St. Nicholas Church (Nikolski, Alaska)

St. Nicholas Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
1990 HABS photo
Location	In Nikolski, Nikolski, Alaska
Coordinates	52°56′18″N168°51′42″W / 52.93833°N 168.86167°W / 52.93833; -168.86167
Area	less than one acre
Built	1930
MPS	Russian Orthodox Church Buildings and Sites TR
NRHP reference No.	80000740 [1]
AHRS No.	SAM-022
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	6 June 1980
Designated AHRS	18 May 1973

St. Nicholas Church is a historic Russian Orthodox church in Nikolski, Alaska, which is located at the southern end of Umnak Island. Now it is under Diocese of Alaska, in the Parish of the Aleutian Deanery, of the Orthodox Church in America ^{[2] [3]} The parish is currently managed by the V.Rev Daniel Charles based in St Innocent Cathedral, Anchorage, as it does not have a permanent resident priest. ^{[4] [5]}

History

The current church was built in 1930, and is believed to be the fourth church on the island. The first church was built in 1806 by John Kriukov, and was burned down during the 1800s. The second was constructed by Father John Veniaminov, later known as Brother Innocent, consecrated in 1828, and burned in 1898. The third was built in 1898-1900 a few miles away then moved to the current church location in about 1918, and was replaced in 1930. It is not known who build this church, however It is known for its decorative carving, completed by Sergei Sovoroff and Joseph Krukoff. ^{[5] [6]}

The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. ^[1]

In 2021 a new fence was erected around the church cemetery, to prevent futher damage from grazing animals. ^[5]

Design

The church has a customary three-element design (altar section, nave, and vestibule section), with addition of a nearly independent bell tower. Its nave is larger and taller than usual among the Russian Orthodox churches of Alaska, and it has "simple detailing [which] coupled with small, economically severe, windows, suggests an almost Shaker design influence," according to a 1979 evaluation. ^{[7] [8]}

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. 9 July 2010.
2. "Parishes - St. Nicholas Church". 16 July 2025.
3. "Parishes - Aleutian Deanery". www.oca.org. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
4. "Clergy - V. Rev. Daniel Charles". www.oca.org. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
5. "ROSSIA, Inc. | Project: St. Nicholas Church, Nikolski". Rossia. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
6. "St Nicholas Orthodox Church" (PDF). Government Registry. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
7. Alfred Mongin and Father Joseph P. Kreta (14 June 1979). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Russian Orthodox Church Buildings and Sites Thematic Resources". National Park Service.
8. Alfred Mongin and Father Joseph P. Kreta (14 June 1979). "St. Nicholas Church (AHRS SITE NO. SAM-022)". National Park Service. (continuation sheet from thematic resources document) and accompanying photo from c.1975

External links

• Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. AK-69, " St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, Nikolski, Aleutians West Census Area, AK "