The sandal of the St Herman of Alaska donated to the Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church in America

On October 5, 2008, following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, Dean of the Church of St Catherine the Great Martyr in-the-Fields archimandrite Zacchaeus (Wood) announced to the parishioners that during his recent visit to Kiev he received the sandal that St Herman of Alaska was buried in. This gift was presented on behalf of the now retired former Primate of the Orthodox Church in America Metropolitan Theodosius by archpriest John Kluchko, retired cleric of the same Church.

The website of St Catherine the Great Martyr Church reports that archimandrite Zacchaeus reminded the parishioners that St Herman, a monk of the Valaam Monastery, was sent as a missionary to Alaska by the Russian Orthodox Church authorities. The Orthodox Church in America canonized him immediately after receiving autocephalous status.

Now, thirty-eight years after this event, the sandal which once was worn by St Herman returns to Russia to enshrined at the Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church in America. . Thus, according to archimandrite Zacchaeus, St Herman again unites Orthodox Christians of Russia and America in love and accord.

Archimandrite Zacchaeus passed on the entreaty of Metropolitan Theodosius to the parishioners to pray for him and his health when they venerate the holy item that belonged to St Herman of Alaska.