The great Saint Herman was born in 1756 on December 13. He became a monk in the Valaam Monastery in Russia. We do not know what his name was before he became a monk, but we know that he was 16 years old. In 1793 Herman went with seven monks to preach the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

After preaching for more than four decades, he built the first theological school. A story is told about the Virgin Mary’s healing of him: A tumor appeared on his face, disfiguring his entire face, and he became in a critical condition. Saint Herman expected to die, but he refused to go to a worldly doctor, because he was confident that God was able to heal him. He locked himself in his cell and began to pray. One day, while he was praying and crying, he was exhausted and fell asleep. He dreamed that the Virgin Mary had healed him. When he woke up, he found himself completely healed from the tumor that was on his face.

After he went to America, he did not forget the monastery in which he became a monk. He sent a letter to the abbot of the monastery, Nazarius, in which he said that the raging sea would not extinguish his love for his country or the monastery. The last letter he sent to the abbot was in 1824. He died in the hope of resurrection after preaching for more than four decades in 1837.

The Church commemorates him on December 13.

Through the intercession of our righteous father Herman, missionary of Alaska, and through the intercessions of all the saints, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.