The Crises Move East

Mr. Stokoe,

Yes, I was present for the first part of the clergy meeting that took place on Tuesday, March 25, at St. Innocent Cathedral. Members of the St. Innocent Sisterhood decided that despite the painful nature of the meeting it was important to provide hospitality to the visiting clergy and we prepared an array of baked goods for this gathering.

From the very beginning, as priests gathered from throughout the Diocese in the Church Hall, I was enveloped by sorrow. I know many of these priests personally and continue to feel a deep affection for them despite any disappointment. I greeted each of those I know personally asking for their blessing, meanwhile recalling more joyous times when we had gathered together during retreats and assemblies. Some of the younger ones I knew from their days at St. Herman Seminary when I traveled there for Trustee meetings or to work in the Archives.

I couldn’t help but be reminded that many had received their training and education at St. Herman Seminary thanks to a bold policy established by His Grace Bishop Nikolai early in his administration. He recognized that these men who would later serve in rural Alaska could not manage the financial burden of paying off a student loan. Consequently, he decided that those committed to staying and serving in Alaska would graduate debt-free. To accomplish this, fundraising was a constant effort. Bishop Nikolai often called on the generosity of his personal friends who responded willingly.

My love for these priests is not diminished. I am only deeply disappointed in the manner in which all this has unfolded. I am emotionally exhausted, but not spiritually. The Church, particularly during this Lenten season, provides us with spiritual nourishment.

Fr. Alexander Garklavs kindly acknowledged my desire to speak at the meeting and I kept my remarks brief. Again, I recalled Christ’s words in the Gospel of Matthew (18:15). “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you an him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’”

In light of this Scriptural passage, I suggested that Bishop Nikolai be invited to the assembly to hear their concerns. I also noted that our Lord lifts up the peacemakers—“Blessed are the Peacemakers for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” But, my suggestion was rebuffed, I believe by Fr. Michael Oleksa who commented something to the effect that we had passed beyond that stage. Christ provides no exemptions in this clearly stated passage. He does not suggest that this only pertains to simple scenarios, to facile infractions or that it is ever “too late.” With the greater part of the clergy in attendance, they had strength in number. What could they fear, and how much could have been gained? Bishop Nikolai could have listened to them, could have offered explanations, sought forgiveness had they conceded to this request. They could have all reached that noble peace that only forgiveness provides. I am certain that healing, growth and commitment could have occurred. Unfortunately, these ‘could haves’ lack merit in reality.

When Bishop Nikolai learned several weeks ago that there were letters from clergy dissatisfied with him, he immediately arranged for a two-day meeting in Anchorage to address the concerns. Sadly, only about half the Diocese’s clergy attended. He invited an experienced consultant to listen to and mediate the concerns. Bishop Nikolai did not attend the first day session as he recognized that the clergy needed an opportunity to speak forthrightly in his absence. The second day they met with Bishop Nikolai. I was not present at these meetings, but understand that healing and forgiveness occurred. The meeting had focus and direction—it was based on Scriptural accountability.

Had the meeting on Tuesday followed a similar format, I firmly believe progress would have occurred. Christ provides the formula in Matthew 18:15 without any embellishment or exemptions, but it was ignored.

I recognize that there are those who have complaints about Bishop Nikolai’s administrative style or his personality. But he has been lopsidedly characterized on this site and elsewhere. Speaking with a friend today, she noted that those of us who know and work with Bishop Nikolai daily are fortunate to experience the gentle, caring, and humorous side of his personality. Those who meet him exclusively in his official capacity often fail to capture this. He is a complex person, but to my mind, there has never been a doubt that he has been deeply devoted to his clergy, their families and this Diocese.

I have served as Bishop Nikolai’s assistant and director of the Russian Orthodox Museum—a volunteer position—for three years. I have done this out of love for the Church, combined with respect and devotion to Bishop Nikolai’s vision for this Diocese. The Diocese purchased our building, centrally located across the street from the city’s major cultural center, the Anchorage Museum, in 2002. In the beginning, a portion of it served as the temporary home of St. Tikhon mission church ministering to the needs of Anchorage’s growing Russian population. It was Bishop Nikolai who envisioned this need and found a Russian-speaking priest to serve this parish. Encouraged by Bishop Nikolai, this parish has since built a church of their own. In the spring of 2005, we opened the Russian Orthodox Museum, which enjoys annual visits of thousands—locals and tourists. The museum has a gift and coffee shop. My staff consists of part-time employees—Fr. Yakov, a monastic originally from Kweethluk, Fr. Daniel Askoak from Russian Mission, my capable assistant, Anastasia Dushkin from Atka, Lea Merritt, a University of Alaska college student and Stephan Nicolai. It has become a wonderful gathering place for visitors from the villages who enjoy conversation, perhaps a game of chess and a cup of coffee. HYPERLINK "http://www.russianorthodoxmuseum.org" www.russianorthodoxmuseum.org. Our displays exhibit the rich history of Orthodoxy in Alaska. This was just one of Bishop Nikolai’s “brainchilds.” Last year, he established St. Nicholas Skete, a monastery in Eklutna. Before all these recent distractions, he was working with community leaders to establish senior housing next to St. Innocent Cathedral for our elders. These elders faithfully attend the services but lack transportation, requiring them to come in taxis. Through friendships within the community, he initiated an annual fundraising event, which gathers funds to redesign the entrance to St. Innocent Cathedral so that it will be handicap accessible. A well-known chef, Felix Zollinger, volunteered his culinary services to make this gala event successful. Bishop Nikolai has established other mission parishes, St. Yakov Center for Orthodox Christian Learning (Soldotna), and so much more. If he has failed a “personality test” by some, I firmly believe this could have been ameliorated by addressing the problem directly—Scripturally, as I suggested in the meeting.

All great leaders seem to possess flaws in addition to their positive attributes. Ironically, these “flaws” often function simultaneously as their strengths. His Grace is sometimes impatient, sometimes intractable or uncompromising. But, that impatience has translated itself into tremendous accomplishments within this Diocese during his brief seven-year tenure. He is continually in motion, attempting to develop and improve the Diocese’s institutions. His Grace’s character is many layered. Some have focused on his strictness and have characterized him as being cold and unfeeling. I have witnessed the opposite in his pastoral care and his interaction with Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike. I can say without reservation that his whole being is consumed with love for Christ’s Holy Church. On a daily basis he does what he perceives is right for Her, and for those whose souls he has been entrusted as our hierarch.

Some have asked why I resigned from the Metropolitan Council. His Grace articulated one reason—the work that I have chosen to do for this Diocese is very time consuming. In addition to serving as his assistant and director of the Russian Orthodox Museum, I have many other responsibilities at the diocesan and parish level. My other reason is I have aging and frail parents who live in England and whose care I must oversee.

I do not know what the future holds, but this has all been a lesson to me to accept, “Thy Will be done.” I do not feel animosity toward those who have brought what I believe to be the bright vision of a dedicated servant of God, Bishop Nikolai, to a standstill, but I admit that I am deeply disappointed. It seems to me that there has been a profound lack of communication, love and forgiveness. Bishop Nikolai, despite any human flaws, has given of himself in all the ways he found possible to build this Diocese through the episcopacy bestowed on him.

Of course I have no actual way of measuring, but I would assert that there are hundreds who deeply love His Grace compared to every one who has spoken against him. I conclude this from personal conversations, e-mail messages and phone calls, which I have received from concerned clergy, Orthodox faithful and non-Orthodox from across the Diocese and the Nation.

I regret that I was not as eloquent or impassioned in my plea for peacemaking at the Tuesday meeting as those in opposition. I am tired and saddened, but finally acquiesce to the difficult lesson—“Thy Will be done.”

May God have mercy on us all.

With love in Christ,
Mina Jacobs
Assistant to the Bishop
Director, Russian Orthodox Museum
605 A St.
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Tel. 907-276-7257 Fax. 907-274-7257
www.dioceseofalaska.org