HARRISBURG, PA [DOEPA]

On Monday, October 27, 2025, the inaugural Feast of the Righteous Mother Olga of Kwethluk–Tanqilria Arrsamquq–Wonderworker, Matushka of All Alaska, was celebrated at Christ the Saviour Church in Harrisburg, PA. Many clergy and faithful from the diocese and abroad gathered for the occasion.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Archpriest Stephen Vernak, Rector. Concelebrating with him were Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Ilija Balach; Archpriest Timothy Hojnicki, Vice-Chancellor of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania, Dean of the Frackville Deanery, and Rector of Holy Apostles Church in Mechanicsburg, PA; Priest Christopher Rocknage, Rector of St. Nicholas Serbian Church in Steelton, PA; and Priest Emmanuel Maginas, Assistant Priest at Ss. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Reading, PA. His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania presided from the throne. The Mitred Archpriests Nicholas Molodyko-Harris and Daniel Kovalak were also in attendance. The choir, under the direction of Reader James Kushlan, offered the responses.

Father Timothy Hojnicki offered the homily, speaking on the life and example of Saint Olga of Kwethluk.

During the Divine Liturgy, many of the faithful partook of the Holy Eucharist.

After the ambo prayer, the following prayers were said in front of the relics of the Righteous Matushka Olga:

"O blessed Mother, Saint Olga, matushka of all Alaska, new wonderworker, thou wast in all things a faithful handmaiden of the Lord and His most pure Mother, meek and humble, and now for this cause thou art great in the Kingdom, and thy prayers have authority over much. Therefore, visit us, thy children, with thy supplications, O righteous Olga of Kwethluk, and pray that we may keep the Orthodox faith whole and inviolate, just as we have received it from Christ our God, the very Word of the Father, and from His all-laudable Apostles, and from all our holy fathers, elders, and teachers who have come before. Inspired by thy love, we marvel at thine example, and desire to imitate thy great generosity and faithfulness. O pious Mother, pray that we may obtain reverence; O loving Mother, pray that we may be strengthened in the practice of generosity. O humble Mother, pray that we may gain blessed simplicity, an undivided attention to fulfilling the Gospel. O faithful Mother, pray that we may, before the end, understand our sinfulness and attain to true repentance, confessing our faults, shedding blessed tears of sorrow for our many transgressions against God and neighbor, and amending our crooked way of life.

O Saint Olga, matushka of all Alaska and great wonderworker for the Orthodox faithful throughout the world, never cease in thy loving prayers for us, thy children, and intercede that we may always receive healing in soul and body, forgetting about the past and racing to stretch out our hands to the things that lie ahead, so that, by the great and rich and inexpressible mercy of God, which we experience through thy holy intercessions, we may attain to the Kingdom where thou now dwellest with the most holy Theotokos and all the saints in the unfading light of divine love: the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, to Whom we render all thanks and glory, now and ever and unto endless ages of ages. Amen."

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, a potluck was served in the church hall next door. Father Timothy offered a presentation with Reader Nicholas Hojnicki, Director of Communications. They spoke on the life and ministry of Saint Olga of Kwethluk, sharing reflections from their pilgrimage to Kwethluk and Anchorage, AK, this past June. Their presentation provided a deeper look into how Saint Olga’s witness of humility, compassion, and service continues to inspire the faithful across North America today.

Photo credit: Joachim Hojnicki and Anthony Gault

O Holy Mother Olga, pray unto God for us!

Issued by the Diocesan Media Office