Sanctifying the Culture: The Theology and Legacy of Orthodox Mission retreat
Fr. Michael Oleksa
Saturday 3 June 2006
When I first heard that Fr. Michael Oleska was coming to the area, I was excited, but I planned on attending only one lecture, namely at St. Andrew Orthodox Church here in Baltimore. This was strictly a practical decision. Although I have a car, it has over 155,000 miles on it and two months ago I replaced the transmission and I am not too anxious to drive it into the ground too soon.
Last Sunday Martha Elliott asked me if I were interested in going to my cathedral with her and Gary to hear Fr. Michael. I jumped at the opportunity and I am extremely happy that I did.
When we arrived, the first person whom I saw was Betty Yanowsky Slanta. How appropriate since she was one of those who really supported me while I was in the seminary. I have no problem in letting people know that I appreciate the support from the cathedral while I was a seminarian and I hope to pay back this gift by my works for the Church. Read what Fr. Michael has to say about the native Americans concept on gifts in Alaska.
A very pleasant surprise was seeing Apolo and Elizabeth Manzuk. Betty really looks good, despite her advanced age. I also had a conversation with Andrea Lutov. She was my choir director when I sang in the English choir before I started serving on the altar. I also saw Bruce and Lola Beno. A friend of theirs was with them and I asked Bruce, "Who is your friend." He knew whom I meant and pointed to his wife and said, "Oh, that's only Lola," as if I did not already know. I replied, "You're lucky she cannot hear you" and we both just laughed. I almost forgot that he has a great sense of humor.
I also met new people, including Fr. David who is the priest at St. Mary's in Falls Church.
What was more important - the lecture or the socializing? In restrospect, the lecture was definitely more important, but this should not take away from the socializing which was also extremely important. I had an opportunity to share thoughts with Apolo and Elizabeth, probably thoughts that they did not know belong to me. I also made it absolutely clear to some that I still love St. Nicholas Cathedral, although I have not been there for well over a year. I could not stay longer than I did since I needed to be back at our chapel for Readers's Vespers. Swentana and I did the service mainly in Church Slavonic and she was impressed by how well I can read Slavonic. But then I was willing to take a chance with her because I know that she would be gentle. Fr. John was happy to hear that she thought that I did very well.
As I reflect on what I just said, it occurred to me that basically I was learning something from Fr. Michael's talk. By doing the service mainly in Slavonic instead of mainly in English, I was attempting to learn her culture. I was being open to her story.
It is also ironic that I conducted this service right after leaving St. Nicholas Cathedral, the place where I really began to learn the services in both English and Slavonic. I joke and say that I learned Russian out of self-defense, but I am glad that I took the initiative to learn the language. It was appreciated greatly at St. Nicholas by many of the older people and it is now appreciated at Holy Trinity by the Russian immigrants.
Please feel free to read my notes on Fr. Michael's talk.
Please enjoy the photographs.
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 Iconostas |
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 Fr. Gregory and Fr. David |
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 Fr. Constantine White, Rector |
 Fr. Constantine and I sang in the choir together centuries ago |
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 Greg doing sign language |
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 Fr Michael Oleksa |
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 Apolo and Elizabeth Manzuk with Phebe Felk in background |
 Andrea Lutov and Betty Slanta |
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 These benches are new and I love them |
 Caught on the run |
 Fr Constantine had to run next door |
 Metropolitan Theodosius used to plant flowers here |
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Saint Herman of Alaska
Fr. Michael Oleksa
Tuesday 6 June 2006
This lecture took place at St. Andrew Orthodox Church, my previous parish. Every time I returned to St. Andrew it is like returning home. The people there are really wonderful. Some of them can easily tell that I really do miss them. But I also love my new home.
I've known Michael, at least in name, before coming to St. Andrew. When I arrived at the parish, he was then president of the Parish Council then. His son Philip was one of the altar servers and when Dan Manzuk left, I became the head subdeacon. In a conversation later, Philip expressed that he had hoped to take over the position before I arrived. But he and I really worked together well as a team and ofen when possible, I did allow him to make decisions. If a priest did something unusual, we would just look at each other and communicated what needed to be done. It was a real pleasure serving with him.
Roxane, her husband Michael, and her cousin (I think that they are cousins) Tamara, have been very close friends of mine for years. When Roxane's younger daughter Katrina was only six days old, I had the privilege of holding her in my arms. I remember one Liturgy when I was reading the Epistle and Tamara was holding her son and pointing to me. She probably forgot about this by now, but I still remember, of course.
I've known Matushka Diane Pelesh since 1973 when her husband, the late Fr. Gregory Pelesh, received me into the Church at Lackland AFB. He also did what it took for me to become a chaplain in the Civil Air Patrol, a position which I held for ten years. I dropped out about four years ago because of financial reasons.
We can't forget the twins. It has always been a treat to watch them. For years I could not tell them apart until one cut her hair. Now it is just a matter of remember which one has the long hair. I still remember a picnic at Gunpower State Park (I think that this is the correct name) when they were only four years ago and it was really fun watching them running in the pavillion over and under the benches, etc.
The notes from this talk are now available, but with errors. Meanwhile, if you can, read Fr. Michael's excellent book Another Culture/Another World. As I type the notes, I remember a conversation that some of us had with Metropolitan Theodosius. I do not remember where the conversation took place. When he was the bishop of Alaska, he was with some of the natives and they were complaining about white men. The bishop said to them, "Well, I'm white." They replied, "No, you're not. You're our bishop."
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 Michael and Nick |
 Gary and Fr. Timothy Hojnicki |
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 Fr. Ted Boback |
 Matushka Catherine Vitko |
 Fr. Michael Oleska |
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 Matushka Catherine Vitko |
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 Fr Ted, Fr. Michael, and Fr. Timothy |
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 Fr. Ted making a presentation to Fr. Michael |
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 Fr Michael, Fr. Timothy, and Fr. Gregory Safchau |
 Roxanne, Tamara, and Michael |
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 Fr. Michael and Tamara |
 Gary and Peggy |
 Diane, Michael and Marcella |
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Revised Sunday 24 December 2006.
