Olga Michael, a Yup’ik woman from a remote Alaska Native village, has been declared the first female Orthodox saint from North America, honoured for her compassion, humility, and lifelong service to others.

Known as a midwife, mother of 13, and spiritual guide to many, Olga lived her entire life in Kwethluk, a small village of around 800 people in southwestern Alaska. As the wife of an Orthodox priest, she was also regarded as a "matushka," or spiritual mother within her community.

Following her death from cancer in 1979 at age 63, stories of her kindness and devotion spread across Alaska and beyond, with many reporting visions and dreams of her, even among those who never met her.

She has now been officially canonised as "St. Olga of Kwethluk, Matushka of All Alaska" after a grand ceremony in her home village.

"She was just my mom," said her daughter, Helen Larson, reflecting on the outpouring of reverence for her late mother. "But now, she belongs to everyone — she’s everybody's helper."

A significant moment for the Church

The sainthood of St. Olga holds special meaning for both women and Indigenous communities, particularly in an Orthodox tradition historically led by men. Metropolitan Tikhon, head of the Orthodox Church in America, called her canonisation a reminder that "the path to holiness is open to everyone — male or female, rich or poor, young or old."

Carrie Frederick Frost, a scholar on women in Orthodoxy, noted that St. Olga's sainthood is especially meaningful because she was a layperson, mother, and grandmother — not a martyr or a nun like many other female saints.

Her reputation as a source of comfort for women experiencing abuse, miscarriage, or loss reflects her deep empathy, shaped by her own hardships, including losing five of her children during their early years.

A historic canonisation ceremony

Hundreds gathered for St. Olga's glorification ceremony, with visitors travelling from across Alaska and beyond. Some arrived by motorboat from nearby communities, while others flew in from distant states and countries, journeying along the Kuskokwim River, vital to the Yup’ik people's subsistence traditions.

Metropolitan Tikhon led the ceremonies, greeted by villagers as chants and incense filled the air under Alaska's solstice sun. Inside the small Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church, hymns in the Yup’ik language celebrated her life, with many worshippers crowding inside, while others stood outside to listen.

Prayers hailed her as a healer of the wounded, a protector of mothers, and a comforter to those suffering heartbreak. Afterward, many approached her open casket to pay their respects.

A family's reflections

For relatives like Wiz Ruppert, who returned to Kwethluk for the occasion, St. Olga’s sainthood felt both surreal and fitting. "She was always so kind and generous," Ruppert recalled.

Larson, her daughter, remembered how people would visit their home seeking advice or comfort. “I’d watch them arrive, heavy with sorrow, and leave lighter after tea and conversation,” she said.

Alaska’s unique place in Orthodoxy

Alaska holds deep roots in Orthodox Christianity, dating back to Russian missionaries in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, many Orthodox priests in Alaska, including more than a dozen from Kwethluk, are of Native heritage. St. Olga is the third Alaska Native saint, a reflection of the church's integration with Indigenous communities.

A debate over her resting place

Her remains were exhumed in late 2024 and now rest in Kwethluk’s church, where pilgrims can visit. Though there were initial discussions about relocating her relics to Anchorage, village residents opposed the move, wishing to keep their spiritual mother close.

Kwethluk, only accessible by river or air, is expected to become a significant pilgrimage destination. Plans are underway to build a new church and cultural centre in her honour.

Celebrating faith in their own language

During the glorification, visitors were hosted by local families and shared meals featuring traditional Alaska Native foods like walrus meat and smoked fish. For many, the ceremony marked a spiritual milestone. "Today, we sang hymns for a Yup’ik woman, in our language, about a life we understand," said Nicholai Joekay of Bethel, who knew St. Olga's family.

"Today, God felt closer to all of us," he added.

Source: With inputs from agency