An Evangelical Tribute to An Orthodox Priest

I first met Fr. Michael Oleksa in the pages of his book, Orthodox Alaska: A Theology of Mission. I was captivated. When Lewis and Clark were beginning their historical journey beyond the Mississippi, Russian missionaries had already begun their own epic story into Alaskan lands.

Fr. Michael was a historian, a priest, scholar, teacher, and so much more. Born in Pennsylvania, a graduate of St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York, he earned his doctoral degree in Presov, Slovakia. Fr. Michael served as a priest in over a dozen Alaskan villages, and became a voice for the indigenous people of Alaska, eventually being recognized as an elder by the Alaska Federation of Natives.

I spent several happy evenings in St. John Orthodox Cathedral’s St. James Room engaged in conversation, listening and learning. One of the first things I noticed about Fr. Michael was that when he entered a room people smiled in anticipation. His eyes would dart about happy to see each person present. He told stories with purpose; lessons, clearly expressing love for God, the people around him, and God’s creation. One evening, arriving after a long drive, as he sat down, he spoke enraptured by the beauty of the autumn colors he had witnessed. Nature’s beauty had filled him with God’s joy which now spread around the room.

In 2022 I was thrilled to participate in the Lausanne-Orthodox Initiative’s Alaska Regional Consultation that took place at Beach Lake near Eagle River, Alaska. It was not a large gathering, but included representatives from both Orthodox and Evangelical traditions. Ever the teacher

and cultural ambassador, Fr. Michael teased me for trying to stick to a strictly timed schedule, contrasting my habits with Alaskan native ways. Fr.

Michael’s presentation of early Orthodox missionaries in Alaska filled in a missing chapter for many protestants. In it he demonstrated, not only the love of a historian for the past, but a true Christian love for our spiritual ancestors as spiritual family.

On the morning of November 29, 2023 Fr. Michael fell asleep in the Lord. He had a charismatic and engaging personality that touched the lives of

many people and people groups, not only across Alaska, but globally as well. It will likely take several people to fill his shoes. I find myself rereading his articles and looking up his talks on YouTube, thankful to God that Fr. Michael is part of my story.