More than 100 faithful gather for consecration rites at Greek Orthodox parish in Alaska
Friday evening, September 18, over 100 faithful gathered at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Anchorage, Alaska for the Great Vespers of Consecration, commencing the consecration rites for the Archdiocese’s northernmost parish.
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the service; also present were Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos, Bishop Ioannis of Phocaea, Holy Transfiguration parish priest Fr. Vasili Hillhouse, Fr. Edward Hillhouse (Fr. Vasili’s father), Fr. Luke Kontgas (a former priest of Holy Transfiguration), Fr. Seraphim Majmudar, Fr. Matthew Howell, and Fr. Alexis Clodfelter. Serving as chanter was Dimitri Katsiklis, Master Chanter at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine.
On September 18, 2026, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the Great Vespers of Consecration at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Anchorage, Alaska.
The community is the only Greek Orthodox parish in Alaska, separated from the rest of the Archdiocese by thousands of miles. But amid the cold, distance, and long, dark winters, Holy Transfiguration’s faithful have found warmth in one another.
“One…
