View source for Saint Joasaph (Bolotov)


[[File:Bishop-Joasaph-(Bolotov)-of-Kodiak-(1761-1799).jpg]] 

'''Bishop Joasaph (Bolotov) (1761-1799)'''


Joasaph is an English spelling of the Russian name Ioasaph, Ioasaf.    


Although Bishop Joasaph (Bolotov) is not a part of Canadian history as such, his life and work are nevertheless at and in the foundation of the life of the whole of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodox Church in North America].  It is necessary that he be included in an attempt to tell the story of the history of [https://www.archdiocese.ca/ Canadian Orthodox Church life].  

==Early life of Ivan Ilyich Bolotov==

Ivan Ilyich Bolotov was born on 22 January, 1761, in the village of Strazhkov ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashin_(town) Kashin] district in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tver_Oblast Tver] province), in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empire Russian Empire], into the family of the local priest, Ilia Ivanovich Bolotov.   His ancestors, first mentioned at the beginning of the 18th century, had for a long time served at the Temple of this village.

==Higher education==

After his initial education at the ecclesiastical school of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery monastery] in Kashin, he began in 1777 to study at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary seminaries] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Tver-Russia Tver] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaroslavl Yaroslavl], where he [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honours_degree graduated with honours].  

He then taught for 4 years at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uglich Uglich] ecclesiastical school in the Tver Oblast.  During this period, he became convinced of his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monasticism monastic] vocation.  

==Monastic tonsure, 1786==

In 1786, Ivan Ilyich Bolotov was [https://orthochristian.com/101607.html tonsured] to be a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Monk monk] at the [http://www.yaroslavl-online.com/tolga.html Tolga Monastery] near [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaroslavl Yaroslavl], and he was given the name [https://pemptousia.com/2016/04/saint-joasaph-of-meteora-saints-indirectly-associated-with-the-monastery/ Joasaph]. 

Seeking greater solitude, he later moved to the South Doroveyeva Desert monastery in Uglich.  After that, on 31 March, 1792, he transferred to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valaam_Monastery Holy Transfiguration Monastery of Valaam] at the northern end of [https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Ladoga Lake Ladoga], in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karelia_(historical_province_of_Finland) Province (governorate) of Karelia], in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladoga_Karelia Ladoga Karelia] county.  

==Ordinations==

The dates of his [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon diaconal] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priestly] ordinations are not yet known.  They likely took place in one or both of the monasteries in which he lived.  

==Pastoral service==

Because he was a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Monk monk], the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Hieromonk] Joasaph (Bolotov) served in his turn in the Temple(s) of the monastic community to which he belonged, and he fulfilled any other obediences that he was given by the abbot (“[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Igumen igumen]”) to do.  

Because of his exemplary monastic life, he was raised to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archimandrite archimandrite] in 1793.  

==Missionary volunteer, 1793==

When a directive was received in Valaam to assemble a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionary missionary] team to go to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska Alaska], Archimandrite Joasaph was appointed to lead this team of 10 monks.  The missionary team included 4 [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter hieromonks], a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon hierodeacon], 3 monks and 4 [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Novice novices].  About Archimandrite Joasaph,  [https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%259D%25D0%25B0%25D0%25B7%25D0%25B0%25D1%2580%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B9_(%25D0%259A%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BD%25D0%25B4%25D1%2580%25D0%25B0%25D1%2582%25D1%258C%25D0%25B5%25D0%25B2)&prev=search Igumen Nazariy (Kondratyev)] commented that he “believes his wealth to be non-possessing”.  With regard to missionary work, Igumen Nazariy (Kondratyev) added that he “defines himself solely by the feat of spreading the Christian law amongst the nations unenlightened by the truths of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gospel Gospel]”.  

The missionary group departed from [https://www.britannica.com/place/St-Petersburg-Russia Saint Petersburg] in 1793.  After they departed from Saint Petersburg, Archimandrite Joasaph stopped in the city of Kashin in order to visit his sister, since it was on the route eastwards.  During this visit, Archimandrite Joasaph saved the life of a drowning drunk peasant.  He threw to the intoxicated man his only silk robe (“[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Cassock riassa]”) instead of a rope, and with that he pulled the man out of the quagmire.

One of the monks of the group was the well-known [[Saint Herman of Alaska |Saint Herman]] (Popov) (born 1750s ; reposed 15 November, 1836).  The Monk Herman was an ordinary monk.  He was never ordained.  He embodied the missionary vision and purpose of the Church.  Living faithfully with those he loved in Christ until the end of his life, He is perceived by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Natives Alaskan indigenous peoples] to be very present with them still.  His personal witness, life-example and active intercession remain very much alive and influential in our lives until this day.  His life is a clear example of Christ-like humility.  Portions of his holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/relics relics] are found in many countries.  He outlived all the other monks, and he continued their missionary work until the very end of his life (1837).  

The other monks included : Hieromonk Makariy (Alexandrov) ; [[Saint Juvenaly (Hovorukhin) of Alaska |Hieromonk Iuvenaliy (Hovorukhin)]] ; Hieromonk Athanasiy (Mikhailov) ; Hierodeacon Nectariy (Panov) ; the novices Mikhail Feodorovich Hovorukhin, Cosma Alekseev Telepnev (according to other sources, Evseev), Dimitri Avdeev and Nikita Semenov.  

'''Preparation of the missionary labourers'''

In preparation for their departure, [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%2593%25D0%25B0%25D0%25B2%25D1%2580%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BB_(%25D0%259F%25D0%25B5%25D1%2582%25D1%2580%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B2)&prev=search Metropolitan Gabriel (Petrov)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veliky_Novgorod Novgorod] and Saint Petersburg gave them instructions based on the model composed in 1769 for the [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%25A2%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B1%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BB%25D1%258C%25D1%2581%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B0%25D1%258F_%25D0%25B5%25D0%25BF%25D0%25B0%25D1%2580%25D1%2585%25D0%25B8%25D1%258F&prev=search Tobolsk Diocese], as well as written instruction from himself.  Metropolitan Gabriel (Petrov), who called their service apostolic, formulated a number of disciplinary-canonical instructions for the members of the mission.   

He advised that in all things they help the local residents, and that they gradually and carefully accustom them to [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Prayer prayer] and [https://en.orthodoxwiki.org/Fasting asting].  An oath was attached to the instructions, implying the special responsibility of the missionaries.  In addition, the metropolitan provided the missionaries with a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gospel_Book Liturgical Gospel Book] in a silver setting ; other [https://en.orthodoxwiki.org/Liturgical_objects vessels] ; a silver [https://en.orthodoxwiki.org/Censer  censer] ; [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vestments  vestments].  He also added 45 liturgical books from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Nevsky_Lavra Saint Alexander Nevsky Lavra], and other liturgical books and spiritual literature which were published by the [https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Synod-printing-house-Moscow-1814-Arsh-I-P-Mironovsky-General-view-Photo-of-the_fig1_282501709 Moscow Synodal Printing House].

On 25 December, 1793, the missionary group left for [https://www.britannica.com/place/Moscow Moscow].  From Moscow, they departed on 22 January, 1794, for [https://www.britannica.com/place/Siberia Siberia].  The route that the missionaries took towards the mission in Alaska passed through [https://www.britannica.com/place/Irkutsk-Russia Irkutsk], where they arrived on 16 March, 1794.  

There, at the request of Archimandrite Joasaph, on 20 April, 1794, the novice Mikhail Hovorukhin (brother of the [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saint_Juvenaly_(Hovorukhin)_of_Alaska Hieromonk Juvenaly]) was [https://orthochristian.com//101607.htm tonsured] to be a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Monk monk].  He was given the name Stefan.  He was also ordained to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Holy Diaconate] there on 30 April, 1794, by [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%2598%25D1%2580%25D0%25BA%25D1%2583%25D1%2582%25D1%2581%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B0%25D1%258F_%25D0%25B5%25D0%25BF%25D0%25B0%25D1%2580%25D1%2585%25D0%25B8%25D1%258F&prev=search Bishop Benjamin (Bagryansky)].  

On 2 May, 1794, shipping opened with the breakup of ice on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lena_River Lena River], and the missionaries continued their journey.  Already in Irkutsk, the monks had earned the respect of local residents, who saw them off “with great zeal and tears”.  They next passed through [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakutsk Yakutsk].  Already in  Yakutsk, and afterwards, they met many [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakuts Yakuts] who were eager to be [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Baptism baptised].  Wherever they stopped along the river, they found themselves baptising. 

They arrived in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okhotsk Okhotsk], a port settlement on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ocean Pacific] coast, on  13 July, 1794.  There, they met [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigory_Shelikhov Mr. Gregory Shelikov], who provided the mission with utensils, clothes and food for 3 years.  He also gave Archimandrite Joasaph the plan of the proposed Temple in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodiak,_Alaska Kodiak]. The property of the mission was by now driven by 100 horses.  Despite a storm, on 13 August, 1794, the missionaries departed from Okhotsk, aboard the ship “Three Saints”.  During their trek, the group was attacked by bears on one occasion while they were riding horses along the Lkhosh Road, but throughout the trip they had to endure the very thick clouds of mosquitoes which has been a common phenomenon in the far north, as well as black flies from time to time. 

==Kodiak, 1794==

On 24 September, 1794, the monks arrived in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauloff_Harbor,_Alaska Pavlov Harbour] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodiak,_Alaska Kodiak Island], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska Alaska], after a 10-month journey from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg Saint Petersburg], the capital, in the far west of the Russian Empire.  On Kodiak, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelikhov-Golikov_Company Shelikov-Golokov Company] already had a settlement.  

Father Joasaph and the other monks were very fruitful in their missionary endeavours, and they baptised countless [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aboriginal aboriginal]/[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples indigenous] persons.  

There were, however, numerous difficulties and abuses caused by the Russian colonists in Alaska, which Father Joasaph felt compelled to report to the civil and ecclesiastical authorities in Russia.  For instance, in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska Alaska], they found conditions not to be as they had been represented to them by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigory_Shelikhov Gregory Ivanovich Shelikov], the promoter of the Alaskan business enterprise.  The village on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodiak,_Alaska Kodiak Island] was more primitive than described, and the Temple that had been promised did not exist.  An antagonistic environment began to grow between [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Andreyevich_Baranov Aleksandr A Baranov], the village leader, and Father Joasaph and his missionaries. 


[[File:Kodiak harbor as it looked during St. Herman’s time. The Resurrection Church is at left. B.jpg]] '''Kodiak Harbour at the time of Archimandrite Joasaph'''
 

The external successes of the Kodiak mission prompted the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_Holy_Synod Most Holy Synod] in April, 1796, to raise the question about the need to have a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop bishop] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America North America], with particular responsibility for that region.  

According to the archbishop of Irkutsk, in order to achieve the opening of the Kodiak diocese, Nil (Isakovich) and Gregory Shelikov exaggerated the local population almost tenfold (instead of a population of 5,000, he reported about 50,000 people).  After his death (20 July, 1795), the petition came before the Most Holy Synod for the determination of whether or not to proceed with preparing for a bishop in North America.  [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%2593%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BB%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BA%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B2,_%25D0%2598%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BD_%25D0%2598%25D0%25BB%25D0%25BB%25D0%25B0%25D1%2580%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BD%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B8%25D1%2587&prev=search Ivan I Golikov] continued ownership of the company after the death of Grigoriy Shelikhov.  In April, 1796, Musin-Pushkin orally reported to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_the_Great Empress Catherine II] about the intention to establish a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop bishop] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America North America].  An important role in making such a decision was played by the report on the state of the mission to members of the Synod by its interlocutor, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobolsk Tobolsk] merchant Osip Pryanishnikov.

On 4 July, 1796, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_Holy_Synod Most Holy Synod] reported to the empress ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_the_Great Catherine the Great]) about the state of missionary activity in North America and they confirmed the timeliness regarding sending a bishop there.  According to the Imperial Decree of 19 July, 1796, the necessary confirmation of this need was given.  It stated that, “by promoting the conversion of the peoples living in part of North America to the knowledge and acceptance of our [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Faith] with limited successes being made [...]”, the  Most Holy Synod was given the authority “to establish this bishop as the Vicar-Bishop of the Irkutsk Diocese with the name of “Bishop of Kodiak” and other adjacent territories in addition to the islands in America ; appointing him and sustaining him with a house and needed servants as with other vicar-bishops from our treasury for 4,030 rubles and 18 kopecks annually.  In this dignity, the new bishop to be sent to the mentioned islands for the teaching of the Gospel, the Archimandrite Joasaph, is to be ordained in Irkutsk”.  

On 30 September, 1797, the Most Holy Synod addressed the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_I_of_Russia Emperor Paul I] for permission to invite Archimandrite Joasaph to Saint Petersburg for ordination as bishop.  They explained that if the archimandrite left the colony in the summer of 1798, he would arrive in Irkutsk only on 30 November, 1798, and that he could not go back to Alaska until next spring.  However, the emperor refused the Synod the invitation of the archimandrite to the capital for episcopal ordination for financial reasons.  Therefore, that episcopal ordination was performed by the Irkutsk bishop alone because of the remoteness of the diocese.  

In response to a request from the Most Holy Synod about his activities, Archimandrite Joasaph compiled in 1798 his “Topographic, Climatic, Statistical and Moral Description of Kodiak Island”.  This is the first description of America in the Russian language, which was made on the basis of the study of local nature, life and customs.  It was printed in October, 1805.  Archimandrite Joasaph's work gives the exact geographical coordinates of the island, a “climatic” description, a statistical summary and an “aesthetic” description of the life and customs of the locals.  Archimandrite Joasaph also wrote about minerals, marine industries, the conditions for farming, the customs, religion and funeral rites of the islanders.  The work of the archimandrite aroused the interest of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_I_of_Russia Emperor Alexander I], who recommended to the president of the [http://www.saint-petersburg.com/buildings/academy-of-sciences-building/ Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences], [https://www.translatetheweb.com/?from=&to=en&ref=SERP&dl=en&rr=UC&a=https%3a%2f%2fru.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2f%25D0%259D%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BA%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BB%25D0%25B0%25D0%25B8%2c_%25D0%2590%25D0%25BD%25D0%25B4%25D1%2580%25D0%25B5%25D0%25B9_%25D0%259B%25D1%258C%25D0%25B2%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B8%25D1%2587_%25D1%2584%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BD Baron A L Nikolai], that it be printed. 

The new bishop was charged with the responsibility of caring for the construction of new Temples, and of involving local residents in the study of the Russian language and literacy.  
 
Notwithstanding the adverse conditions, Father Joasaph and his brotherhood of monks were very much enabled by the Lord to evangelise the indigenous peoples nearby, and they expanded their preaching and efforts across the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelikof_Strait Shelikov Strait] to the Alaskan mainland.  Yet, reaching out to the  indigenous folk involved dangers.  The newly-arrived Russian-speakers were very different from them, and communication was nearly impossible without an interpreter.  Mis-perceptions could easily arise, and a peaceful approach could be perceived as a threat.  It was in 1796 that the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juvenaly_of_Alaska priest-monk Juvenaly] became the first Orthodox [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Martyr martyr], and therefore saint, in North America.  This event, in part, contributed to the decision of the Most Holy Synod in 1796 to create an auxiliary episcopal see in Alaska, and to choose and designate Archimandrite Joasaph to become the Bishop of Kodiak.  

Because of the great distances involved, notification of his having been chosen by the Holy Synod to be a bishop reached Father Joasaph only in 1798.  He was summoned to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irkutsk Irkutsk].  

Soon after his arrival in Irkutsk, the formal service of the election of Archimandrite Joasaph (Bolotov) to become a bishop took place there, on 3 April, 1799.  All the usual and necessary other preparatory steps had taken place previously during meetings of the Most Holy Synod in Saint Petersburg.

==Episcopal ordination, 1799==

On 10 April, 1799, Archimandrite Joasaph (Bolotov) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by [http://www.translatetheweb.com/?ref=SERP&br=ro&mkt=en-CA&dl=en&lp=RU_EN&a=http%3a%2f%2firkipedia.ru%2fcontent%2fveniamin_bagryanskiy Archbishop Benjamin (Bagryansky)] of Ikrutsk in the [https://www.russiaeguide.com/epiphany-cathedral-irkutsk.html Holy Epiphany Cathedral] of Irkutsk. 

Because of the remote and isolated location of this Siberian city, Archbishop Benjamin of Irkutsk had received exceptional instructions from the Most Holy Synod to perform the episcopal ordination alone.  This is the only known case in the entire history of the Russian Orthodox Church of an episcopal ordination conducted by a single bishop.  However, the canons do provide for such extraordinary situations : such an eventuality would be permitted when there are letters from other neighbouring bishops who support the ordination and agree to it.  Such was certainly the case in this situation.  

==Episcopal service==

Bishop Joasaph (Bolotov) was assigned to serve the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_colonization_of_the_Americas Russian Mission in Kodiak], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleutian_Islands Aleutian Islands], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_America Russian America] (Alaska).

While he remained in Irkutsk, Bishop Joasaph (Bolotov) received commendable reviews from the bishop and from the company management. 

It is likely that Bishop Joasaph and his entourage departed from Irkutsk on the return journey on about 10 May, 1799.  They arrived in Okhotsk during the summer.  Then, they embarked on the ship “Phoenix” in September on their voyage to Kodiak.  According to the records, the party consisted of 11 or 12 persons, which, besides the bishop, included :  the Priestmonk Makariy (Alexandrov) ; the Hierodeacon Stefan (Hovorukhin) ; the Priest P Mityagin.  A cousin of the [[Saint Innocent (Veniaminov) |Priest John Veniaminov]], Dimitri Popov, was also with them.  Along with members of the Shelikhov-Golikov Company and others, their total number was 88 persons.  

==Shipwreck, repose, 1799==

According to Mr. Baranov, the last time the ship was seen was on 28 October, 1799, near [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unalaska,_Alaska Unalaska].  After that, it was never seen again.  

In the spring of 1800, leather-covered books and some candles from the ship were handed in at the western end of Kodiak Island.  It is presumed, therefore, that because of some storm along the southern coast of Alaska, the “Phoenix” sank near the Alaskan coast, and all those aboard perished.  Other theories regarding the disappearance have to do with either a possible epidemic of cholera aboard the ship (which does not account for the complete disappearance), or an accident as a consequence of some mistake in navigation.  

The most accepted theory is that the “Phoenix” sank in a storm near the Alaskan coast at an undetermined date. 

Funeral services without the bodies were served in Kodiak for all those who disappeared on that voyage.



— Bishop of Kodiak, Alaska 1799. Preceded by :  The see was created 1796.  Succeeded by : The see was dissolved 1811.

==Reflections==

Amongst the lost passengers travelling with Bishop Joasaph were the Hieromonk Makariy and the Hierodeacon Stephan, who had also been amongst the original Alaskan missionaries, and who was [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saint_Juvenaly_(Hovorukhin)_of_Alaska Father Juvenaly’s] brother.  With them, an entourage of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexton_(office) sextons] and [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chorister  choristers] also perished.  This shipwreck was not only a serious setback for the Orthodox mission in Alaska, but it was also a significant loss for the Russian colonies, since the “Phoenix” was also bringing much needed supplies to Kodiak. 

Because of the shock of this loss, and because of other circumstances, the Holy Synod took no action to replace Bishop Joasaph.  Moreover, in 1811, the Holy Synod officially closed the Kodiak episcopal see, and another hierarch would not be appointed to Alaska for almost 3 decades. 

'''Joasaphovsky School, Kodiak, 1899'''

In 1899, in connection with the 100th anniversary of the consecration of Bishop Joasaph, [[Saint Tikhon (Belavin)]], who was then the bishop of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishops_of_the_Russian_Metropolia_in_North_America North American Diocese], proposed to give the name “Joasaphovsky” to the Church Parish School on Kodiak, in order to perpetuate his memory.  

'''Sanctity'''

It is not simply we who determine who is especially holy.  The Lord reveals to us who is holy.  It is He who gives indications about a person to whom He has given the blessing to intercede for us and for the world.  In fact, there are very many persons throughout the world who are locally recognised as being holy persons, but whose names have not been added to more official calendars.  There are also persons who are recognised by the Faithful as being holy, but whose names have not in any official way been recognised.  Fundamentally, it may be said that everyone who is admitted by the Lord into the Kingdom of Heaven by definition becomes holy, by being fully in the Presence of the Lord, “before His Face”, as members of the Body of Christ, and in harmony with the Lord's direction : “Be holy, for I am holy” (3 Moses 11:44,45; 19:2 ; 1 Peter 1:16).  We in this life are given to know those particular persons whose intercession has been blessed by the Lord to be effective for our health and salvation.  Not all of them are “officially” recognised, but many people consider them to be holy regardless.  

'''Feast-day'''

Vladyka Joasaph (Bolotov) has not been officially glorified, although many regard him to be holy.  Were he to be commemorated, it would be on or about 24 May, when the few remains of the ship were found in 1800. 


'''Tropar	Tone 5'''

O Holy Hierarch, Father Joasaph,

despite difficulties and obstacles,

your missionary endeavours bore much fruit.

You served the Church with endless courage, 

and you were a bright beacon for the Faithful in Alaska. 

Now, you stand before the King of Heaven, 

and you chant the Thrice-holy Hymn with saints and angels.  

Ever entreat Christ our God to give us His great mercy.  


'''Kontak	Tone 1'''

O Holy Hierarch, Father Joasaph, 

beseech the Lord to lift up our hearts

above all struggles and afflictions,

when our human hopes are shattered.  

Help us to learn to trust His loving Providence,

for His ways are not our ways :

He dispels darkness and brings good out of devastation.

==Writings==

Bishop Joasaph’s insightful ethnological studies of Alaska were considered valuable even by secular scholars, and they were published in 1805.  


‘Short Explanations made according to the Note sent from the Holy Governing Synod of American Kodiak Island, Severovost by Archimandrite Joasaph of the American Ecclesiastical Mission’ in “St Petersburg FIIR RAS, F.115, D.117”, L. 1-8. 

‘Short Explanations made according to the Note sent from the Holy Governing Synod of American Kodiak Island, Severovost by Archimadrite Joasaph of the American Ecclesiastical Mission’ in “RNL OR. F. 542 (Venison), no. 795 ; RGAVMF. F. 198”, Op. 1. D.33. L.90a vol. out of 115 vols.

‘Short Description about American Kodiak Island’ in “Friend of Enlightenment”, (October, 1805), pp. 89-105. 

‘Letter to G I Shelekhov of 18 May, 1795’ in P Tikhmenev’s “First Review of the Formation of Russian-American Company and its Actions to the present Time, part 2 (St Petersburg, 1863), pp. 102-103. 

‘Letter to Yaroslavl from 1795 from Kodiak Island’ in “Yaroslavl EB”, no. 28 (1894), pp. 445-448. 

‘Letter to Metropolitan Gabriel ... 19 May, 1795’ in “AVPRI. F.341, Op. 88. D.117”, L. 1-4 rev.  

‘Letter to Fr. German from 8 June, 1798’ in “Essay on the History of the Russian American Orthodox Mission (Kodiak mission 1794-1837)” (St Petersburg, 1894), pp. 187-188.

‘Letter to the Rector of the Yaroslavl Seminary, Archimandrite Jerome (Ponyatsky)’ in “DCH”, part 1, no. 2 (1910), pp. 273-281 (Ott. Moscow, 1910).


'''Writings about Saint Joasaph (Bolotov) from various sources : '''

Tikhmenev, P A,  “Review of the Formation of Russian American Company and its Actions to the present Time”, Part 1 (St Petersburg, 1861), pp. 42-44, 51, 59-60, 70, 78-79, 105. 

Tikhmenev, P A, ‘Letter from Shelekhov and Lebedev-Lastochkin about Archimandrite Joasaph on 30 April, 1794’ in “First Review of the Formation of the Russian-American Company and its Actions to the present Time”, Part 2 (St Petersburg, 1863), pp. 56-58.

(Petrov), Metropolitan Gabriel, “Manual of Archimandrite Joasaph” in A N Lvov’s “Brief History : Information about the Institution in the North American Russian Mission on the Foundation of the Kodiak Diocese and on the Activities of the first Missionaries there” (St Petersburg, 1894), pp. 11-15. 

“The Russian-American Company and Study of the Pacific North, 1799-1815: Sat. Doc” (Moscow, 1994), pp. 83, 250. 
West, Hieromonk Gideon, ‘About the First Russian Travel around the World and Russian America, 1803-1808’ in “Russian America”, according to the personal impressions of missionaries, explorers, sailors, researchers, and other eyewitnesses, otv. eds., Drizo, A D, ; Kinzhalov, R V (Moscow, 1994), pp. 21-22, 27-122.

(Bolkhovitinov), Metropolitan Eugene, ‘Joasaph Bolotov, Bishop  Kodiaksky’ in “Historical Dictionary of former Writers in the Russian Orthodox Church of the Greek-Russian Church”, vol. 1 (Moscow : Russky Dvor JSC, Trinity-Sergius Lavra, 1995), p. 163-164, 298-300.

Khlebnikov, K T, “Biography of A A Baranov, the main Ruler of the Russian Colonies in America” (St Petersburg, 1835). pp. 23-24, 45, 58-59. 

Kiselev, V, ‘Head of Mission’ in “Russian America : Historical and geographical magazine”, no. 4 (1995), p. 5. 

Veniaminov, Father I, ‘Legal Status of the Churches in Russian America’ in “JMP”, vol. 26. no. 6 (1840), dep. 5, pp. 19-23. 

Demenkov, D A, ’Faith in America’ in “Essays on Russia” by V V Passek (St Petersburg, 1842), Book 5, pp. 223-224. 

Rogozinnikov, I, ‘Joasaph Bolotov, Russian Missionary’ in “Moscow Gazette”, no. 142 (1858), pp. 583-584. 

‘Materials for the History of Russian Settlements along the Shores of the Eastern Ocean’ in “Marine Collection”, no. 1 (St Petersburg, 1861), pp. 53-54.

Pezhemsky, F, ‘Bishop of Kodiak Joasaph Bolotov’ in “Wanderer”, no. 6, Dep. 1 (1862),   pp. 277-281. 

“Russian Spiritual Review” lit., p. 379. 

“Russian Pilgrim”, no. 14 (1911), p. 245. 

Joasaph (Bolotov), Bishop  Kodiaksky, Vicar of the Irkutsk Diocese’ in “Irkutsk EB”,  no. 12 (1871), pp. 159-160.

(Gavrilov), Archimandrite Pimen, “Valaam Ascetics” (St Petersburg, 1872). 

(Isaakovich), Archbishop Nile,  “Travel Notes”, part 2 (Yaroslavl, 1874), pp. 392-397.

(Gumilevsky), Filaret, “Overview” (1884), pp. 379.

(Gumilevsky), Filaret, “History of the Russian Church”  18885. vol. 5 (1888), pp. 44-46. 

Bocharov, N, “Two Graves in Pokrovsky Missionary mon-re” (Moscow, 1889). pp. 91, 149-150. 

Golovshchikov, K D,  no. 15 (1893). St.  pp. 234-235 (depart. Ott .: Yaroslavl, 1893).

Golovshchikov, K D, "Kodiak Bishop Joasaph Bolotov : On the 100th Anniversary of his missionary Work (1761-1799)" (Tver, 1894).

Filaret, Archbishop I R, “Church of Moscow”, no. (1888), pp. 55-56. 

Lvov, A N, “Brief Source : Information about the institution of the North American Orthodox Mission with regard to the foundation of the Kodiak diocese and the activities of the first missionaries there” (St Petersburg, 1894), pp. 1-26.  

“An Essay from the History of Russian American Mission in Kodiak 1794-1837” (St  Petersburg, 1894), vol. 11, pp. 41-43, 73-74, 81, 95-96, 103. 
Nikolsky A, ‘Joasaph (Bolotov)’ in “RBS”, vol. 8, pp. 287-288. 

Shalamov. Father T,  ‘Short Church Description of the Kodiak Parish’ in “Russian American Messenger”, no. 8 (1895/1897), p. 265 ; no. 9 (1898), p. 292 ; no. 10, p. 321.  

“Valaam Missionaries in America at the end of the 18th century” (St Petersburg, 1900)  

“Valaam Monastery and its Ascetics” (St Petersburg, 1903).  

‘The Establishment of Vicarism in America’ in “Pr.”, no. 49 (1903), p. 1946. 

Perch, S B, “Russian-American Company” (Moscow, Leningrad, 1939). 

Bocharov, “Two Prayers”, pp. 91, 149-150. 

Passek, “Essays on Russia”, vol. 5. 

Znamensky Russian Church source, p. 379. 

Bolkhovitinov, N N, “The Formation of Russian-American Relations, 1775-1815” (Moscow, 1966), pp. 302, 316.   

Bolkhovitinov, N N, “Russia discovers America, 1732-1799” (Moscow, 1991), pp. 186-187, 192, 211.  

Bolkhovitinov, N N, ‘About the Origins of Orthodoxy in the North America’ in “American Yearbook, 1993” (Moscow, 1994), p. 127. 

(Bolkhovitinov), Metropolitan Eugene, “Historical Dictionary of former Writers in the Russian Orthodox Church of the Greek-Russian Church” (Moscow : Russky Dvor JSC, Trinity-Sergius Lavra, 1995), p. 163-164. 

Black, L T, ‘The Konyag’ in “Arctic Anthropology” (Madison, WI, 1977), vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 79-108. 

Afonsky, Bishop Gregory, “A History of the Orthodox Church in Alaska 1794-1917” (Kodiak, AK : Saint Herman’s Seminary Press, 1994). ASIN : B0043NQAOK.    
“Russian  America” in unpublished notes by K T Khlebnikov, comp. ; comments by R G Lyapunova, S G Fedorova (Leningrad, 1979), p. 243-246. 

Petrov, Viktor, “Russians in the History of America” (Washington, 1988).  

Shirokov, Father S,  “Valaam Monastery and Russian American Mission: History and spiritual Connections” (Moscow, 1996) 

Stroyev, P M, “Brief History of Russia” (Moscow, 1835), p. 557. 

‘Foundation of Russian America’ in “History of Russian America (1732-1867)”, vol. 1 (Moscow, 1997), pp. 257-266. 

Postnikov, A, ‘Documentary Monuments of the Study of Nature and Population by Russian America's Missionaries’ in  “BV”,  no. 1 (1998), pp. 37-82.

(Kapalin), Metropolitan Clement, ‘ROC Missionary Service in Alaska’ in “Bogosl.-ist”,   issue 1 (Kaluga, 2003), pp. 41-65. he is.  

(Kapalin), Metropolitan Clement, “Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska until 1917” (Moscow, 2008). 

Lebedev, Father L, “Russian Columbus: The Apostles of the Russian Orthodox Church in America (18th-19th Centuries” (Moscow, 2003), pp. 65-86.

(Makhanov), Hierodeacon Onufry, “Mooring of Solitary Prayers” (St Petersburg, 2005), pp. 93-101, 642-644.  

Korsun, Sergei, Black, Lydia, “Herman : A Wilderness Saint : From Sarov, Russia to   Kodiak, Alaska” (Jordanville, NY : St Job of Pochaev Press, 2012). ISBN 10 : 0884651924 ; ISBN 13: 978-0884651925.  

“BEL”, vol. 5, p. 1031 ; vol. 7, pp. 184, 185. 

“BES”, vol. 1, p. 955. 

“ES”, vol. 8-a, p. 717. 

“RBS”, vol. 8, pp. 287-288. 

“According to the Church Bulletin”, no. 49 (1903), p. 1946.

==References==

Afonsky, Bishop Gregory, “[https://www.bing.com/search?q=A+History+of+the+Orthodox+Church+in+Alaska+1794-1917&cvid=a2696358b54842a98670b46db0d41512&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBBzUyN2owajSoAgCwAgA&FORM=ANAB01&PC=HCTS A History of the Orthodox Church in Alaska 1794-1917]” (Kodiak, AK : Saint Herman’s Seminary Press, 1994). ASIN : B0043NQAOK.

Chevigny, Hector, “[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2478665.Russian_America Russian America - The Great Alaskan Venture, 1741-1867]” (New York : Viking Press, 1965).

“[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/The_%E2%80%9CRussian_Mission%E2%80%9D_in_North_America The Russian Mission in North America]”

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “[https://archive.org/details/orthodoxamerica10000unse/page/n3/mode/2up Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America]” (Syosset, New York : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE. 

[http://orthodoxwiki.org/Joasaph_%28Bolotov%29_of_Kodiak Orthodoxwiki biography]

[http://oca.org/holy-synod/past-primates/joasaph-bolotov OCA biography]

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joasaph_Bolotov Wikipedia biography]

[https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Joasaph%20Bolotov Revolvy biography] 

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%2598%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B0%25D1%2581%25D0%25B0%25D1%2584_(%25D0%2591%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BB%25D0%25BE%25D1%2582%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B2)&prev=search Russian Wikipedia biography] 

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://drevo-info.ru/articles/13672022.html&prev=search Drevo Encyclopaedia biography] 

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.pravenc.ru/text/578080.html&prev=search Orthodox Enycylopaedia biography]

‘Joasaph (Bolotov)’ in “Russian Biographical Dictionary”, 25 volumes (St Petersburg-Moscow, 1896-1918). 

‘Joasaph (Bolotov)’ in “New Encyclopedic Dictionary”, 48 volumes of which 29 volumes have been published (St Petersburg), pp. 1911-1916. 


'''Additional information :'''

Gray, George A, Bear, Jan V, eds., “[https://archive.org/details/isbn_0971536309 Portraits of American Saints]” (Los Angeles : Diocese of the West, OCA , 1994).  

Kishkovsky, Archpriest L, Stokoe, M, “[https://www.oca.org/history-archives/orthodox-christians-na Orthodox Christians in North America (1794-1994)]” (New York : Orthodox Church in America, 1995), pp. 8-9. ISBN-10 : 0866420533. ISBN-13 : 978-0866420532.   

Maltsev, A, “The Orthodox Church and Russian Establishments Abroad” (Saint Petersburg, 1906). (In Russian)

Oleksa, Michael, “[http://www.fatheroleksa.org/ Alaskan Missionary Spirituality]” (Mahway, NJ : Paulist Press, 1987), pp. 3-35.    

......, “[https://www.amazon.com/Orthodox-Alaska-Theology-Michael-Oleksa/dp/0881410926 Orthodox Alaska : A Theology of Mission]” (Crestwood, NY : St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1998).   

Pierce, Richard A, “Russian America : A Biographical Dictionary (Alaska History)” (Fairbanks, AK : University of Alaska Press/Limestone Press, 1990). ISBN 10 : 0919642454. 

[http://orthochristian.com/93496.html Orthochristian.com article about Saint Joasaph] 

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saint_Herman_of_Alaska Saint Herman of Alaska]   

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saint_Juvenaly_(Hovorukhin)_of_Alaska Saint Juvenaly (Hovorukhin) of Alaska]    

[https://ru-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%93%D0%B0%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B8%D0%BB_(%D0%9F%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2)?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Metropolitan Gabriel (Petrov)]   

[https://www-pravenc-ru.translate.goog/text/%D0%92%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%20(%D0%91%D0%B0%D0%B3%D1%80%D1%8F%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9).html?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Archbishop Benjamin (Bagryansky)]   

Hieromonk Makariy (Alexandrov) 

Hieromonk Athanasiy (Mikhailov) 

[https://www.oca.org/holy-synod/past-primates/joasaph-bolotov Repose of Bishop Joasaph (Bolotov), 1799]  

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America] 

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Russian Orthodox Church]  

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_colonization_of_North_America Russian Colonisation of the Americas]   

[https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_America Russian America]   

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodiak_Island Wikipedia article about Kodiak Island, Alaska]   

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodiak,_Alaska Wikipedia article about Kodiak, Alaska]   

[https://www.britannica.com/place/Alaska Encyclopaedia Britannica : History of Alaska]  

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelikhov-Golikov_Company The Shelikhov-Golokov Company]   

[https://ru-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%93%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2,_%D0%98%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%98%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Ivan I Golikov]    

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigory_Shelikhov Grigorii Ivanovich Shelikhov]   

[https://www.loc.gov/item/2018693956/ Historic Letters of Valaam Missionary Monks]   

[https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/church-history/eighteenth-century/mission-to-alaska OCA Church History : Mission to Alaska]   

‘[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/messenger/Com1993-1.4-1.pdf Beginnings of Orthodoxy in America : Thousands Are Baptised As Valaam Monks Begin Their Mission in Alaska]’ in “Canadian Orthodox Messenger” (Winter, 1992/1993), Insert between pp. 4-5.   







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