News

Yakutsk mayor urges to return an island near Alaska to the Russian Church

Moscow, March 26, Interfax - Head of Yakutsk Aisen Nikolayev speaks for giving back to the Russian Church Spruse Island not far from Alaska.

He sent a corresponding address to Russian President Vladimir Putin, heads of both chambers of the Russian Parliament and to the Foreign Ministry, the Izvestia daily writes on Wednesday.

"I stand for restoring historical justice - returning of Spruse Island to its legal owners that is the Russian Orthodox Church," Nikolayev said.

According to him, the Church has undisputable rights on the island in compliance with the agreement on selling territories of Russian America to the USA.

"I have been keen on this story for a long time: Yakutsk scientists studied the documents and organized several expeditions to the USA. We celebrate the 220th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox mission in Northern America in 2014, I mean the Kodiak Mission. When, if not now, should we take up the question of Russian America?" Nikolayev wonders.

The edition notes that documents proving the right of the Church on the small island not far from Alaska were discovered by the Yakutsk scientific expedition in the archives of bibliographer Mikhail Vinokurov, who emigrated from Russia after revolution. The archive is kept in the library of Juneau town, Alaska.

The documents collected by Vinokurov include a certificate dated by 1868. It was signed by commissioner of the Russian government responsible for the transfer of North-American territories to the USA captain of the 2nd rank Alexey Peshchurov. The certificate says that Spruse Island (New Valaam), where St. Herman of Alaska lived, preached and was buried is conveyed to eternal use of the Russian Church. In October 1867, it was Peshchurov who signed the protocol on transferring Alaska and the Aleutian Island to the United States.

Print this page

Home

News

.	Customize latest news

• Lawyer German Lukyanov who helped exonerate Nicholas II passes away 20 May 2022, 10:37
• The cathedral of Russian Church desecrated in Vilnius 19 May 2022, 20:14
• Putin's decision on Ukraine operation 'moral choice,' not geopolitics - top Kremlin official 19 May 2022, 20:08
• Duma committee supports bill banning foreigners from using surrogate mother services in Russia 19 May 2022, 15:54
• ROCOR first hierarch to be buried in Jordanville, New York, on May 22 18 May 2022, 10:30
• Patriarch Kirill offers Russia renewed understanding of sovereignty based on traditional values, without looking back to West 18 May 2022, 10:09
• Patriarch Kirill proposes stripping private clinics of right to receive female patients for abortions 17 May 2022, 19:49
• Patriarch Kirill describes 'abolition' of Russian culture in West as insane 17 May 2022, 16:27
• Patrushev blames the West of striving to achieve spiritual and moral degradation of Russia 17 May 2022, 16:22
• Patriarch Kirill calls for observance of humanitarian law in areas of special operation in Ukraine, Donbass 17 May 2022, 16:19
• First Hierarch of ROCOR Metropolitan Hilarion passes away 17 May 2022, 11:06
• Patriarch Kirill calls Orban one of few European politicians who stands up for Christian values 16 May 2022, 21:37
• The Russian Church declares a negative attitude to computer games 16 May 2022, 15:44
• Russian experts record more than 70 attacks on churches of UOC by the Ukrainian side 16 May 2022, 15:37
• The Synod of Ukrainian Orthodox Church asks Zelensky to put an end to her oppression 12 May 2022, 17:27
• Jehovah's Witnesses member in Nizhny Novgorod given 6-year suspended sentence 12 May 2022, 11:23
• Sanctions against Patriarch Kirill will not affect his activities in any way – Russian Church 10 May 2022, 15:28
• Patriarch Kirill describes Russia as self-sufficient country which doesn't want to harm anyone 08 May 2022, 17:15
• Patriarch Kirill calls on believers to pray for Russia to be protected from external, internal enemies 06 May 2022, 14:26
• Ukrainian Orthodox Church says bans on its activities imposed by local authorities have no legal force 06 May 2022, 12:06
• Russia to hold consultations with Hamas on situation around Al-Aqsa 05 May 2022, 11:21
• Patriarch Kirill can't be scared with sanctions - Russian Orthodox Church 04 May 2022, 16:01
• Pope Francis' recount of conversation with Patriarch Kirill incorrect - Russian Orthodox Church 04 May 2022, 15:38
• Russian Orthodox Church asks to use its potential in opening humanitarian corridors in special operation zone 04 May 2022, 14:47
• No agreement on Putin's meeting with Pontiff – Peskov 04 May 2022, 14:10
• Russia never attacked anyone, always protected its borders - Patriarch Kirill 04 May 2022, 12:10
• Russian Orthodox Church indicates interest in achievement of lasting peace in Ukraine 29 April 2022, 16:44
• The Russian Church' speaker calls the "culture of cancellation" a self-reprimand of civilization 29 April 2022, 12:46
• The Russian Foreign Ministry advised Washington to take care of religious freedoms in the United States 29 April 2022, 12:39
• Serbian patriarch assures Patriarch Kirill of support of Russian Orthodox Church amid Ukraine crisis 27 April 2022, 22:26

Other news