Pilgrimage to Kodiak, Alaska (Spruce Island) 

100K 🥳🥳🥳 I'm so glad many people know this wonderful channel.

I absolutely became addicted to your channel for the past few months. What I love about your channel is that you show the variety of your day to day life in Alaska with the main aim of building a cabin. This video I find especially nice is due to the pilgrimage itself. And that also shows me the other side of you and your family that we cannot see through the process building of the cabin. Another amazing aspect of your video production are those “texts” Explaining what are you doing or what’s happening at that specific time. What I do have to mention is that you have a beautiful family. Please don’t take it wrong way 🤣, but that daughter of yours or … your daughter in law - not sure what is she to you and your wife, the one that wipes the seat in front of her in the plane is absolutely stunning. She is so beautiful. Now, when he gets to your building videos, I believe that starting a secondary channel where you could explain certain things why do you do the way you do will be very beneficial. If you look at my self-reliance RU-vid channel, Sean uses the different channel to explain variety of the things he does on the main channel. And that second channel became also very popular. I mean one example would be why do you install windows the way you did. You went above and beyond in installing those windows whereas you could just do very simplistic window installation. Is it because of harsh winters or something else. Last but not least, your video editing got much better 💪. I love the balance of nature sounds and background music. Your choice and sound intensity of orthodox liturgy sounds/music is pitch perfect ! Very few people will notice that the person crossing herself on 15:18 is doing that using the Orthodox way eg using only 3 fingers (representing the Holly Trinity of Father, Son and Holly Spirit) instead of the whole palm and going to right side first (instead of left) when marking the cross.

Thank you my friend for the mid week installment and another look into Alaskan history. Always a treat to follow your journey. Congratulations on 100K too. Peace and blessings to you and your family.

This filled my heart with peace and tranquility. I'd love to experience this same trip one day.

Hello Sir Probably my biggest traveling bucket list item is to travel down the Alaskan and Canadian coasts on the mail boat and this just drove home the wanting. Thank you for sharing this incredible place.

Beautiful, peaceful music! Weather seem calm and nice for an adventure to church! How historic? Heaven is going to be a super big place with you guys go there.🙂

Thank you for allowing your viewers to experience this impactful trip with you and your family. Everything about it was beautiful and seeing his legacy in the lives of the people there is a testament to how he served God and people.

I'm Serbian Orthodox and this is very much like our church service. Thank you for sharing this wonderful place. If you ever you make it to Montenegro our Serbian pilgrimage is to the monastery Ostrog. It's carved out of the mountain side and is a very holy land.

Thank you and may St. Herman bless you and your family!!🙏🏻🙏🙏🏻

Wow the beauty & tranquility of the island is incredible, I love learning about the historical & spiritual culture of Alaska !! Thank You for sharing this wonderful video !! It's a must see on my Alaska adventure trip I'm planning !!

This video touched me deeply, as a European we learn that Alaska used to be Russian territory and later became American territory. I didn't realize there still was /is a great Russian influence, it was like I was back in a Russian church. May I ask if you have Russian ancestry? The second thing was seeing the airport, it brought back memories of my late wife and I, having a three our stopover in Anchorage airport, on our way to Japan (honeymoon). My wife left me for a couple of minutes, she said, two hours later I couldn't find her anywhere, 15 minutes before departure I finely found her asleep next to the Giant Polar bear in the enormous waiting hall. That was typically my wife, she always wanted to be friends with giant animals, even when it was a "stuffed" polar bear. 😊. Thank you for sharing this video, it brought back memories of my solo travel to Russia and our stopover in Anchorage Airport. 🙏♥️🙏

Hello my friend, regards to your lovely wife and beautiful family. Thanks for taking us along on this beautiful mid week journey. So peaceful and fulfilling to hear the calming music. What a wonderful place, the cold but refreshing views. Take care and enjoy, peace be with you all.

I so look forward to each new episode and I'm never let down! The breathtaking scenery, family interaction and exquisite videography are intoxicating. THANKS so much for allowing us to feel like we were there with you all!

Thank you for sharing this trip and history about Monk Herman. Beautiful scenery so calm and peaceful to listen to the singing. God Bless

Apa Herman is beloved of many people, myself included. He still works among us. You are blessed to have made the pilgrimage, sir.

That was so lovely…beautiful ending too. Thank you for taking us along with you. 🌼

What a beautiful video and a beautiful place , so peaceful , and much needed, as I’m writing this I’m lying in hospital with my 11year old disabled daughter who fell very ill on Friday night and had a cardiac arrest Saturday morning , we lost her for 20 minutes, doctors managed to revive her but she’s been in an induced coma since and remains very ill . The music and the choir was very soothing .

Hello. I’ve been watching your channel for about a year and never commented before, but this video, especially at minute 3:41 touched me to the bottom of my heart. I’m surprised and pleased to see originally framed icons in the orthodox traditions and more than that noticing that it’s written in Russian. “Love each other” it says on that green piece of wrapping. Thank you for sharing moments of beauty and joy in your life in your videos. Best wishes for you and all your family.

Amazing place, truly.

Incredible! Thank you so much for sharing.Misty eyed after watching; yet you lifted ny spirits .....

Thanks for the unexpected mid week video and it seems very peaceful and relaxing .

It doesn't happen often, but you made me cry. The size of the happy was too big, and had to leak out of my eyes.

My favorite of all your videos my friend. A simple life of faith, humility and service to others. Very touching and meaningful. You have a wonderful family, and you are very good man. Thank you for sharing these personal moments of your life. Blessings and Peace to you and yours.

Wow. What a wonderful historical video!! Thank you for sharing this with your RU-vid family!! 😊❤️❤️

Thank you very much for showing and sharing that holy and beautiful place ........ a hug full of blessings

I loved this video! Thank you for sharing your beautiful pilgrimage experience with all of us. Christos Voskrese! Peace!

The shots & videography are just stunning! Thank you for taking the time to make this video and sharing it. It’s much appreciated!

Slava Bogu! Thanks be to God! What a pleasant surprise it was to come across this! I'm the guy at 11:13 standing to the left with the big walk-board with the glasses; I helped get those two blonde ladies off the landing craft for the pilgrimage, among others of course. After Divine Liturgy we got to sit and talk briefly about St. Herman of Alaska and the miraculous holy water from his spring as well as the dirt from where he was originally buried. One of them asked about the usage and application of the two, particularly the dirt. So I told them about three events of many others out there. One event as recorded in: "Father Herman: Alaska's Saint by F.A. Golder" recalls how a pregnant woman was having a stroke while (if I remember correctly) she and her husband were snowed-in at home or facing other bad winter weather conditions. So in desperation the poor husband takes water from St. Herman's spring and dirt from where he was buried, made a mud mixture, and pleaded for St. Herman's help through his prayers and assistance while lathering the stoke side of his wife's body. Upon which after some time had past the wife recovered and became well. Thanks be to God! The second event is from a nun from St. Nilus Island; She was having a migraine, a really bad headache. So she took a pinch of the dirt from where St. Herman was buried, pressed it against her head, and prayed for his help. After some time, the headache was gone and was feeling fine. Simple as that! The third event is more personal. I had some water left from St. Herman's spring when I went for the pilgrimage last year in 2020; With this I went to visit some other faithful in Wisconsin and give them some of the water too. I was pouring the water from the jar I had into a smaller vile, and using a small funnel to prevent spilling. However, I poured too much water which backed-up the small funnel and over flowed onto the stainless steel table we were at. I became distraught by this because I had spilled the holy water from St. Herman's spring and began to pray and repeat "Oh Lord have mercy on me, Lord have mercy on me." I also had a cloth for transporting holy things with me which I used to soak up the water. Although I think I had got it all, I was still upset that the spill had happened. The next day or two later, I was at home near my prayer corner for evening prayers, where I had placed the cloth. I noticed after a bit of time standing there was a good fragrance coming from somewhere. I found the point of the fragrance, which was coming from the cloth and was pleasantly baffled - it was at the spot where I has soaked the water up too! Thank God He has had mercy on me! I thanked St. Herman too for his help through/in his prayers and assistance. I later went to tell the same and other faithful in Wisconsin about this as well to which we marveled in at least one way or another; I think I even brought the cloth too! One of the faithful then said "the saints are closer than you think." Gospodi, pomiluy! "God is wounderous in His saints." Psalm 67:36 P.S. I never got the names of those two ladies I mentioned earlier, and I don't think they got mine either back on the pilgrimage. Please let me know If they remember me and would like to connect at all! My names Olof. Godspeed brother!

Love from British Columbia! May God bless the Orthodox Church in Alaska!!!

I've been waiting for this since we left! This will forever hold a place in my heart, thank you for filming these precious memories!

Hi Gale, what a pleasant surprise. I have not been to Kodiak in years. I have made pilgrimage a couple of times in my life time, like you I had the same feelings. Thinking about those days. I tell people, I was born to late in life. It was a whole different life back in the early days of Alaska Not to be political but, my dad passed away right after statehood and my mom told us he died from a broken heart, he did not want statehood. My dad always said, if Alaska becomes a state, it will change forever from the old ways. I thank you for reminding me of Herman and my dad.

I am very non religious but greatly appreciate the variety of your videos, Mr. Gale. I enjoyed learning more about Alaskan history in this video, keep them coming!

Thank you SO much for sharing this outing to such a beautiful , peaceful and serene island. I could get lost in the lush growth for days. I don't think I have ever seen moss growing on trees the way it is on this island.....an I LOVE woodland moss. Please continue to share other aspects and beauty of life in Alaska. Your state is truly a wilderness.....

Much appreciated. Greetings from South Africa

What a awesome experience this had to be. It’s an interesting and educational view of St. Herman who I hadn’t heard of until now. A great video, you did it again! Take care and God bless.

Hi Gayle!! It’s Marie😁glad to run into you! This video was first to pop up..great job, and looking forward to viewing the rest! Safe travels!

This was very interesting..peaceful and serene..love it!..Thank you.🙏😌💕

Thank you for sharing the beauty and more history of Alaska. I know when I was in Alaska for my "Bucket List" trip, I wanted so badly to go to the Museum of Native History. I love history and especially the information of how they survived and thrived through so many harsh winters. Unfortunately, the people that were traveling with me did not share ANY of my interests, so I missed out on a lot of things I was anxious to learn. I so appreciate people like you that want to share YOUR Alaska and Alaskan history. I try to find and watch as many youtube channels I can find that pertain to the history of Alaska and living the Alaskan life. Thank you so much for sharing and helping this old lady to learn more about a place I will always love, miss, and have in my heart. God Bless you and your Family!

I absolutely love this video, it's the best that I ever found.Thank you kindly for preparing this amazing video and sharing a history of Alaska.May gob bless you and your family always. Congratulation on your 100k . From Malaysia.👍🙏

I have to say of all the 3000 gods worshiped around the world these guys represent their one with great poise and humility . I always liked the Orthodox peoples attitude very chilled . Very nice video thanks for taking us along Siberia is on my bucket list this may have to join that queue cheers fella .

Beautiful and peaceful

Absolutely wonderful! The choral arrangements are excellent. The Russians, like the French, Spanish and Portuguese came in peace among the natives, converted only those who freely desired it and then mixed with them to form a new culture. That was what the archivist was pointing out.

Thank you for taking us along. Beautiful

Спасибо за русскую Аляску! Закончится пандемия приезжайте посмотреть Россию : Санкт-Петербург, города "Золотого кольца", Сибирь.

Thanks for the mid week upload and sharing this journey with us

Прекрасно!

Your video was just beautiful, thank you for sharing Sir!!

Thank you so much ,many of use need to remember our Saints, past ,present and future. All the Saints pray for us!!!!Amen

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Добрый день! Спасибо за видео о русской истории Аляски. Было очень интересно.

Nice to learn the world on your channel. Best wishes to you and you family from France. God bless et merci encore pour ce voyage.

Thank you for allowing us to go along on your pilgrimage the trip and the land is beautiful.. also for sharing the spiritual culture and history of the land.. all this is new interesting information I have never known.. be Blessed 💓

Thank you very much for letting me know a bit of ancient history of this place, for us in Italy unknown. I liked it so much and I will try to deepen, on the internet there is almost everything. Good place of tranquility to meditate. 😊🇮🇹

Amazing video. Love how you make videos about things I am passionate about, construction, history and most importantly Alaska. Saint Herman took care of the sick, dying and the orphaned. Most importantly Herman took care of the natives unlike most of the Russians. I did not know of Saint Herman until this video. Its great watching the channel grow, hope to see more of these videos in the future.

Смотрю ваши видео, а тут неожиданность! Вы православной веры или просто поехали на экскурсию?

Thank you so much for sharing this story and Alaskan history with us. Love it.

What a delightful surprise….not what I was expecting. It is always welcome to come upon something new…a discovery. The very little I have heard of Kodiak Alaska was about the Kodiak bear…a fearsome beast. What an enchanting land you have there. The service was lovely and the subject fascinating. It felt like an adventure along with a history lesson and I appreciate your taking us along. Now I am always going to wonder what next.

Thank you for the beautiful trip to Spruce Island.

This was so exciting those watch. I felt like I was on the trip. Now I must go for sure lovely thank you so much.

love your video, longing to return, Alaska gets in your soul ...🙏

Sir, my family and I are deeply touched by this video. We didn't know that Russian history so well preserved on the remote Alaskan island. Thank you for sharing.

Bless you always this is my alaska

Fantastic, fairy forest ...

So grateful to be a part of your trip! That was a memory maker with your family for sure! The singing and their harmony was beautiful! and very reverent. The forest was so magical with all of the different greens and the mist and moss! How long were you able to stay on the island?

This was really nice. Thanks again for sharing this beautiful video.

Hello Gale. Thank you for the previously promised video from the trip to Kodak. As for you, the film made a great impression on me. I have already been to dozens of places of Christian worship from Lurdes in France in Fatima, Portugal, but I especially liked yours. It is a beautiful area and the cult of the place where St. Herman is worthy of great recognition. God with you.

What a wonderful video! Wow! The leaves already changing color at the beginning of the video!

This was an excellent video and it’s apparent how great of a family you have! God, Country, family. I really liked how you used the audio from the church singing and overlayed it over the video of you traveling to spruce island.

Simply beautiful! Wonderful singing what a magical place you’ve taken us too this week, thankyou 🤗

Thank you so much for taking us along on your trip. This was fascinating. Also loved seeing another part of your beautiful state.

An interesting mid week upload. I guess there's always a souvenir shop near the pilgrimage site whenever 1 goes.

Happy and beautiful family 😇🙏 godbless

The place is so calming and scenery is so charismatic. It's good to see something new in every video. Regards!

Great footage, editing, content. What a beautiful location and thank you for sharing it with us!!

Thanks

Thanks for sharing, beautiful area.

This video is absolutely beautiful.

This is an educational spiritual video. Thank you for sharing!👃👏👍

I would make this trip. Do you have a link to more info? The songs took me back to Latin mass as a kid in the overall tone and rhythms. Wonderful.

Spruce island so nice amazing trip👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Πόσο χαίρομαι και συγκινούμαι που βλέπω ότι στην άλλη πλευρά του πλανήτη,στην Αλάσκα, πιστεύουν στην ορθόδοξη χριστιανική θρησκεία, στην ίδια ακριβώς θρησκεία που πιστεύουμε κι εμείς όλοι στην δική μου χώρα την Ελλάδα.🇬🇷 και τη Ρωσία! Σας εκτιμούσα πολύ βλέποντας τα βιντεάκια σας ,για την τόσο μεγάλη και όμορφη οικογένεια σας,...όμως μετά το σημερινό βίντεο,σας εκτιμώ ακόμη περισσότερο! Η Παναγία μαζί μας!!! 🙏☺️

We (the human beings) have more things in common than the the ones that divide us. Orthodox music is the one of peace and humbleness.

спасибо за ваш ролик . интересно прогулялись мы с вами. всего хорошего.

Gale, (Not sure of the spelling for your name), I was deeply touched by this beautiful tribute to St Herman! As a theological educator who has spent the better part of his life reading and teaching theology at a seminary, I have been able to develop a deep appreciation for Russian Orthodoxy, especially its sung liturgies. Thank you my friend. I am assuming that there are deep ties to this tradition in your family? So nice to see you with members of your family. Helps us get to know you just a bit better. May God bless you and your family in the coming years!

Good Morning Gale - Thank you for this video. Warm Regards, Randy in Arizona

God bless you

Интересное видео спасибо)

Hé bonjour Monsieur... très beau voyage avec votre famille, et votre jolie dame!!...vous êtes d'origine Russe?...orthodoxe..je vais approfondir l'histoire, les origines de cette île....de très très belles vues...merci. Je l'ai regardée ce matin, au café...un petit cadeau!!🙂

A fun departure showing more of your Alaska. Pretty cool!

I LOVE THE GREAT ALASKA ♥️🥰♥️

Преподобне отче наш Германе, моли Бога о нас, грешных.

Very interesting trip. Orthodox Christianity, be it Russian, Serbian, Greek, Ethiopian or of any other Orthodox Church is uniquely recognizable, even as far up North as Kodiak, Alaska. Many Orthodox Monasteries are located in very remote, pristine natural environments where solitude and contemplation coexist, bound by spirituality and devotion to religious tradition. Mount Athos in Greece is the prime example, although there are many more, Spruce Island included. Would be wonderful to visit, and in a sense we have, with you having us (YT family) along with your family. Thumbs up Sir, cheers! P.S. Prayers and liturgy sang by priests, monks and otherwise choirs is often absolutely transcendental, especially in large chambers where echoes simply penetrate ones mind and soul; hard to remain indifferent.

My dream is to go here one day🙏🏽 Sad to read that the cafe closed 😢

Большое спасибо за поездку. До слез. Я не знала, что работают там православные церкви, идут службы. Русская Аляска которую мы потеряли.

So beautiful 😲👍👍👍

Great weather up there

Thanks!

A bit off-topic but I couldn't help notice that there was no plastic litter on the shorelines in your video. I've sailed all over SE Asia and even on the most remote islands in Indonesia the high tide lines of the shores are always full of plastic litter. It's a huge concern in SE Asia and I was wondering if you see much of it on the Alaskan coastlines. Thank you.

Thanks for sharing....

Good morning ! Que surpresa maravilhosa você nos proporcionou Gale ! Tive a sensação de conhecer um pedacinho do paraíso aqui na terra e Herman certamente conheceu. Você soube fazer a mudança de conteúdo de uma forma especial. Apresentou a história e a plenitude desse lugar mostrando como o silêncio, o vento e o perfume da floresta embalados por cânticos eleva o espírito e traz uma paz interior que nos faz refletir e agradecer pelo que somos. Sempre que puder nos dê essas surpresas! Um grande abraço em sua amada Eve e família. Paz e harmonia amigo!