those celebrating the great evangelical saint of Valaam today!!!

From the Akathist: O Chosen Doer of Wonders, most glorious favorite of Christ, our God bearing Father Herman, Alaska�s adornment, the joy of all Orthodox in America. We sing to you, our heavenly protector and powerful intercessor before God, these songs of praise. Cease not to pray for your children, who cry fervently to you:

Rejoice our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska,
America�s most glorious doer of wonders.

Ikos 1
Father Herman, the Creator of the angelic hosts called you to proclaim the Orthodox faith in a new land and to be the founder of the monastic way in the remote lands of the north. You were sent, as was the Apostle Paul, to those sitting in darkness so that the light of Orthodoxy might illumine all the ends of the earth. We, the inhabitants of the American continents, bring you, our heavenly protector, this thanksgiving and sing you this song of praise:

Rejoice, our Father Herman, our glory, our adornment;
Rejoice, bearer of the light of the true faith to our lands;
Rejoice, ascetic glorified by God;
Rejoice, most honored branch of Valaam Monastery;
Rejoice, praise and joy of the Church in America;
Rejoice, comforter and protector of all of us;
Rejoice, our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska,
America�s most glorious doer of wonders.

Dear Diak,

An Irish convert to Orthodoxy once insisted to me that St Herman was of Ukrainian background - this on the basis of the Ukrainian "G" that he used when signing his name.

What say you? (And have you any Irish in your background?)

Alex

Sounds good to me, Alex.

Not much Irish, that is on the wife's side with living relatives still there.
DRLB

St. Herman was the MAN! His mission and spirit continues today! Noteworthy, St. Herman of Alaska's feastday on the old calender is new Calender Christmas.

And Deacon Randy's reason for putting this in the evangelization forum is...
St. Herman was a missionary!!! He brought Orthodoxy to Alaska.

Pyrohy, you are very clever...

I think as important of the fact that he DID evangelize was the way he did it. First of all he was a monastic which illustrates the evangelical potential of monasticism, even though he was not a priest.

It was his teaching the people by his life and his prayer of the Church, his living witness, that did it. Teaching them the lex orandi, leading Reader's Services in his cell or in the homes of the others. And living out that prayer as well in a very real and visible way.

Holy Father Herman, pray to God for us!!!
DRLB

Dear Father DIAKon,

I understand that St Herman was also a "chain-bearer" since his monastic Cross and chains were of iron and quite heavy (?)

He also, since there was no priest around, prayed to let the Angels bless water for the feast of the Jordan.

What about the canonical validity of Angelic blessings?

Alex

Alex, I suppose you'll have to take that up with the Angelic Hosts...

I think the Latin canonical term about such things is "ecclesia supplet".

But Brother Alex, didn't you once insist that the Irish were really Ukrainian? Or was it that the Ukrainians were really Irish?
I get so confused. :p
-Daniel

Yes I read that the chains are still on the island. They were 16 pounds so I have read.